Listen, I love chrome nails, glazed-donut nails, and lipstick nails as much as the next beauty editor. But sometimes, I’m on the hunt for simple nail designs and nail trends that’ll give my hands a lil oomph without completely overtaking my look. Which has led me to screenshotting and testing a heavy rotation of minimalist nail looks, featuring tons of French tips, lil bb nail decals, and squiggle designs. And now, I’m happy to share my simple nail ideas with the masses.
Ahead is a full list of the best simple nail designs to try right now, including the favorites I return to again and again. Whether I’m feeling neutrals, a hint of color, or some minimal line art, one of these will always suit my ~vibe~ and give my nail artist some guidance. TBH, though, a lot of these can be DIYed with a few simple tools (see: a manicure set, a glass nail file, and a few nude nail polishes to start). Without further ado, though, see all of my current inspo below:
1
Pink-chrome French tips
Typing this while wearing a version of this manicure rn (so you know it’s influential af). I love the ease of an all-over chrome vibe, especially paired with this delicate light-pink nail polish, but I want to mix it up eventually. I’m considering trying a full-color look rather than French tips, only brushing the chrome powder on the tips, or going for a different pastel shade for my next mani.
2
Metal decals
Popping on a metal decal or stud nail sticker is truly all it takes to get this ~chic~ nail design. You could even leave your nails bare (a big 2023 nail trend, fyi) and just swipe on some nail strengthener and a shiny top coat. Or paint a sheer, neutral base underneath to give this look a bit more polish.
3
Simple dot nail design
This is a nail look of minimalist dreams, complete with this dreamy light-brown nail polish and these itsy-bitsy dots. I like that the dots look sporadic and imperfectly strewn about each nail. Just make sure you fully wait for each dot to dry before painting on a layer of top coat to avoid smudges.
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4
Gradient abstract nail design
If you want to embrace all the colors without going for an intricate manicure, might I introduce you to this abstract design? The negative space throughout makes it feel more toned down and simple, but it’s still unique and exciting, thanks to the color gradient. Try pastels (as shown here), or neons, primaries, and even a mix of neutrals.
5
Half-and-half French
Wait, somehow, this nail look is so intricate but so minimalist at the same time?! The trick to keeping your two shades separate (especially if you also go with a white or cream nail polish)? Stick on a tiny piece of tape before painting, then wait until the polish is dry before peeling it up.
6
Reverse French glitter
If you like the glitz of a glitter manicure but worry about it looking a smidge ~too much~, just focus it at the base of your nails instead, keeping the rest of the look bare. Instead of painting it on straight from the bottle, use a makeup wedge to dab the glitter right where you want it. It’ll help the glitter from going all over your nails (and fingers…and table…and tbh, your whole life).
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7
White-French tips with pearl accents
The easiest way to get in on the “mermaidcore” trend is adding lil adhesive pearl accents to your nails, as shown here. It takes a basic French manicure and makes it feel on-trend and way more fab. (This would also be a very trendy bridal nail look too, IMO).
8
Geometric nail design
IDK why, but this look is giving me Ikea vibes, and I honestly love it. It’s so minimalist (and dare I say, Scandinavian), but looks very put together. You might have a hard time getting these ultra-thin lines straight with nail polish yourself, so pick up these line nail decals that you can just stick on instead.
9
White-and-green squiggles
Meet my absolute favorite simple manicure hack: squiggles. You can do so many variations of this look, whether you change out the colors; make the lines a bit thicker; or give it a retro vibe with muted yellows, oranges, and blues. Truly, the opportunities are endless.
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10
Floral decal design
Nail stickers are your best friend with this look. Truly, just paint on a color of your choice (lavender, as shown above, is a huge summer 2023 nail trend), then press on a few flower decals with tweezers. Go over the whole look with a top coat to keep the stickers in place, and you’re good2go.
11
Marble-and-gold nail design
Marble nail designs should be in your arsenal if you’re a minimalist nail person. Why? Because they look so complex while also being incredibly easy. But this specific look is so freakin’ special, thanks to the gold foil accent, which you could honestly just add with a lil decal.
12
Tortoiseshell-French tip design
Tortoiseshell is, inherently, quite minimal (it is entirely neutral shades, after all), but it looks even more understated as French tips. You can press on a set of tortoise nail stickers to make it extremely easy, or DIY it with this tortoise nail tutorial. Or, ya know, make an appointment with a nail artist and leave it to the pros.
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13
Gradient micro-French tips
If you’re into the short nail look, these micro-French tips pair perfectly to give your nails a liiittle somethin’. And with this rainbow gradient, it feels so bright and summery. But you could totally opt for one full color, or try a variation of other shades, like a full monochrome. FWIW, I wore this exact manicure to Pride one year, and it was a major hit.
14
Simple cloud nail design
Simple nail looks can also totally feel whimsical too. Just opt for small-scale designs that don’t take up the full nail, like these little cloud tips. And it’s shockingly easy to do yourself with makeup sponges and white nail polish. Just coat a corner of the sponge with polish and dab it on your nail in a blurry, cloud-like shape.
15
Simple heart nail design
These lil bb hearts are so cute. Pop on a heart sticker to make this design easy as hell, or give it the ol’ DIY treatment. Dip the dotter end of a nail dotting tool in red polish and create two dots directly next to each other at the center of your nail. Then, connect the two dots with a V at the bottom with a thin nail brush. Need a visual? Here’s a heart-drawing tutorial.
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16
Abstract pink-and-orange design
A little negative space will go a long way to making legit any nail look seem a bit more simplistic, including bright color combos like this. Pink and orange, blue and green, yellow and purple—you’ve got hella options.
17
Monochrome gradient squiggles
These monochrome squiggles incorporate both cream and shimmer versions of the same shade, which is a great way to play with textures. If you swipe to the second picture, you can really see how shiny and fun this looks when your nails catch the light.
18
Rhinestone accents
I’m fully obsessed with these rhinestone nails (legit, I asked for a similar version for New York Fashion Week last fall). Have your nail artist combine a few size variations for each nail to give it a more cohesive look—it’s basically the leveled-up version of bedazzled nails of the early ‘00s.
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19
Aura nails
If you want something a little more complex than an all-over colorful manicure, ask for aura nails, which combine two or three colors in a gradient (often using airbrush for a soft effect). If you’re trying at home without an airbrush gun, opt for a jelly nail polish for the aura. It’s much sheerer, so it’ll blend easily into the color beneath it and only go fully opaque when you build it up.
20
Confetti-tip design
These tips look surprisingly low-key (considering they’re covered in shiny confetti), thanks to the short length. Plus, keeping the rest of your nails clean really makes this design feel minimalist, especially paired with the silver and gold accents.
Beth Gillette
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or credentials like a human expert. However, I have been trained on a wide range of topics and have access to vast amounts of information that I can use to provide accurate and detailed responses.
Regarding this article, it discusses various simple nail designs and trends. Let's go through each concept mentioned in the article and provide information about them:
French Tips
French tips are a classic and timeless nail design that involves painting the tips of the nails white or a light color and leaving the rest of the nail bed natural or painted with a nude shade. It gives a clean and sophisticated look to the nails.
Nail Decals
Nail decals are small adhesive stickers or designs that can be applied to the nails to create intricate and detailed patterns. They are an easy way to add unique designs to your nails without requiring advanced artistic skills.
Squiggle Designs
Squiggle designs refer to wavy or curvy lines painted on the nails, creating a fun and playful look. They can be done using different colors or shades to add variety and creativity to the design.
Gradient Abstract Nail Design
Gradient abstract nail designs involve blending multiple colors together to create a smooth and seamless transition from one color to another. This technique can be applied using a sponge or a brush to create a gradient effect on the nails.
Half-and-Half French
The half-and-half French design is a variation of the classic French manicure. Instead of painting only the tips of the nails, this design divides the nail horizontally into two sections, usually with contrasting colors or finishes.
Reverse French Glitter
Reverse French glitter refers to applying glitter to the base of the nails instead of the tips. This design adds a touch of sparkle and glam to the nails while keeping the rest of the nail clean and simple.
White-French Tips with Pearl Accents
This design combines the classic French tips with the addition of adhesive pearl accents. The pearls are applied along the line where the white tips meet the natural or nude-colored base, adding elegance and sophistication to the design.
Geometric Nail Design
Geometric nail designs involve creating shapes, lines, or patterns using straight lines and angles. They can be achieved using nail art brushes, nail decals, or nail tapes to create precise and symmetrical designs.
Floral Decal Design
Floral decal designs incorporate small flower-shaped stickers or decals onto the nails. They are an easy way to add a feminine and delicate touch to your nails without the need for intricate painting skills.
Marble-and-Gold Nail Design
Marble and gold nail designs combine the elegance of marble patterns with the luxurious touch of gold accents. This design can be achieved using water marbling techniques or by using nail polish with marble-like patterns.
Tortoiseshell-French Tip Design
Tortoiseshell-French tip designs combine the classic French manicure with the tortoiseshell pattern. This design can be achieved using tortoiseshell nail stickers or by painting the tortoiseshell pattern directly onto the nails.
Gradient Micro-French Tips
Gradient micro-French tips are a variation of French tips where the tips are painted with a gradient effect, usually transitioning from one color to another. This design works well with shorter nails and adds a pop of color to the tips.
Simple Cloud Nail Design
Simple cloud nail designs involve creating cloud-shaped patterns on the nails using a makeup sponge and white nail polish. This design gives a whimsical and dreamy look to the nails.
Simple Heart Nail Design
Simple heart nail designs feature small heart shapes painted on the nails. This design can be achieved using a nail dotting tool or heart-shaped nail stickers.
Abstract Pink-and-Orange Design
Abstract pink-and-orange designs incorporate bright color combos with negative space. This design can be achieved by combining pink and orange shades in a gradient or by painting them in abstract patterns.
Monochrome Gradient Squiggles
Monochrome gradient squiggles involve creating wavy lines or squiggles using different shades of the same color. This design adds depth and texture to the nails while maintaining a monochromatic look.
Rhinestone Accents
Rhinestone accents involve applying small rhinestones or gems to the nails to add sparkle and glamour. They can be applied individually or in patterns to create unique and eye-catching designs.
Aura Nails
Aura nails combine two or three colors in a gradient, often using airbrush techniques for a soft effect. This design creates a dreamy and ethereal look on the nails.
Confetti-Tip Design
Confetti-tip designs involve applying shiny confetti or glitter to the tips of the nails. This design can be achieved by painting the nails with a base color and then applying confetti or glitter using a top coat.
These are the concepts mentioned in the article about simple nail designs and trends. Whether you're looking for a classic French tip or a more abstract and creative design, there are plenty of options to choose from. Remember to have fun and experiment with different styles to find the nail design that suits your personal taste and style.
