If there’s one thing I’ve learned in nearly a decade of covering beauty for a living, it’s that nail trends never stay stagnant. Every year brings a fresh wave of colors, shapes, and designs that define the moment—some so iconic they’re practically timestamped in beauty history. Case in point: 2024 was the year of chrome nails, and I’d be genuinely shocked if you didn’t rock the look at least twice. (Totally fine if you’re still obsessed; I am too.) Equally buzzy were hyper-custom nail designs, like Hailey Bieber’s farmer’s market nails, which had beauty lovers racing to recreate their own fruit-inspired sets.
The Shift Into 2025
Now, fast forward to 2025, and the nail industry is experiencing yet another shift. For expert insight on what nail trends are set to take over your social media feeds in the months ahead, I tapped five celebrity manicurists: Elle Gerstein, Hang Nguyen, Miss Pop, Queenie Nguyen, and Mabelyn Alva. Their verdict? “2025 nails are all about balance; minimalism meets boldness,” says Nailing Hollywood artist Nguyen. “It’s about clean looks mixed with creative designs.” On one end, pros are seeing a rise in minimalist elegance (think: soft shades and short lengths), while on the other, maximalist drama is the way to go (square tips and wildly intricate art, anyone?).
Expert-Approved Nail Trends For 2025
Continue reading for a comprehensive, expert-approved guide to the most popular nail trends for 2025, including nail polish colors, finishes, and designs. I’ve provided plenty of screenshot-worthy manicure inspiration (you’re welcome), as well as professional-recommended products and advice to help you achieve each nail look.
Barely-There Wash Of Color
New York City-based manicurist Elle Gerstein supports this subtle nail trend and describes it as a barely-there wash of color that is more like a sheer tint than a full-on shade. Whether it’s a whisper of pastel, a chic “bubble bath” nude, or the faintest hint of chrome, the key is subtlety (think a baby blue so soft you almost miss it). For the perfect barely-there manicure, the pro recommends the Aprés Nail Light & Shadow Collection, which leaves just a hint of color in one coat but can be layered for a more noticeable effect.
Rich Neutrals And Shades Of Brown
If you caught this year’s Pantone Color of the Year reveal, it won’t come as a shock that NYC-based nail artist Miss Pop predicts brown will dominate well beyond its usual seasonal peak. “From dark chocolate to mocha mousse, rich neutrals will be worn even beyond the typical fall season,” she says. Essie Always Morphing, Zoya Nail Polish in Nyssa, and Salon Perfect Press-On Nails in Glazed Chocolate Chrome Powder Effect are a few of her go-to colors for achieving the look.
Butter Yellow Nails
We know you’ve probably heard it time and time again, but in case you missed it: butter yellow is one of the most popular nail colors of the year, dominating across all major categories. Mabelyn Alva, a nail artist and creative director at Paintbox, a nail studio in New York City, has even confirmed the trend. She told Marie Claire about the spring nail colors to try, “Butter yellow has been big in fashion and we’re seeing it transition into beauty trends with nails.”
Patterns And Prints
“Patterns, whether it’s animal prints or geometric, will remain very strong,” says Gerstein of the year ahead. No shock there, especially with tortoiseshell designs (reminiscent of your favorite shades, but in nail form) steadily taking over our social media feeds.
The Rise Of Textures And Effects
3D Designs
With 3D designs, minimalist and maximalist nails find common ground or focus entirely on a single aesthetic. In any case, Nguyen and Gerstein claim that texture will be the style to embrace in 2025. Whether it’s dainty charms or sculptural, raised details like the monochrome look pictured here, you can’t go wrong with a tactile approach. According to Gerstein, “One-color flat nails are a thing of the past.”
Glittering Cat-Eye Nails
According to Miss Pop, “Nails will be catching all the light in 2025.” At the top of the list: glittering cat-eye designs. If you’re new to the trend, it uses a magnet and magnetic gel polish to create reflective and dimensional patterns that mimic a literal cat’s eye. A helpful tidbit from the expert herself: many cat-eye press-ons make it simple to achieve the look at home if you prefer not to go to the salon.
Aura Nails
As you can probably tell from the ethereal vibe of many of the manicures that have landed a spot on this list, “Trends like aura nails that have soft, dreamy effects will continue trending in 2025,” says Nguyen. The design features a gradient color effect meant to replicate the look of an energy field, and it’s endlessly customizable. While you can choose any colors that speak to you, I especially love the high-contrast combo of brown and pink, pictured here.
Minimalist Chic
Short Natural Nails And Nail Health
“Short natural nails are still in for 2025,” declares Nguyen, “calling all mani minimalists.” Even better, this trend also embodies one of the year’s biggest beauty buzzwords: nail health. Nguyen suggests starting with a smoothing, hydrating base coat before swiping on your favorite sheer polish and keeping your cuticles happy by moisturizing them regularly.
Tiffany Blue Nostalgia
Whether Tiffany Blue nails spark Y2K nostalgia in the best way or make you hesitate, their comeback is inevitable. The color robin’s egg blue, according to Gerstein, is “Fresh and dreamy, perfect for minimalist chic or intricate floral accents.”
Metals And Chrome
“Putting a finish on any manicure with metals and chrome, whether ombré or blended, elevates it,” says Gerstein. “This trend will never really go away,” she adds, emailing me an inspiration-packed list that proves just how customizable the trend is. Think: chrome French tips, negative space designs, cuticle accents—the possibilities are endless.
Glass Nails
Chrome nails and their subtler sibling, the “glazed donut” trend, reigned supreme in 2024, but in 2025, they’re evolving into their next iteration: glass nails. True to their name, glass nails feature a translucent, ultra-glossy finish that Miss Pop predicts will continue to trend. “Nails will look so glossy, the color will appear to be beneath a sheet of glass,” she explains. “The glass skin trend has officially made its way down to the fingertips.” Luckily, this look is easy to achieve with nail polish, gel, and press-ons.
Maximalist Nail Art
Layered Textures
When I said that the nail trends for this year fall into one of two categories: minimalist or maximalist, I wasn’t lying. The layered textures trend firmly plants itself in the latter category, with designs that celebrate all things bold and intricate. Think fine line detailing, 3D embellishments, mixed finishes (glossy and matte), and more dots and gradients than you can count. “To get a layered or abstract design, fine nail art brushes are key for adding detail like gradients or fluid shapes,” Hang suggests for those ready to try the look at home.
