There are almost TOO MANY amazing spring nail ideas popping up on our Instas and Pinterest. Add to that the gorgeous shades rolling out from our favorite nontoxic nail polish brands and it’s all we can do to not repaint our nails every other day. Here are the hottest nail ideas for spring, coming in bright and splashy for 2024. Spoiler, they aren’t ALL pastels.
By: Nicolle Mackinnon & Claire Molyneaux
We’ve been focused on glazed donut nails, bright neon French tips and pastels in past years, and the transition into spring 2024 is just as fun and playful. You’ll see the usual lean towards soft blues and purples, orangey-reds and allllll the pinks (ground-breaking) again this season, but the new class of spring colors and trends are mixing things up. Here’s what’s hot hot hot for manis this spring.
IN THIS POST:
- Aura
- Shades of blue
- Mob wife
- Floating french tips
- Peach
- Coquette & balletcore
- Periwinkle
- Pastel yellow
- Bright reds
- Exclusive discount codes for TNK readers
RELATED: The best nontoxic nail polish brands (and how to choose the one for you).
Spring nail ideas for 2024
Aura
Inspired by aura photography where your energy is visually captured via biofeedback. Aura nails combine multiple colors to create a blurred, hazy effect that reflects your inner vibe. Easier to do at home than you’d think, you just need 2 complimentary colors, a makeup sponge and thick top coat to create the look.
TNK’s aura nail picks
Dazzle Dry Cherry Blossom | $22
Olive & June Royal | $7.50
Olive & June Super Glossy Top Coat | $9
RELATED: Read our complete guide to nontoxic nail polish, to learn about what to look for in nail polish + our top nontoxic nail polish brands.
Shades of blue
The hold that blue has on us this season is real. Lookout for every shade from universally-flattering baby blue to metallic sky to vibrant cobalt blue which feels especially fresh. #paintitblue.
TNK’s shades of blue picks
Olive & June Same Day Next Year | $9
Dazzle Dry Check Mate | $22
Olive & June Can't Lose | $9
RELATED: Summer nail polish ideas.
Mob wife
Quiet Luxury and Clean Girl Aesthetic are getting pushed aside in favor of bold maximalism. Mob Wife Aesthetic embraces a more mature confidence and DGAF energy. Think leopard prints, red lipstick and fur (vintage of course). Capture the look for spring with a fiery red, pearlescent white or a crisp french tip. Extra points for a boxy shape a la’ Carmella Soprano.
TNK’s mob wife nail picks
Olive & June Atlas | $9
Dazzle Dry High Velocity Red | $22
Kure Bazaar French White | $18
RELATED: The best nontoxic nails brands.
Floating French tips
If maximalism isn’t your thing try modernizing the classic french tip with a clear base and a floated “tip” landing about halfway up your nail. Mix and match contrasting and tonal shades in pop colors or choose a jelly base to keep it sheer but interesting.
TNK’s floating French nail picks
Olive & June Super Glossy Top Coat | $9
Dazzle Dry Honeydew | $22
Kure Bazaar Bubble Vvee | $22
RELATED: The best natural nail polish removers.
Peach
Expect to see Pantone’s official color of 2024, Peach Fuzz, making a splash on nails this spring. It’s bright and punchy while almost acting like a neutral. Pair with an equally popular baby blue for an unexpected contrast pop.
TNK’s peach picks
Dazzle Dry Creamsicle Sorbet | $22
Cote No. 54 Vibrant Salmon | $18
Olive & June Melon | $7.50
Coquette & balletcore
Balletcore has been working its way through apparel and accessories and it was only a matter of time before we started adding bows and pearls to satin finish nails. Elizabeth Garcia, owner of The Nail Room notes “soft and whimsical colors, pastel shades combined with pearls. Bows in different textures” capture this trend.
TNK’s Coquette & Balletcore nails picks
Olive & June Wait, does it come in pink? | $9
Dazzle Dry Soft Caress | $22
Kure Bazaar French Rose | $22
Periwinkle
Following on the heels of wintery plums, lilacs and periwinkles are IN for spring. Darker shades are the perfect transition for early spring while shimmery, lighter hues feel like summer in a bottle.
TNK’s periwinkle picks
Dazzle Dry Lovely Lilac | $22
Olive & June Charming | $7.50
Dazzle Dry Periwinkle Passion | $22
Pastel yellow
Maybe it’s the sunshine and warmer weather but we can’t help matching our manis to spring daffodils and lemonade. Choose a bright yellow for a dopamine boost or opt for a more muted butter shade to keep it low key.
TNK’s pastel yellow picks
Dazzle Dry Frozen Lemonade | $18
Cote No. 58 Yellow Daisy | $18
Olive & June Bright & Focused | $9
Bright reds
A forever classic, red will always be in when it comes to lips and nails. But we can’t ignore that it’s been the undisputed ‘color of the moment’ for the last 6 months. With no end to the love-affair in sight we’re seeing punchy, almost neon reds make their debut for spring. It works on any length nail, just don’t forget your glossy top coat!
TNK’s bright red picks
Olive & June Lava | $9
Cote No. 25 Creamy Candy Coated Nail Polish | $18
Kure Bazaar Lipstick | $22
Exclusive discount codes for TNK readers
- Code THENEWKNEW will save you 20% off all Olive & June systems (including Mani, Pedi & Complete Systems).
- Code THENEWKNEW15 will save you 15% of all Kure Bazaar polishes at The Detox Market (first time customers only).
- Code NEWKNEW will save you 15% sitewide at Dazzle Dry.
What’s your fave look for spring?
TNK Team Note: This article may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. TNK uses affiliate links as a source for revenue to fund operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. TNK stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? Feel free to email us.