We have some tremendously good news: In 2024, nail art trends are finally getting a make-under. Listen, we love a stacked and studded manicure when the vibe is there, like Megan Thee Stallion’s gold-jewelry nails or Doja Cat’s bedazzled manicure, but for everyday life? In this economy? Please give us something easy. (We’re tired of this, grandpa.) Thankfully, the universe has delivered and the next year’s batch of nail looks is filled with clean and simple designs, like negative-space French tips and easy dotted florals. Plus, we’ll see a surge in tools like nail stickers and squeeze tube gels that make more intricate art attainable for everyone.

 

 

Of course, if you’re a nail-art purist who prefers to spend three hours in the salon, you’ll still have some intricate options, like hand-drawn porcelain nails that rival the antiques sitting at the Smithsonian. Basically, the nail art of 2024 is a choose-your-own-adventure moment that can be classed up or dressed down.

To walk us through all the best nail-art inspo — and how to recreate the looks at home — we chatted with the industry’s top nail artists and manicurists. Keep scrolling and get ready to screenshot.

• Julie Kandalec is a celebrity manicurist and educator based in New York City.
• Emily Zheng is a nail artist and content creator located in Seattle and Los Angeles.
• Brittney Boyce is a nail artist and founder of Nails of LA nail wraps, decals, and press-ons.
• Samantha Rose is a nail artist and digital creator based in Brooklyn.
• Vanessa Sanchez McCullough is a nail artist in Los Angeles.
• Brittney Ellen is a Portland-based nail artist.

Floating French tips

 

 

 

Instagram / @julieknailsnyc

 

Instagram / @julieknailsnyc

 

French tips have officially taken over next year’s nailsphere and the spring 2024 runways were no exception. At Staud, lead nail artist Julie Kandalec re-imagined the micro-French tip by adding a negative-space spin to it. Using an ultra-skinny paint brush (yup, actual paint brushes), she floated each “tip” up and across the lower third of the nail for a striped effect. “This look is a low-risk entry into nail art, especially because you can add a little bit of color without it feeling like a statement,” says Kandalec.

 

Because a floating French is the inversion of a typical painted tip, Kandalec recommends “starting with a neutral base color with some coverage, so it can hide the natural free edge of your nail.” For some not-too-sheer coverage, we like Lights Lacquer Nail Polish in Mrs Potts (for lighter skin tones) or in the shade Mrs Wheeler (for deeper skin tones).

3D jelly art

Instagram / @julieknailsnyc

 

 

Instagram / @nailzbyvee

 

 

 

Instagram / @julieknailsnyc

Despite being incredibly popular in Korea and Japan for the last few years, 3D jelly nails haven’t amassed the same fan following in America quite yet. But that’s about to change in 2024, according to our experts, who have been seeing a rise in 3D accents this year (like the pink 3D bow above, or the silver 3D heart, or the clear 3D raindrops). “It’s a super fun and crafty way to apply gel,” says Kandalec, who loves the Korean brand Jello Jello ZigZag Nail Gel for her three-dimensional designs (another popular K-beauty option is the Keepu Custom Gel, or you can go with Amazon-favorite Makartt 3D Artistic Gel).

 

“The quick and easy way to get this look at home is to use a 3D gel in a tube or a pot,” says Los Angeles-based nail artist Vanessa Sanchez McCullough. “The gel stays where you place it, so you just squeeze or dab it in the shape you want, then cure it and potentially build upon it with other colors.”

Swirl nails

Instagram / @brushedbyb_

Instagram / @julieknailsnyc

Instagram / @brushedbyb_

Swirl nails, ripple nails, whoa-that-looks-like-water nails — whatever you call ‘em is fine, just as long as you’re talking about them for 2024. As we head into the new year, these twirly, swirly nails can be found on virtually every artist’s IG grid, and for good reason: They’re an easy way to play around with bright color combos, without requiring a perfectly steady hand.

“I’m a huge fan of bold, contrasting nail shades, so I love seeing them paired together in swirl designs, as they tend to ‘pop’ a bit more,” says Portland-based nail artist Brittney Ellen. “You can experiment with groovy swirls, abstract swirls, psychedelic swirls, and textured swirls — really, it’s just about expressing your personality and mood with these types of designs.”

Every artist has a different technique for creating their swirls (Ellen prefers to carefully draw them on with a nail brush, while Kandalec likes to use Gelish Blooming Gel for a marbled effect). Regardless of the technique, make sure to use “a generous amount of topcoat,” says Ellen, to prevent the design from bleeding and smudging at the end. “I’ve noticed that when a brush doesn’t have enough topcoat on it, it touches the design and tends to ‘pull’ the polish and create ridges.” She likes to use UNT’s Base and Top Coat to finish off her swirls, but you can also try the high-shine, long-lasting Essie Gel Setter Topcoat (it’s so good, it’s won an Allure Best of Beauty award three times).

Aura nail art

Instagram / @brushedbyb_