7 New Summer Nail Trends To Wear Right Now, From Sorbet Chrome To Sheer Ombré
The best manicure designs for the sunny days ahead.
The season for summer nail trends has officially arrived, and whether you're opting for a vibrant sunny manicure to lean into the warmer weather, or a playful holiday design inspired by an upcoming tropical destination, the options for 2025 are endless. We're talking ice cream-inspired chromes, fancy French tips and joyful nail art accents, all co-signed by the nail industry's very best manicurists.
The New Nail Trends For Summer
Where spring's go-to manicures were all about cow print patterns, 'mocha mousse shades' and soap nails, this summer's nail designs couldn't be brighter (or easier to recreate yourself).
'This summer, we’re leaning into nails that feel elevated, effortless, and made to shine,' says professional nail artist and Manicured London founder Tinu Bello. An example? The colourful and delicious 'sorbet nail' trend. 'Think soft pastel gel shades like lavender, pistachio, peach—but finished with a chrome glaze that catches the light beautifully. It’s glossy, elegant, and feels like summer bottled up.'
Clean girl nails are also taking a backseat for this year's summer nail trends, says manicurist Ella Vivii. 'We will see people pull away from the minimalist vibes with maximalism on the rise – polka dots, florals and fun prints will all be popular. Even though there's nothing more satisfying than a clean manicure, life’s too short for boring nails.'
Here, we rounded up the 7 new nail trends set to dominate for summer 2025, including the very best shades to note.
The Best Summer Nail Trends for 2025
Sorbet Chrome
As previously mentioned by Bello, this sweet treat-inspired chrome manicure design looks best when paired with bright yet milky pastels. Our personal favourite? Silky vanilla tones, which feel like the summer iteration of last season's butter yellow nail trend. 'To create it, we layer a chrome powder over a cured gel base, then seal it with a high-shine top coat for that perfect reflective finish,' explains Bello.
Micro Neon French
If you're a fan of the classic micro French tip, you're guaranteed to love this elegant, summer-ready version. 'This summer's French manicure is going to be a fine-line and bold,' says Bello. 'A whisper-thin neon tip on a nude or sheer base is the definition of understated edge. Whether it’s electric coral or vivid lime, it gives your manicure a modern, fashion-forward energy without ever doing too much.'
Polka Dots
Looking for a way to dress-up a minimalist manicure for summer? A timeless fashion pattern, in this case polka dots, is the most effortless method – plus, it looks fantastic with any primary or basic colour. If you're still clinging to a 'clean girl' manicure aesthetic, we recommend opting for a black or white base, adding symmetrical, contrasting spots with a dotting tool.
Sheer Ombré
Ombré nails have been around for decades, but this summer's iteration is classy and refined. 'There’s something timeless about a barely-there ombré,' says Bello. 'This season, we’re blending sheer nudes, blushes, and milky tones to create a subtle fade that looks effortlessly polished. It’s soft luxury blended using a sponge technique or airbrush, topped with a jelly gloss for that natural, healthy glow.'
Limoncello Nails
If you're heading off to enjoy the sunny Mediterranean climate this summer (or simply fancy some escapism courtesy of a fresh manicure set), this lemon adorned design is perfect. Options for this nail design are plentiful, it just requires a combination of sea blue accents and a helping of citrus slices. Due to its intricate nature, we'll leave this one to the professionals.
Snack-Sized Nail Art
Nail artist Iram Shelton is making a case for micro nail art this summer, from tiny fruit decals to minimalist spots. 'This trend is all about pops of bright colour; think tiny hearts, abstract shapes, or dots in electric neon against a clean nude base,' she says. 'It’s a fun way to wear bold colours without committing to a full set. Start with a sheer nude or pink base, then use a dotting tool or fine brush to place your accents exactly where you want them. Top coat is key to keep it fresh and wearable all week long. My favourites right now are mini cherries and olives.'
Graphic Brights
For fans of a short manicure, you can keep your summer nails exciting by opting for a graphic square shape and a bold, bright polish. 'A short, clean, natural square nail with softened corners in bright, bold colours particularly in a summery, fresh red or electric blue,' says Vivii. Our favourites? A statement hot pink or a golden sunshine yellow.
Katie Withington (she/her) is the Beauty Writer, at ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar. Working alongside the ELLE UK Beauty Team, she covers all things beauty for both print and digital, from finding backstage make-up trends at London Fashion Week and investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, to unzipping the beauty bags of Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie. Prior to joining ELLE UK in 2022, Katie studied (BA) Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion and has previously contributed to Red, Good Housekeeping and Prima.
Victoria Beckham Puts Her Own Spin On The 'Soap Nail' Trend
A Guide To Creating Cherry Nails For Summer
5 Sunny Nail Designs For The Summer Heatwave
The 4 Juicy Fruit Nail Trends To Try
