The Coolest Summer Nail Designs to Try in 2020

Cherry prints, butterflies, rainbow French manis—we’ve got plenty of new ideas.

By Bella Cacciatore

31 Summer Nail Designs Nail Art Ideas for 2020 — Instagram

Beach days and barbecue plans might be on hiatus depending on where you live, but you know what still goes great with a frozen marg? Summer nail designs. While fun nails certainly won’t fix our current situation, they can be a literal bright spot. Plus, there’s never a bad time to learn how to master the perfect DIY mani.

Whether your salon is opening back up or you’re going it on your own, feel free to dive in to the nail trends we’ve been hitting the save button on over the past few months. From subtle gradients (rainbow nails are still going strong this season) to classic French tips to full-on butterflies, there’s a little something for every taste and skill level. Scroll on for the best summer nail designs worth copying.

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Instagram/@annahershey_

1/31

Cartoon Clouds

Cloud nails may have been trending this winter, but they give us total summer vibes. Unlike the more stylized clouds that were popping off, these cartoony clouds are totally DIY-able. All you need is a good art brush and the perfect opaque white (try Orly French Tips).
Instagram/@paintboxnails

2/31

’70s Swirls

Graphic yet simple nail art will be your best friend this summer. Give it a retro vibe with earthy, mustard-toned neutrals like Paintbox’s Like Lush + Like Flora Power Couple.
Instagram/@betina_goldstein

3/31

Instagram/@nailartbysig

4/31

Tie-Dye Nails

Tie-dye everything is trending for summer—on matching sweat sets, on accessories, and yup, even on nails. We love this take that feels a little more zen than summer camp. Just use a sponge dipped in nail polish for a blotted effect.
Instagram/@Betina_goldstein

5/31

Monotone Matte

Love mismatched nails but want something a little more sophisticated? Go for different shades of the same color and add a matte topcoat for a luxe velvet feel.
Instagram/@overglowedit

6/31

Rainbow French

This cheerful twist on the French mani is guaranteed to put you in a good mood every time you look down (and would be so cute with Olive & June’s new summer collection).
@betina_goldstein / Instagram

7/31

Slime Green

Our Nickelodeon days might be over, but our love for slime lives on. Copy nail artist Betina Goldstein and use two coats of Essie Nail Polish in Blanc and one coat of Stencil Me In to really make the green pop.

Instagram/@oi_nail

8/31

Mismatched Hands

Want something fun but are useless with an art brush? Try one vivid color on your right hand and a different color on your left. The hearts are cute too, but not necessary to make this look.
Instagram/@lemanoir

9/31

Cow Print

If it’s good enough for Kendall Jenner and Ariana Grande…
Instagram/@nataliepavloskinails

10/31

Cherries

These sweet little cherries look way more complicated than they actually are; just follow nail artist Natalie Pavloski’s lead.
Instagram/@paintboxnails

11/31

All That Glitters

The easiest high-impact, low-effort manicure? A full-on glitter (Paintbox makes some of our favorites).

Instagram/@stephstonenails

12/31

Strawberry Nails

Have you seen anything sweeter? Try Essie in Rock the Runway and Watermelon for the berries and Off Tropic for the leaves.
Instagram/@hollyfalconenails

13/31

Tiny Florals

You don’t need to have a green thumb to appreciate these dainty daisies. Use a toothpick or the end of a booby pin for perfectly symmetrical dots. Easy.
14/31

Corner French

If you like the crispness of a classic French manicure but lean a little more modern, go for this minimal interpretation. The key to making this look purposeful is a perfectly shaped nail; read our guide here.
@aliciatnails/Instagram

15/31

Subtle Sparkle

For a bit of sparkle, use a foil only in the center of your nails—no Kirakira needed.

@betina_goldstein/Instagram

16/31

Iridescent Ombré

Make an opalescent polish even more magical by graduating the intensity. Nail artist Betina Goldstein used Essie in Teirs of Joy to get the look above.
@oi_nail/Instagram

17/31

Watermelon Nails

Still thinking about Harry Styles’s Watermelon Sugar video? Us too. Let everyone know with this fruity nail art, and you’ll be on-trend since it’s a riff on a French mani.
@nailsbymei/Instagram

18/31

The New French

It’s back, baby. While there are tons of cool variations on French manis now—rainbow, glitter, negative space—we’re a sucker for the classic early-aughts throwback.
@alyssainthecity/Instagram

19/31

Confetti Nails

Bring the party to your nails with summer’s latest big trend: confetti nails.

Instagram/@nailartbysig

20/31

Polka Dots

For super-simple art, just use a bobby pin to create graphic dots. Nail artist Sigourney Nuñez used OPI in Do You Lilac It? for this creamy pastel base.
@nailsinc/Instagram

21/31

Green Gradient

Get the best of both worlds and combine the green and gradient trends for an instantly interesting mani (try OPI Olive for Green as a jumping off point).
@oi_nails/Instagram

22/31

Emoji Hearts

Take your favorite emoji from your screen to your nails with some simple sequins. Amazon is full of specialty shaped ones.
@aliciatnails/Instagram

23/31

Checkerboard Mani

No longer just for your sneakers, checkerboard nails add a cool touch to any outfit. These nail decals make it super easy to do yourself.

Instagram/@nataliepavloskinails

24/31

Black Hearts

If hearts are a little too sweet, toughen them up with black polish and a minimal background.
@aliciatnails/Instagram

25/31

Mismatched Moons

Ease your way into a full rainbow by stacking colors just at the base of your nails. Perfect for the more indecisive among us (looking at you, Libras).
@aliciatnails/Instagram

26/31

Double French

These stacked French tips have twice the impact. To get a similar look, apply a base of Orly Morning Mantra, then layer a thin stripe of Orly Love My Nails on top.
@aliciatnails/Instagram

27/31

Quick Stitch

Could there be an easier look to DIY that’s this chic? Don’t think so.

@aliciatnails/Instagram

28/31

Goth French Mani

Channel nail artist Alicia Torello and use Chanel polish in Rouge Noir and Organdi for this dark take on a classic.
@aliciatnails/Instagram

29/31

Evil Eyes

Take a half-moon mani up a notch with these eyes that are equal parts spooky and chic.
@chillhouse/Instagram

30/31

Muted Rainbow

This mismatched mani is cool without even trying. For similar shades, use Orly Almond Milk, Orly De-stressed Denim, Essie Kaf-Tan, and OPI Gelato on My Mind.
@ohmynailsnyc/Instagram

31/31

Hint of Neon

Afraid of full-on neon? This subtle neon stripe is the perfect way to ease into the trend.

Copy https://www.glamour.com/

Cartoon Clouds

’70s Swirls

Tie-Dye Nails

Monotone Matte

Rainbow French

Slime Green

Mismatched Hands

Cow Print

Cherries

All That Glitters

Strawberry Nails

Tiny Florals

Corner French

Subtle Sparkle

Iridescent Ombré

Watermelon Nails

The New French

Confetti Nails

Polka Dots

Green Gradient

Emoji Hearts

Checkerboard Mani

Black Hearts

Mismatched Moons

Double French

Quick Stitch

Goth French Mani

Evil Eyes

Muted Rainbow

Hint of Neon