When winter is finally over there is nothing we love more than seeing bright colors. We change our clothes and our accessories, and bright summer nails are the perfect addition!
There are so many colorful nail designs to choose from to keep your nails bright all summer long.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorites, as well as some tips to help make sure your bright summer nails last as long as possible.
Bright summer nails design can work on any length and shape of the nail.
If you have longer nails you’ll have a larger canvas and can really have fun trying out a few different designs. If you have shorter nails you’ll still be able to do some colorful nail designs, but you may want to get some nail art brushes as they are easier to work with.
80+ Cutest Bright Summer Nails for Inspiration
There are so many different popular styles for bright summer nails that we thought it’s best to round them up by style! You can use the table of content to navigate to the style you’re most interested in or browse the whole collection by scrolling below.
Below are some of the best bright nail designs to try out this summer.
Style 1: Neon Bright Summer Nails
Nothing says summer like neon colors!
Neon green, yellow, pink and orange are all very common colors to see, and if you can’t decide on one you can always do a combination. While you can pick up neon nail polish in most drugstores, it does tend to be a little more delicate in terms of wearability.
If you really want your neon nails to last we recommend getting either gel polish that’s cured or gel/acrylic nails.
Pink Glow
Vibrant Varnish
Neon Artistry
Glow Getter
Radiant Nails
Neon Elegance
Fluorescent Fingertips
Colorful Claws
Neon Dreams
Dazzling Digits
Style 2: Tips for Bright Summer Nails
If you prefer something a little more subtle try a colorful take on a french manicure. Instead of doing the classic white tip, pick your favorite summer colors.
Pastel colors are a great choice for a colored tip.
You can try doing it free hand and use a cotton swab to clean it up after, or lay some tape down below your free edge as sort of a stencil.
Glowing Glamour
Glitter Chic
Red Hearts
Bright Manicure
Pop of Color
Bright & Breezy
Summer Chic
Nail Radiance
Vacation Nails
Tropical Touch
Style 3: Floral Bright Summer Nails
Floral nail designs are a classic for summer.
And the best part is there are endless color combinations you can do! If you are just starting out with your own nail designs, there is a simple way to do a floral nail design: apply your base color (you can even just do a clear coat if you really want the flower to pop) and then take a dotting tool or toothpick and do a few dots in a circle for the petals. Pick a different color for the middle and finish with a top coat!
Summer Blossoms
Floral Fiesta
Tropical Blooms
Bright Petals
Summer Garden
Flower Power
Colorful Bouquets
Sun-Kissed Nails
Yellow Splash
Flower-Inspired
Style 4: Ombre Bright Summer Nails
Ombre nail art is another great way to mix and match a few different colors at once, to get a beautiful design for your bright summer nails.
Pick two or three of your favorite summer colors and swipe them on a makeup sponge. Press the sponge onto your nail beds, you may have to go in with fresh paint two or three times. Clean up the edges and smooth it out with your top coat.
Vivid Summer Fade
Golden Hearts
Beachy Blend
Natural Ombre
Sandy Ombre
Seaside Ombre
Warm Transition
Pink and Yellow Ombre
Sunrise Ombre
Beach Bliss
Style 5: Pink Bright Summer Nails
Pink is one of our favorite colors for summer, and there are so many shades to choose from. Bubblegum pink, pastel pink, hot pink, and neon pink are good shades to start experimenting with.
You can pick one as your main color and pick a secondary color for an accent nail, or top a few nails off with a clear glitter!
Summer Pink Pizzazz
Vivid Summer Mani
Bright Pink Bliss
Pink Paradise
Sizzling Pink Nails
Summer Shine
Hot Pink Glam
Pink Perfection
Multi Pink Vibes
Pink Passion
Style 6: Bright Summer Nails for the Beach
Who doesn’t love going to the beach in the summer? Or better yet, having the beach with you wherever you go! For beach nails you don’t have to necessarily do beach nail art, you can just pick a few of the colors that are associated with the beach.
You can use turquoise for the water, light blue for the sky, yellow for the sun, white for some clouds, and even beige for the sand.
If you do want to do some nail art, check out Pinterest for some tutorials on things like seashell nail art, sand nail art, and ocean nail art.
Island Elegance
Beach Breeze Glamour
Bright Sea
Seashore Sparkle
Beach Babe Beauty
Beach Vacation Glam
Shoreline Splendor
Bright Sands, Bright Nails
Tropical Escape Tips
Vibrant Coastal Charm
Style 7: Tropical Bright Summer Nails
Take your beach nails one step further and try out some tropical summer nails!
You can take many of the same elements of beach nail art and add in some other colors like red and orange. Take your nail art brush and draw some simple palm leaves over your base color for some perfect tropical nail art!
Sizzling Summer
Exotic Colors
Tropical Leaves
Summer Glitter
Palm Tree Paradise
Pink Florals
Island Sunset
Boho Summer
Tropical Trends
Bright Flora
Style 8: Simple Bright Summer Nails
There are many options for simple bright summer nails if. You can select any of your favorite summer colors and do any combination you like.
For something a little different, pick up a matte top coat instead of your usual high gloss top coat. You can also incorporate glitter, or multiple shades of the same color.
Lemon Magic
Fuchsia Glam
Sparkling Duo
Beach Ready
Pastel Paradise
Funky Fresh
Sunset Variations
Seasonal Ombre
Summer Wow
Sandy Steps
Now that you have your colorful summer nails, make sure they last! If you are doing your own nails, make sure you start off with a clean base.
Push your cuticles back and give your nails a good buff so there are no ridges. Clean your nails with polish remover before you start painting to make sure your nail beds have no excess oils or residue from your previous polish.
A good base and top coat are key factors in making sure your nail art lasts.
A good base coat will protect your nails from being stained or discolored, which can happen with dark colors. It also acts as an adhesive for the color. A good top coat will protect the polish and make it last!
Whether you get your nails done professionally or you do them yourself, it’s important to do what you can to protect them. Some things are unavoidable, like washing your hands.
Wearing rubber gloves while you do dishes is a great way to keep your nail art looking fresh!
Our last piece of advice is to have some fun with it! Try out a few different designs and see what you like best. Experiment with different colors, finishes, and designs, and you’re sure to find the perfect summer nail design.
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