25 Beach-Inspired Nail Ideas For Your Next Summer Vacation (2024)

25 Beach-Inspired Nail Ideas For Your Next Summer Vacation (1)

What is it about summer nail designs that get us so excited to head to the salon? Even the most neutral, minimalistic lovers amongst us seem to swap the classic French manicures in favor of neon nail looks, richly detailed tropical designs, and nautical seashell nails. Whether you're jetting off on summer vacation or looking to inject vacay vibes into your day-to-day, we're here to tell you that beach-inspired nails are a must-try. From iridescent chrome looks and barely-there, negative space nails to calming, cool shades of bloom, beachy nails give off a refreshing feel that perfectly encapsulates summer. To provide inspiration, we've rounded up the 25 best beachy nail ideas. Keep reading to find your next manicure

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Baby Blue Shells

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Sheeny, hazy, and romantically detailed with itty bitty pearls, this baby blue seashell set serves major Cinderella vibes.

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Tropical Jelly Nails

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These vibrant summer jelly nails bring the exact energy we're looking for on vacation—and the featured hibiscus flower art and silver rhinestones are just a downright must.

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Deep Sea Set

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Don't just draw inspiration from land level: Take a look at what lies under the sea. Seahorses, coral, seaweed, and shells stand out on the moody blue background, reminiscent of what you'd see on a scuba diving sesh.

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Water Surface Effect

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Pro nail artist Brittany Ellen uses a cool trick to get this water surface pattern. To get the look, mix clear polish with sheer white polish and brush the mixture across the full nail. Immediately follow up by using a dotting tool to place dots of clear polish on top, and you're good to go.

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Chrome Seashells

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This square-shaped chrome seashell manicure tackles three of summer's hottest trends in one go. We're obsessed with the gradient of colors and bubble-encapsulated sea treasures.

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Oceanic Swirls

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Water marbling is the perfect technique for achieving ocean-like waves. Instead of dipping the full nail into the marbled water as you would traditionally, dip just the tips for an instant abstract French, as seen above.

Shimmer Sand Ombré Nails

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Who said beach-inspired manis had to be bright? This creamy beige topped with a fine gold glitter ombré screams beachside without a drop of non-neutral color.

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Luxe Foil

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For a more glam take on the marbled ocean swirl, add gold foil to the negative space of your nails. It's giving buried treasure under the water.

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Seagulls and Waves

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Pay homage to the most common creature of the beach, the seagull. This look opts to skip the details, favoring the bird's sleek silhouette rising above the waves.

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Fresh Out of the Sea

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Did this mani just wash ashore? If you're looking for a life-like seashell nail idea, this design has all the requirements:3D texturereminiscent of shell ridges,pearls, and a neutral palette.

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Seashell Accent Nails

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Strategically placed decals, pearls, and beads make just as much of an impact as elaborate sets do. You just have to look a little closer to sea the details.

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Fijian Flowers

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Ever looked at a Fiji Water bottle and wished you could be transported into the luscious scene? Now you can, with these blue ombré nails complete with realistic water droplets and Fiji's national flower, the pink hibiscus.

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Mismatched Beach Nails

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Textured pearls, water surface patterns, shells, sand dollars, and starfish details make us long walks and treasure hunts on the shore.

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Neutral Seashell Shimmer

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For sunset dinners or days spent exploring the boardwalk, nothing beats a seashell manicure that matches your chic summer outfits, no matter what you're wearing. That's why we love this clear and white set with iridescent shimmers.

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Katsushika Hokusai-Inspired Wave French

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This manicure recreates Katsushika Hokusai's famous "The Great Wave" woodblock print on a tinier canvas, adding a personal touch with neon tropical florals.

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Freshly Picked

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Mixing citrus shades with cobalt blue and aquamarine is always a stunning option. To ensure the details of your hibiscus flowers stand out, try a milky nude or white hue.

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Sunset Hibiscus French

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Spring's favoritenail color, butter yellow, gets a summer rebrand when paired with sunset orange.

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Airbrushed Sunset French

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By airbrushing each pale sherbet orange tip with a pop of bright coral polish, you can achieve a sunset-like effect. Add white hibiscus details to push the tropical vibes even further.

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Make a Splash

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Another creative underwater mani design, this set utilizes subtle variations of blue and white to showcase how light reflects off the surface of the ocean.

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Ocean Ombré

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Whether you dare to explore the deep end or prefer to swim in the shallows, this glittery ombré manicure captures the changing colors and depths of the sea perfectly.

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Long Beach Nails

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While we adore short nails for summer, long nails provide extra space to include kitschy details (like half-opened 3D coconuts and solid gold starfishes).

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Gold Bead Accents

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Gilded gold seashell beads and miniature pearls give a distinctly antique vibe that, when paired with a nearly nude glitter nail, looks super modern and cool.

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Abstract French

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Clean lines in cool, vibrant blues make the manicure perfect for modern minimalist fans. With a steady hand, you can DIY this look at home, alternating swirl art with double French tips.

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Tropical Fauna French

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Not quite ready to move on from the chunky square French tip? Simply add palm leaves, banana leaves, and bright florals to capture that tropical nail vibe.

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Palm Tree Scene

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You can practically smell the saltwater while admiring this palm tree, which takes the beach theme quite literally. The addition of the sunset gradient trailing off into the blue water really sells the vision.