Read on for some serious spring nail inspo, and where to shop everything you’ll need to get these looks.
Though it may not feel like it just yet, spring has sprung! And if you ask us, there’s no better way to honour the season of new beginnings than by flaunting a fresh manicure.
It’s no secret that spring is synonymous with all things dainty, floral and pastel, and the top 2024 spring nail trends are staying true to these seasonal colour palettes and motifs — with a few whimsical additions you’ll want to recreate right away.
From butterfly and floral accents to candy-coloured tips, we present five spring nail ideas to inspire your next manicure and the tools you’ll need to replicate your favourite looks. Plus, the reasons we love short nails for this time of year.
Butterfly accents
Reviving the fairycore aesthetic, which naturally feels spring-coded with its fixation on nature themes and a soft, powdery palette, butterfly nails are taking flight.
Whether they’re applied in the form of 3D charms, nail stickers or hand-drawn designs, butterfly accents add a fantastical element to even the most basic manicures. Add this dainty detail to every nail for a more cohesive look, or on just a few tips to make a subtle statement.
Inked by Dani’s Butterfly nail art tattoos make achieving the butterfly look a total breeze. Simply peel, press, soak and reveal your desired decal as you would a temporary tattoo!
Skip the design process altogether and opt for a set of press-on nails for a no-fail manicure you can apply in minutes. With their built-in butterfly designs, Kiss’s “Jelly Cookie” Gel Fantasy Jelly false nails are right on trend.
Candy-coloured pastels
From mint greens and sky blues to petal pinks and purples, candy-coloured pastel polishes will forever be the sweetest spring nail colour trend. Reflecting the delicate shades of springtime blooms, you’ll be at one with nature with these nails.
Choose your favourite pastel for a monochromatic mani, or wear each of them on alternating nails for a rainbow manicure that incorporates all of these trendy hues at once.
Butter yellow is the Selena Gomez-approved hue due to top all pastels this spring. A single swipe of Butter London’s “Bit of Sunshine” polish will instantly brighten up a blah manicure.
Montreal-based beauty brand BKIND is where we go for non-toxic, plant-based nail polish we can feel good about wearing. Their milky, lilac-shaded “Run the World” lacquer is our current obsession.
Blush pink polish
Something flirtatious is in the air this spring, and it’s making us blush! The perfect balance of sheer yet chic, just-pinched pink polish is the universally gorgeous shade that can do you no wrong.
If you’re partial to naked or neutral nails, this is the colour trend for you. A subtle step up from barely-there polish, its subdued nature makes it easy to wear with every outfit.
Essie’s aptly named “Jelly Blush” Nail Art Studio Jelly Gloss is the sheer and buildable shade you need to nail this look. Wear it all over, or focus this polish on the centre of your bare nail for a true “blush” effect.
New to Canada, OPI’s xPress/On Press On Nails are nothing short of impressive. Shop the brand’s beloved “Bubble Bath” shade to keep up with the blush trend.
Floral fingertips
We won’t bore you with the old “Florals for spring?” spiel from The Devil Wears Prada, but what we *will* say is that flower power nails are always trending at this time of year for good reason.
There’s an endless selection of styles, colours, sizes and placements to play with when it comes to floral accents, and they’re just plain cute. This year, floral nail stickers are the trendiest and most foolproof way to get the look — no design experience necessary!
From blooming tulips to boho wildflowers, this nail sticker set by Deco Beauty covers all your floral nail needs. And they’re easy on the wallet, too.
Lock in your nail stickers with a glossy layer of clear polish. Sally Hansen’s Fast Dry Top Coat promises safe-to-touch tips in seconds.
Short and chic
For the ultimate fresh start to the season, why not give short nails a go? Now’s your chance to start anew and grow your nails out nice and healthy in preparation for summer manicures to come. Or, to simply marvel at the pure perfection that is a short, cut and buffed set of clean fingertips.
No wonder they’re one of the trendiest nail lengths of the moment. Sometimes, less really is more!
Keep your nails short and sweet with the aid of a trusty nail clipper. This compact clipper by Revlon is our go-to for easy grooming.
Once you’ve clipped your nails, file away to achieve your desired shape. From almond to square, this Sephora Collection glass nail file can do it all.
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