The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and your nails are singing out for a cute new manicure!
Get into the spring of spring with a new set that will put a smile on your face and remind you of the fresh feeling this season brings.
See also: 5 Fabulous Spring Fragrances to Celebrate the Season
From florals to pastels, French manis to butterflies, these breathtaking designs from some of our favorite sources are here to inspire. They're sourced from the nail artists at Bellacures salons, with locations in California and Dallas, TX. Recreate them at home with a few tools, or take them to your favorite nail tech and let the professionals do the heavy lifting.
Start this adorable design by caring for your cuticles. Gently push back and show some love to those cuticles, then file your nails into a chic square with softly rounded edges. Think of it as prepping a tiny canvas for your art. Apply two coats of pinky coral polish, letting each coat dry completely. Be sure to let each layer have its moment to dry. Patience is key to avoiding the dreaded smudge. Embrace thin coats for that smooth, professional look. It’s the perfect backdrop for our butterfly ballet. Practice your butterfly on paper first if you’re a nail art newbie. With a thin brush and your favorite purple polish, draw your dream butterfly. Take it slow. Every stroke is a part of its wings taking flight. Swipe on a top coat for that glassy finish. We’re talking major gloss goals! A drop of cuticle oil for that nourished, fresh-from-the-salon sheen.
This is a cool way to add some edge while still bringing that fresh Spring feeling. Kick things off with some love for your cuticles. Gently push them back and get rid of any excess. Healthy cuticles are the secret to a flawless manicure. File your nails into an elegant almond shape. This sleek silhouette not only looks chic but also gives your fingers a lovely, elongated look. If your natural nails are a bit on the shy side lengthwise, fear not! Gel-X or Gel Builder enhancements can give you that length without the wait or worry of breaks.
Apply two coats of your favorite lilac polish, letting each layer dry completely. This soft, dreamy shade is perfect for embracing the vibrancy of spring. With a thin brush, pick medium to dark grey polish. Start at the bottom of your nail bed, sweeping up to the edge of the nail to create that elegant swooping effect. This technique adds a modern twist and depth to your spring nails. A good top coat not only adds gloss but also protects your artistry. Apply it generously for a durable, shiny finish. Don’t forget a drop of cuticle oil to hydrate and give your nails that salon-fresh look. Healthy, moisturized cuticles are key to a manicure that turns heads.
Start with giving your cuticles some love, gently pushing them back and removing any excess for a clean nail bed. File your nails into a square shape with softly rounded edges for a modern, yet soft look. This shape is versatile and looks great with any design! Apply two coats of clear polish as your base, letting each coat dry thoroughly. This step ensures your nails are protected and ready for some art. Grab a dotting tool and dip it into your chosen shade of green polish. Dot away on your middle, thumb, and pinky fingers. This step brings a fun, springy vibe to your manicure! No dotting tool? No problem! The tip of a bobby pin or the rounded end of a pin works as a great substitute.
With a thin paintbrush and your favorite flower color, paint a simple flower on both your index and ring fingers. Don’t stress about perfection; flowers in nature are beautifully unique! Layer another shade of polish over the first to add depth to your flowers. This trick makes them pop and come to life. Add three small dots in the center of each flower to finish the floral design. It’s all about those little details! Seal your masterpiece with a top coat for lasting shine and protection. This step ensures your spring nails stay fabulous. A drop of cuticle oil not only hydrates but also adds that salon-fresh glow to your manicure.
This is a cute, spring-ready take on the classic French manicure. Bellacures suggests starting with a squared shape and slightly rounded edges, and a base coat to create an even surface. Once your base coat has dried, use a small, thin brush to add some pastel green to the tip of your nails (they suggest OPI That’s Hula-rious). Do this with two coats for a saturated application. Once the green tips have dried completely, outline your French tip with another thin brush line of white (Bellacures uses OPI Alpine Snow) to make that green really stand out! Don’t forget the top coat to seal in your design.
Turn your nails into an Easter basket full of bright and colorful fun with this French mani. Bellacures suggests an oval or rounded shape to make the tips stand out. Grab your favorite blue shade (Bellacures likes OPI Closer than you might Belem and OPI Can’t Find My Czechbook) and paint two coats on all but your index and ring finger. Those two will be your accent nails, and the design starts with two coats of a sheer nude. Once that’s dried, use a thin brush to draw a curved line in blue about ¼ up from of your nail edge. Do this in one quick motion to make the line as clean as possible. Use this line as an outline, and fill in the rest of your nail tip with blue, using at least two coats. Seal it with a top coat, and get ready for the complements!
This third design from Bellacures offers something similar with a pretty pastel. You can use your favorite light, spring colors, or you can use Bellacures faves: OPI You're Such a Budapest, OPI The Pass is Always Greener, OPI No Tan Lines, OPI Suzi Nails New Orleans, and OPI Alpine Snow. This one uses an almond shape, and two coats of each color on a different nail—except your ring finger. That is your statement nail, and the design is created with one coat of sheer nude followed by a thin brush stroke of pink polish across your nail about ¼ up from of your nail edge. Fill in the tip of your nail with that same pink color, giving at least two coats for maximum color, then finish with a top coat for shine!
Now that you’ve got the perfect spring manicure, show off your beautiful set with a delicious and floral beverage from something off our list of favorite spring cocktail recipes.
Photography by: Courtesy of Bellacures
