Season three of The White Lotus left us with a range of big emotions, including heartache over Rick and Chelsea and anger over Gary and the Russians getting off scot-free, but it also left us feeling very ready for summer, with visions of sandy beaches, crystal-clear water, and diaphanous caftans dancing in our heads (anything to erase the memory of the Ratcliffe brothers’ full-moon “bonding” session). Nowhere is this summer readiness clearer than in the season’s top nail art trends. We can’t remember a time when the most popular nail designs felt so quintessentially summery, whether that means dreamy 3D seashells, tropical-flower decals, or all the animal prints and rainbow-bright French tips in between.
Many of the season’s coolest designs are reflective of 2025’s overarching nail art trends, but with a warm-weather twist: Cat-eye polish in shades of beige and pink sand twinkle beautifully in the sun; 3D embellishments in the form of miniature hibiscus flowers and abstract chrome accents; and aura nails that feel less zen and more beach party-appropriate when done in vibrant neon tones.
This summer, people are obsessed with press-ons, which let them update their manicures easily and often. The phrase “press-on nails” currently receives an average of 82 million views on TikTok and 605.3K monthly searches on Google per week, according to Spate. Fortunately, there have never been more (or better) options to choose from, which means you can tap into summer’s biggest nail art trends without needing to book a salon appointment or even to reach for the polish remover. That said, if you love nothing more than a date with your nail artist or a little at-home DIY, we’ve grilled the experts on how to achieve summer’s trendiest designs, whichever method you prefer. Sit back, grab your piña colada, and keep reading (maybe just clean your blender first).
Pop-Up Tropical Flowers
Courtesy of @lucky__pool and @vanityprojects
Courtesy of @kellykoutur and @vanityprojects
Courtesy of @slayedbylexali
Courtesy of @fleuryrosenails
Courtesy of @aurakanails
Courtesy of @aurakanails
Three-dimensional flowers of all genus and species will be trending this summer, says Rita Pinto, founder of Vanity Projects nail salons in New York City and Miami, although “orchids have been a client favorite.” Nail artist Fleury Rose agrees that 3D tropical flowers, primarily meaning orchid and hibiscus shapes, also popular last summer, will have another moment in 2025. “This look is stunning,” says Rose, “and goes great with the St. Barts and boho fashion trends that I see being huge this summer.”
These dainty orchidaceae are created using a clay-like builder gel, Rose explains (giving a shout-out to F-Vex Supersculpt 3D Gel), and rubber nail-art tools (she recommends the Sliverdew silicone nail pens and brushes you can get on Amazon). Unless you’re super skilled at sculpting teeny-tiny floral masterpieces on your own fingernails, your best bet is to schedule a salon appointment. You can also purchase press-ons adorned with florals. (Etsy has a wide variety of press-on nails that showcase orchids and hibiscus flowers in various colors.)
Mismatched Manicures
Courtesy of @glam.by.ems and @vanityprojectsmia
Courtesy of @slayedbylexali
Courtesy of @slayedbylexali
Courtesy of @makoartz:@vanityprojects
Can’t choose between aura nails, gemstones, chrome, or cat eye? Then don’t, and ask your manicurist to create a set that includes all these looks. “I don’t see many manicures with the same design on every nail at the moment,” says Rose. People are opting to be a lot more playful right now, she adds, sprinkling different designs throughout their manicure. “It’s more creative and expressive, which is supercool.”
These labor-intensive designs are best left to professionals. If you are heading to the salon, you can find a lot of great inspiration from nail artists like Juan Alvear (Chappell Roan and Lisa are both regular clients), Mycah Dior (Cynthia Erivo’s go-to, who goes by @ClawzbyDior_ on Instagram), longtime maximalist nail queen Naomi Yasuda, and salons like Green Nail Salon in Brooklyn and Les Mains Nail Bar in Atlanta.
3D Shell Nails
Courtesy of @mtk125n and @vanityprojects
Courtesy of banicured_
She may sell seashells by the seashore, but this summer expect to see seashell-inspired nails all over the mainland. Brands like Salon Perfect are launching shell-inspired press-ons, while the nail artists at Vanity Projects in Miami and So.Shell in London are already crafting some beautiful shell-shaped sets.
