Galaxy Nails: 44+ Out of This World Designs You Will Fall in Love With

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If you’ve been following nail design trends, you know that galaxy nails are one of the hottest looks for this year. In this article, we have rounded up over forty of the most beautiful designs, from the most talented nail artists around the world, to give you the ultimate collection to choose your next nail project.

Whether you’re planning your next trip to the nail salon, or will attempt to try this style at home, we have collected plenty of ideas to give you lots of options for both.

There are so many reasons to love galaxy nail art.

First of all, galaxy nails work in every season! They look great as a party look, for the winter months, but are surprisingly popular in the summer – they are a sure way to stand out from the crowd!

Second, whether you have short nails, long nails, natural nails, or gel/acrylic nails, there are lots of designs to choose from.

Galaxy nail art can be intimidating on its own. We’ve rounded up some of our best tips as well as our very favorite galaxy nail art ideas to help you figure out the perfect fit!

Starting with a simple video tutorial, followed by some simple color tips and the roundup of the most perfect styles. At the end of the article, you will find some tips on how to pull off this look, together with ideas on how to make your manicure last longer!

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Video Tutorial: Easy Holo Galaxy Nails

Check out this super cool tutorial prepared by Kelli Marissa via youtube.

YouTube video

Best Colors for Galaxy Nail Designs

A good place to start is having a sense of which colors you can work with:

  • Black
  • Dark blue
  • Dark purple
  • Gray
  • White
  • Green
  • Yellow
  • Silver

All of these colors can be used in lots of different combinations to absolutely nail galaxy nail art!

44+ Galaxy Nails: The Most Beautiful Designs

Now that you have a color palette, it’s time to narrow down the other details and find your perfect galaxy nail.

Below we’ve rounded up 44+ of our very favorite galaxy nail art ideas. Take a look through to get inspired!

Galaxy Nails
Nail design by project_paznokcie
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by betterwithjew
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by photon_nails
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by kaomitl
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by cute.clawz
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by maneils
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by alexandra_nail_artist_mjt
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by showusyourtips_nailartistry
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by nailart_by_cat
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by _pinka.nailart_
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by nails.at.midnight
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by nails.with.p
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by beglamorous.eu
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by havennails_beautyspa
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by lexi.lacquers
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by lavishclawss
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by thenailshousecr
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by karina_filipiuk
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by nsonails
Galaxy Nails
nail design by indulgence__bessacarr
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by cubanasets
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by rock.a_nd.rose
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by caitlyn.nails
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by jarka_simanova_nails
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by nerdynailsaf
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by madziaczek321
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by jennasesthetics_
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by melonnailart
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by glamournails_iv
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by claudiucatalinstudio
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by madziaczek321
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by @whatsupnails
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by hellorosy
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by cherished_nails
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by fanntanails
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by melonnailart
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by whatsupnails
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by opal.luxbeauty
Galaxy Nails
nail design by @zoe_a_hancock
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by talonsbyindia
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by talonsbyindia
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by anotherii
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by martynalesz_indigo
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by bymelinailss
Galaxy Nails
Nail design by samanthalouisebeautystudio

Top Tips for Choosing Galaxy Nails Designs

Below are our best tips for planning out your nail art.

Nail Shapes

Before you start painting, you need a canvas! While you can work with any nail shape or size, having a larger canvas will give you more options for designs.

Two nail shapes that have been all over social media are stiletto nails and coffin nails. Stiletto nails are long nails that are slightly rounded on the sides that come to a sharp point at the end.

Coffin nails are similar in the rounded sides, but are squared up and straight at the end.

If you prefer to keep your nails short, it’s a good idea to invest in some nail art brushes. They are much easier to work with especially if you are working on a smaller canvas.

Where to Start

If you want to try out your DIY nail art skills, start simple. Start with a black base, then once it has dried draw some simple designs with white polish. Use a nail art brush, or in a pinch you can even use a toothpick! Draw some four pointed stars and moon and you’re done!

Dark purple and dark blue over a black background instantly translate into galaxy design. Start off with a black background and take your secondary color and swipe it over part of your nail. The best part of this is it doesn’t have to be symmetrical! Give it a little wiggle when you go over and it will look like a stunning galaxy. Add a glittery top coat for your stars! This combination will give your nails an incredible cosmic effect!

Gray is also a great backdrop for galaxy nail art. Try a matte gray as a base and draw some designs in silver or gold!

Nail Design Options

If you aren’t used to bright and flashy nail art, try a galaxy french tip instead. You can pick any of the colors that work for galaxy nail art (black, purple, blue) and go in with your nail art brush and in a few little stars.

If you want to try galaxy nails that are a little less traditional, try a black and green combo instead! And in place of your stars and moon, try adding in some planets like Saturn, and maybe even a little UFO!

Another non-traditional galaxy nail art idea is an ombre nail. Start with black at the top or bottom, and work your way up to purple and then blue. If you’re doing this at home, grab a makeup sponge and swipe the colors on it first, and then press it onto your nail. Use a top coat to smooth it out.

What is a more classic interpretation of the galaxy than the milky way? Start with your trusty black base and find a creamy, off-white color to swipe across. For the stars you can, of course, stick with glitter or even a bright opaque white that’s visible against the off-white.

How to Make Your Nails Last Longer

Now that you have your gorgeous galaxy 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 galaxy nail design.

More Nail Design Inspiration

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Lindsey Harris
Author
Lindsey is a professional nail artist based in Utah, US. Her specialties are party and occasion nails, she loves to work with glitter and gemstones in her nail studio. She loves sharing her knowledge of the nail industry and curating the latest nail design trends. She is contributing to a number of other industry related magazines.