Whether you work in a professional setting and have to keep your nail designs office appropriate or just prefer a more polished and classy look, these nail designs are for you!
Today we’re showcasing some of the very best classy nail designs for summer. I love fun nail designs and it can be helpful to have some inspiration to show your nail tech. Trust me when I tell you, I searched for a LONG time through Instagram and picked only my very favorite ones to share. Here you’ll find a good mix of classic nail design ideas and bright summer nail designs.
I do want to note that I received permission to use each of these photos on my site from the owner. Most of them are small businesses (whether they own a nail salon, create nail designs for UGC content for brands, or are a content creator and make a living sharing new nail ideas and inspiration) so I would highly encourage you to click through each of these images and check out their pages. I’m sure they would appreciate it.
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Without further ado, here are some of the hottest trends in summer nail designs to recreate on yourself! Get ready for over 20 cute nail designs and different styles.
Dainty Florals
If you or your nail tech is pretty skilled in fine lines, this minimal but intricate design is jaw droppingly beautiful. A bit of skill level is required for these. You don’t need super long nails for this but a bit of length does help. I’d still consider these short nails compared to some designs, but they definitely aren’t the shortest out there. Start with a nude base and then start drawing on the flowers.
These dainty little white flowers painted on a neutral nail color are so cute for shorter nails. You can hand paint or use stickers for the tiny florals.
Milky White Chrome
The perfect pearly white color was used for this manicure. It’s awesome for brides! If you’re trying to achieve healthy nails, you can use a strengthening polish with a tint to achieve this look.
This is a great style for summer because it’s light, airy, and refreshing!
Short Tie Dye
Still super classy because of the short length and almond nail shape, but with a fun summer twist! If you love bright colors then this is a great way to incorporate that while still looking professional. If you can’t decide on a summer nail color, use them all! I’d love to see your own colorful take on this style.
Forget Me Not Flowers
Combining french tips with floral designs is such a genius idea.. Talk about fun designs! Plus, it won’t take quite as long since you’re only spending excess time crafting florals on maybe 4-5 nails total instead of 10.
Yellow French Tips
When I see this color I think of the sun, lemons, and just all things SUMMER! I love colored french tip nails for a fun nail design that is still professional and classy. I’d still consider these bright summer nails, but they are more of a subtle pop.
Fairy Green Twinkly Nails
A little more playful and a little more fun is this nail design! Test out different colors like orange, purple, or blue instead of the classic green and pink.
Watermelon Print
Are you a fan of shorter nails? This features such a professional base color and a polished filing job. Add a little splash of fun and summer with a watermelon sticker on the center of your nail! It’s a great option for those who love subtle, minimalistic nails.
You don’t need much space or a huge nail bed for this fun print.
Pigment Powder Swirl
How gorgeous is this blueish green swirled with yellow? Add a pop of color with this design! These bright colorful nails are so cute for summer.
Peach Fuzz with Tulip Stickers
This one might just be my favorite! It’s a little different than anything I’ve ever seen. The blooming flowers are perfect for warmer weather.
Carnival Tips
You could use any bold colors here to recreate this look. I love how thin the lines are for this manicure. If you’re looking for an easy way to get a fun summer nail look, this is it!
Pink Gradients
How stunning are the different pink tones with shimmer? I love the idea of using various shades or tones of ONE color. Whether it be pink like this or purple, blue, or yellow. Mix it up and keep it fun!
Cute Little Polka Dots
I love this fun option! It’s still professional with the classic black & white combo but has such adorable polka dots. Start with a solid color and then use a toothpick or small brush to add polka dots.
Starfish Nail
A fun way to create a summer mani is to bring in summer elements! These starfish are neutral and stylish with simple colors. If you look closely you can see a dotting tool has been used for a bit of texture.
Marbled Gel
Love this marbled brushed look with gel nails. You might could achieve this with dip powder nails, too.
Blushing Aura Nails
How gorgeous are these? The tones on these colors are just gorgeous! Definitely save this nail design and show it to your technician next time you’re in the salon.
Tiny Daisies
How adorable are these nails? They are actually super simple to recreate with just a couple of lines and tiny flowers. All of the colors are pretty neutral and subtle so perfect for an office or professional environment.
Summer Florals
I love the neutral base with florals on just the tips or bottoms of each nail. It almost looks like natural nails with just hand painted florals overtop. I can’t get over these cute summer nails!
Tiny Floral Cuffs
You can barely even notice the florals which make these a great classy summer nail option. I bet you could even do these yourself in your own home, too.
Dainty Bows
These remind me of the grandmillennial theme going around these days! They are perfect for warm weather and spring showers.
Pearly Swirly Nails
These have just enough uniqueness to make them fun but are still super classy and professional looking. Engagement photos would be the perfect time to test this style out!
You don’t need a long nail length to achieve beautiful, stunning nails. As you can see, sometimes the minimal designs are best.
Blooming Gel Flowers
Such cute gel flowers are displayed on this nail art. The best part? The little rhinestones for added dimension. They’re placed in just the right place for a little light reflectance.
Conclusion
Top off up your summer look with these classy nail designs for summer. Don’t they make your crave those warm sunny days? Grab an Arizona iced tea and head to the nail salon for an afternoon of creativity. If your nail tech is up for it, try one of the intricate designs. Or, there are plenty of easy, DIY ideas here too. Just remember, just because you have shorter length nails doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.
Whether you’re heading to a beach party, a garden wedding, or simply enjoying the sunny days, these short nail designs will elevate your fashion game! From subtle pastels to unique patterns, find the perfect design to complement your summer wardrobe.