Oh my gosh, are those beach nails?! I saw someone at the grocery store last week with the cutest little seashell on her ring finger and I literally stopped her to ask about it. That’s kind of the whole point of a good summer manicure, making strangers stop you in a grocery store.
Beach nails are having such a big moment right now and honestly they never really go away. Every summer I go down a rabbit hole of nail inspo and this year I went extra deep. I put together 20 designs I genuinely love, shells, starfish, palm trees, waves, all of it.
1. Pink Seashell Glam with Pearl Accents
Most of the nails are a soft bubblegum pink and it’s so pretty. There’s a few nails that look totally different, it’s a nude/sandy color with a big white seashell painted on. Little pearl beads sit right at the bottom of the shell and they make the whole thing look fancy. I love how the pink and the shell nail look next to each other, it’s a really good combo.
2. Pastel French Tips with Yellow Starfish
The tips on these nails switch between mint and a soft blue and I think that’s such a good idea. It’s on a sheer neutral base so the tips really stand out. Some of the nails have a tiny yellow starfish painted in the middle and it’s the cutest little detail. The whole look feels fresh and beachy without being too much.
3. Tropical Flamingo Paradise
Ok this one has a lot going on and I love every single part of it. There’s a bright pink nail, a mint green nail, and a dark green nail covered in big monstera leaf art. Then there’s a white nail with a painted flamingo on it, palm leaves and everything. It’s basically a whole vacation on your hand.
4. Baby Blue Hibiscus with Gold Starfish Charms
Some of the nails are a soft baby blue and some are a sheer neutral and the combo is really nice. White hibiscus flowers are painted across a few of the nails and they look so delicate. There are real gold metal starfish charms stuck on some of the nails too. I also really like the little white polka dot nail, it breaks up the look in a good way.
5. Ocean Wave Swirl Nails
These nails look like actual water and I don’t know how anyone paints that. Deep navy and teal and white are all swirled together with little bits of shimmer mixed in. Every single nail looks a little different from the others because of the swirl pattern. I just think this design is really special.
6. Sheer Blue Ombre with Plumeria Flowers
The base of each nail is sheer and skin-toned and it fades into a soft baby blue at the tip. A white plumeria flower is painted right in the center of every nail. Plumeria is that classic Hawaiian flower and it fits perfectly with this look. It’s light and airy and I could see wearing these to a beach wedding.
7. Sandy Seashells on Blue and White
This one is simple but really well done. The nails are a mix of baby blue and white with the seashells painted over the top. The shells are a warm sandy beige color and they almost look three dimensional. I like how the warm shell tone sits against the cool blue and white, it reminds me of the actual beach.
8. Blue Ocean Tips with Flowers
The tips of these nails have a blue ripple texture that looks like the bottom of a swimming pool and that detail is so cool. The rest of each nail is a sheer nude base. Little flower accents are placed on the nails in white, pink, and yellow with bright pink centers. The mix of the tile texture and the flowers is really unique.
9. Pink and Yellow with Mini Palm Tree Scene
Most of these nails are a glossy coral pink or a bright yellow and they are so bold. Then the middle nail has a tiny beach scene on it with teal water and white waves and palm tree silhouettes. It looks like a phone wallpaper shrunken down onto a nail. The pink and yellow together are really fun and summery.
10. Coral and Mint French Tips with Starfish
Coral and mint French tips alternate across the nails on a sheer base and it works so well. Each nail has a little white starfish painted in the center of it. One nail also has a tiny seashell which is a cute touch. It’s elegant but still feels very beachy and I think that’s hard to pull off.
11. Classic White French Tips with Starfish
Sometimes the simple ones are the best and this is one of those times. Clean white French tips sit on a soft sheer base and two of the nails have a detailed white starfish in the center. The starfish has a dotted texture on it that makes it look almost raised. This is the kind of manicure that goes with everything.
12. Iridescent Aurora Shells
Some of these nails shift from pale blue to lavender to pink depending on how the light hits them. The others are a solid soft blue. Two of the nails have large seashell embellishments that are actually textured and sit on top of the nail. I think this is one of the most stunning designs on the whole list.
13. Pastel Tips with Tiny Sea Creatures
The base of each nail is sheer and almost glass-like which I love. The tips are pastel pink and yellow and they alternate between fingers. Tiny little fish, starfish, and seashells are painted all over the nails in different colors. It honestly looks like a little aquarium and I mean that as a huge compliment.
14. Matte Peach and Mint with Sunset Beach Scene
Matte nails in the summer are just so good to me. Most of the nails are a warm peach or a cool mint, both in matte finish. Then there are two accent nails with detailed beach scenes, one has a palm tree silhouette and one has a full sunset with waves and a coral sky. The matte finish makes it look like a little painting.
15. Soft Blue Ombre with Yellow Daisies
The ombre on these goes from sheer at the base to a soft blue at the tips and it’s really pretty. Some of the nails have a bright yellow daisy painted on them with a tiny white center. It’s casual and cute and the kind of nails I’d do on a weekend afternoon. I think these would get so many compliments.
16. Blue French Tips with 3D Mixed Flowers
The blue tips on these have a soft watercolor texture to them and I think it’s a really nice touch. The base of each nail is a sheer nude. Little 3D flower charms in pink, white, and yellow-green are placed at the border of the tip. It’s playful but not overdone.
17. Pastel Multicolor Shells on Every Nail
Each nail is a different pastel color, pink, yellow, mint, peach, and I love that so much. A big white shell design is painted over the top of each one. The shells look sheer and delicate, almost like a watercolor drawing. Having a different color on every finger makes it feel fun and random in a good way.
18. Baby Blue and White with Hibiscus, Pearls and Gold Stars
This one has baby blue nails and white/sheer nails mixed together and it looks so pretty. Large white hibiscus flowers are painted across multiple nails and they are so detailed. Pearl bead clusters and gold starfish charms are added on top and it all comes together really well. This looks like something you’d see at a fancy resort.
19. Pink and Mint French Tips with Palm Trees
Hot neon pink and aqua mint tips alternate on a sheer base and it’s such a bold combo. Each nail has a black palm tree silhouette painted in the center of it. The neon tips scream tropical vacation and the black trees keep it looking graphic and clean. I think this is such a cool take on the classic French tip.
20. Mint Nails with Gold Starfish
These are oval shaped nails in a soft pale mint and they are just so wearable. A large gold starfish is painted on each nail with tiny white dots for texture. The gold against the pale mint is such a pretty combination. It feels beachy but also a little sophisticated, like nail jewelry almost.