The Coolest Summer 2021 Nail Art Trends

Smoky Swirls

Like a trailing swirl of smoke, this abstract nail design is all over Instagram, and it'll only keep growing this summer.

Heavy Metal

Take your favorite neutral or nude, and upgrade it with a metallic finish.

Tiny Accents

Unlike all-over metallics, this trend uses the glitzy elements in smaller amounts—a sticker here, a line of rhinestones there.

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Complementary 3D

Texture nail art has been a thing for a minute, but we predict that summer 2021 is going to approach it from a minimalist perspective—think noticeable designs in nudes and neutrals.

French Plus

Your regular French tip with a 2021 treatment. Ask for a nail art design applied over a French tip; extra points if it makes a colorful contrast.

Rainbow Nails

Mismatched nail colors remains a trend that just won't quit, and we still love how effortlessly cool it makes nail colors we already own.

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Throwback Butterflies

Dua Lipa brought back the butterfly nail art trend from last year, and we're so grateful.

Cheeky Checkerboard

The checkerboard fashion trend will continue moving onto our nails this summer. Spice it up with extra florals, or be happy with the already intricate design.

Artistic Tips

This trend takes all the artistry you love and isolates it to just the tip of the nail, creating a riff on the classic French manicure.

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Nostalgia Overload

Smiley faces, '90s pop art, and cartoons are fair game for summer 2021.

Water Marble

Remember spending hours trying to perfect water marbling nail art? It's time to dust off the skill.

Simple Pink

All of the nail art is fun, but simple pink and nude manicures are still very on trend for 2021. (And they're so much easier to do on your own.)

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Summer Brights

Likewise, you can never go wrong with a pop of neon for summer.

Madge Maril is a writer, editor, and creative covering beauty at Harper's Bazaar and The Zoe Report. She received a BFA in Electronic Media and a Certificate in Creative Writing through University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. You can find her on Instagram at @madgemaril, or in real life somewhere in a thrift store.

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