The vibe? End-of-summer glow. The mission? Do something new, daring or perhaps simply with delightful (and innocently) simplicity right there under your fingertips.
As we slide into the final weeks of August, there’s this undeniable urge to refresh. Perhaps it is the sunlight which is lying down more, or it is the transition back to reality which begins to move. Either way, it’s the perfect moment to update your nail game. It is not about following all the trends just because this is what should be done at that moment but it is about discovering that one design that suits you so well at this point in your life. Maybe it’s abstract flames, delicate florals, or glossy neons. It is perhaps only the one color which makes you feel a little bit more like yourself.
Here in this round-up of nails design looks in the month of August, I have assembled the styles that not only impressed me, but fit the season extremely well too. Whether you’re a short square loyalist or love your acrylic coffin drama, there’s a little something here for everyone. So… which mood are your nails in today?
Modern Desert Geometry
As soon as I laid my eyes on this structure it provided me with late summer meets mid-century modern. Put greyish tones on your mind but with a graphic irony, that is, almond matte nails with a burnt terracotta and a cactus green color set, combined with black dotted lines and simple curves. It is providing me with element of architectural chic, and it is the ideal for any one who is a bit over the French tip and wants something adorable, and organized, but still extremely wearable. The best part? It is equally beautiful whether on short or almond-shaped nails and on the long ones and the fact that it is matte is screaming polished August energy. That without a doubt is the kind of style of 2025 that is not so pushy that it shouts loud.
To recreate this exact look, you’d want a matte top coat (I like the OPI Matte Top Coat for that suede finish), plus shades like Essie’s “Win Me Over” for the green and OPI’s “My Italian is a Little Rusty” for the terracotta. The thin lines and the dotted arcs can be done, with the help of nail art striping brushes or dotting pens. Keep a nude base like Butter London’s “Mummy’s the Word” as your starting canvas.
The aim of attaining the clean lines at home is practicing patience. I begin using base colour and leave it to dry thoroughly, after which I use nail tapes to form areas in order to do the graphic detailing. The miniature dotted lines are easily made with the help of dotting tools even when a person is a beginner in this process. Besides consistency, Betina Goldstein, or rather a celebrity nail artist suggests quick-drying drops between layers to avoid muddling a design down – and really, it is a miracle when you are making some detailed work.
It is the style I wore to a rooftop party in Santa Fe last summer, it got people looking at me, yet, above all, it made me feel like I look together without putting a lot of effort at all. It is a versatile on-demand of august nails design, particularly the ones, who are inclined to earthy tones.
Molten Lava Drama
This manicure is a full mood: bold, edgy, and ready for a night out (or just a fierce week ahead). Its square cut and those tints of molten waves in yellow, red and orange is channelling the heat of late summer. It is shamelessly huge and noisy, which, actually, makes it so breathtaking. I have watched this style going viral on Pinterest with reference such as ideas short and acrylic, and it is understandable as to why this is the case. The neon accents go even further thanks to the black matte base and the sculpted shape provides the structure.
You’ll want to start with a jet-black matte base (try Orly’s “Liquid Vinyl” under their matte top coat), and then go in with neon gel polishes — DND’s “Bright Sunflower” and LeChat’s “Atomic Red” are two faves. Those curves can be molded by the use of a fine nail art brush or flame stencil. To achieve this fearless attitude, you need acrylic coffin or square extensions but short gel has been adapted in the same fashion too.
This style is easier than it looks. After the matte base, outline your flame shapes with white polish first (as a buffer), then layer your colors for intensity. This technique is something nail artist Mei Kawajiri (aka @nailsbymei) has showcased often — building dimension by stacking color.
In case you feel like going into a fashion splash in 2025 or you simply feel in the festive Leo spirit, this will do. It is my favorite one to wear in August birthdays or even on the festival weekends as it is very self-confident and a little bit rebellious.
Grapevine Geometry
It is so new-feeling to have a 2025 square set of nails that embraces the unforeseen color match-up – this deep plum / clean white one is so stylish it is painful. It is a geometric nail art with a new age twist and it looks clean as a whistle. This is one of those basic yet impressive looks which succeeds in the category acrylic square pink, although there is not a drop of pink in it. It is suitable to those girls who prefer balance: tough yet gentle, firm but not tight.
I, personally, always prefer OPI reddish violet color called Lincoln Park After Dark and Zoya Purity, as a white. If you are not steady in freehand then you can get that just right contrast with a nail vinyl stencil. You will finish it by covering it with matte top coat, this absence of shine keeps it very contemporary.
The structure here is what makes it so wearable. Even on short nails, this has impact. The trick here is you just have to put your angles in a strategic position they are nice a diagonal in the cuticle or at the tip of the nail bed and everything will look slimmer. I got to know this at a nail salon in Chicago and the lady uses it as a layout rule by thirds.
I traded this in a rainy weekend in Napa and unlike in our expectations it went very well with chunky knits and wine glasses. August is the month when not all things need to be neon-colored: a reset can be as easy as graphics color-blocking.
Zesty Lemon Pop
Okay, how much fun is this one? It is light, adorable, childish it is summer manicure. The color yellow is enjoying such a moment in the future in 2025 and particularly in short gel styles. The slices of lemon used are quite detailed, and this brings an even more affable slightly retro feeling to the image, and the clear background helps bring the color out even brighter. You would probably give sunshine this when it came to mani.
It should be done with a gel polish to have it all neat and colorful. Beetles Gel Polish in the shade of the solid nails can be considered as, so to speak, the juicy nails in the color of Neon Yellow, and to make the math exactly, Daily Charme could help you do the fruit art in the form of a nail sticker with lemon flavor, in case you prefer not to do the drawings in the style of free-hand drawing.
When you want this to last, you have to always put your stickers or decals in-between two gel top-coats. I apply the Extreme Shine Top by The GelBottle Inc that provides a juicy-gloss touch. As nail artist Julie Kandalec has stated in Allure, which top coat can be put on in two thin layers to avoid peeling at its beginning- I have this yet to make fruit art even better.
It is perfect to listen to when you are by the pool or your next iced matcha run. It’s giving Florida brunch. It’s giving vacation fridge packed with lemonade. And it is a new twist in case you are getting weary of floral designs.
Berry Swirl Elegance
This is to the acrylic square people who just can not go without something smooth and civilized. It is achieved by the burgundy to rose gradient swirls covered in black and white lines resulting in the ultra-flattering motion. It is a higher-end version of August nails design, of course, in those cases when you are coming out of summer and are not yet in the fall. It is somehow soft and yet dramatic and looks simply wonderful on long square or even almond shapes.
Start with a nude-pink base (OPI’s “Bare My Soul” works beautifully), then build your swirls using Bio Seaweed Gel in “Wine Not” and Essie’s “Licorice” for depth. The curves and flow will be able to be played with by using a fine liner brush. This design goes well with acrylic overlays in order to achieve clean crisp edges.
I adore overlaying the colors in a single line of the brush without mixing them too much because it has more mobility like the swirl. This is one of such trends which you can adjust infinitely relying on your clothes or mood. Nail artist Tom Bachik has frequently underlined the capability of color circulation to lengthen the fingers, and such design achieves that objective.
It is a romantic look that I would wear on a romantic dinner date outside or just lying down with a book and a glass of cabernet wine. Warm, moody, but still utterly August.
Olive Chic with a Hint of Glam
The deepest green in combination with some soft neutrals looks so elegantly chic and when there is a bit of metallic gold it is game over. This appearance goes a little bit natural but it feels completely up to date. Its shapes is almond like which is very elegant and the coloring reflects late transition of summer where we are longing cool tones but not quite yet ready to part with the warmth. It is a new twist of standard acrylic square pink styles and it is more in-between minimalist and artistic. The luscious olive green is contrasting with the unspoiled beige and the golden wave is the final touch of the breezy glamour that closes the deal.
Want to achieve this effect, I will decide on Essie nail paint in the green flavor of win me over or Olive and June in pink color of WKF. The base balances it, in this heavenly way, by using nude finish such as Zoya is complete with the base known as Taylor. You’ll also need a fine striping brush and a metallic gel liner (I love Gold Leaf Gel from Madam Glam). The gloss top coat makes it look so rich, appears almost glassy and makes it all shiny to keep the things polished.
This one’s perfect for a home manicure too. Begin with forming your nails into the shape of almonds, and paint them with first layer of nude and then with the second one of green. Then leave it to dry. Apply your swishing gold on your striping brush, and then paint it on using a thin and a little bit uneven style, i.e. so it looks hand-painted. Julie Ventura, a nail educator also advises applying matte cuticle oil before pressing on paint to prevent slipping and I never fail to apply this on my fine details work.
The set makes me think of having my matcha on my balcony and writing my diary, but calm moments when everything is relaxing and consciousness is focused on being beautiful. Not all nail designs need to scream, in order to pass on the luxury message.
Funky Sorbet Swirl
Let’s turn the volume up a little — this one’s for the girls who want color, curves, and lots of playful detail. Pink, mint, buttercup yellow and wine red swirls combine with a kind of vintage-fruit sorbet, glossy acrylic sheen dripping over the paint. Each nail is a small canvas, painted in layers of fluid design, which is quite long in the form of almond. It is daring yet not crazy, and to be fair, this is one of the cutest concepts of summer this 2025. This set is the right choice in case your style is joyous and a bit artsy.
To have a glassy smooth effect it will need a glossy builder gel base. I suggest The GelBottle Inc. as the pastel range is great to use but such colors as Daisy, Pastel V110 and Canday are excellent. With the use of a thin nail art brush you apply one swirl after another. Cure between layers to avoid color bleeding. To achieve that clean face, I also prefer using dotting tool to have those teardrop like effects too.
This is one of such designs that you can freestyle completely in the comforts of your home. I apply nail decals occasionally in case I do not have enough time, however, to be honest, it is rather meditative to create each form of swirl with the help of your hands. When you goof, a small clean up brush with acetone will solve the problem and no theatrics are needed.
I used a variation of this outfit to an engagement brunch with one of my friends, and was asked about it at least seven times. It goes with flowing dresses or simply a thick sweater so well. In August, nails still do not necessarily have to be soft, there are times when we want to be in dopamine mode.
Golden Sunflower Dust
In case you have been on the hunt of ideas which will combine both romance and seasonal attractiveness in the meantime, this floral set is the one you should save. There is a sense of sunflower fields at golden hour i.e. light and airy painterly petals on a nude background with flecks of gold leaf. The shininess of the almond-shaped indoors gives it an element of class and the color combination is not too obnoxious in yellow. It is a simple yet sexy appearance that one can use to an iced tea date or wedding.
A base of peachy nude is what you require to construct this at home like OPI- tiramisu for 2. I think it would be best to use a fan brush with short bristle and dotting tool to get soft strokes of the petals in case of the flowers. With Gold foil flakes or Gold Leaf Gel Polish by Born Pretty you will achieve that scattering radiance. Finish it all with a clear high-gloss coat.
This look does take a little patience. You will want to stack your flowers one on top of another: adding the lightest tint where the flower comes out but make the middle darker to get depth. Ignore symmetry, on the contrary the most useful trick I think I learned over the years by nail artist Savannah Walker is that, it should look more asymmetrical, as though it is more natural, and more like flower petals.
This is a design I’d return to every year. It is the type of something that makes you feel quietly beautiful, you know like your nails are smiling even before you open your mouth. Perfect for 2025 short or acrylic lengths alike.
Minimalist Pop Art with a Message
Some sets are pure art. This one? It’s a gallery. Chunky contrast lines, crisp sections of blue, lavender, and white with gold accents — plus a bold “LIFE” decal that makes it feel like it belongs in MoMA. Its form, square shape and abstract layout have powerful effect and although the design seems to be rather busy, the balance of colors makes it really wearable. It suits perfectly anyone who desires something different but at the same time clean, then it is undoubtedly a 2025 square-like building that will attract attention.
Here you need really pigmented shiny gel polishes, so there is clean solid color blocks. I would suggest Bio Seaweed Gel in Blueberry, MadamGlam92s Snow white and Kiara Sky96 Gold Gel Art Paint. Nail striping tape or gold wires like strips will be useful in making flesh-cutting, precise, those metallic decorations.
The real trick? Take a fine bristled detail brush and do one nail at a time. Let each color dry fully before layering the next. I learned this trick during a demonstration by celebrity manicurist Miss Pop the most important part of negative space is taking your time not to apply too much when shaping it out.
This set speaks. Either you are into abstract designs or look to start a conversation, you cannot forget this one. I have had a very similar one during my flight to NYC last summer, when a barista paused in pouring the coffee to tell me that she loves it.
Groovy Floral Brights
And we have all possible cute in this batch, as this design is a party in a box. Bold fuchsia, aqua blue and neon daisies of every color of the rainbow- it is what you can call a flower child, but 2025 version. The thing I adore about this set is the fact that it is matte yet it has color. It’s not afraid to be joyful. It feels handcrafted, playful, and honestly, a little nostalgic. Lovely lengths could be as short as short or as long as almond though acrylic is the most fun of all with this.
In order to achieve this specific vibe, do it with bright base colors such as the “Beach Cruise-R” by the Color Club or the “Chelsea Girl” by the China Glaze brand. For the florals, you can freehand with dotting tools and micro brushes, or use pre-made decals (I like Nailtopia’s Daisy Collection). Top coat using matte top coat- Velvet Matte by Essie is a must have.
The good thing about this look is that you may experiment. Make them bigger, more spaces or even changing the colours of the backgrounds according to your dressing. Celebrity manicurist Gina Edwards once said that “nails are an extension of your mood” — and this set? It’s pure serotonin.
I wore this one to a beach picnic and I tell you even people who I have never met were asking me who did my nails. It has that popping fun stuff that you are practically meant to listen to during the last days of summer, and all your pinterest board fantasies.
Sweetheart Pop Pink
There are times when all you have to do is inject your fingers with some fun and frolic and this pink and red heart pattern is the playfulness you did not know you were in need of. It is mellow, enjoyable and right in tune with the 2025 minor nail picture. The almond shape is rather feminine but not full drama and the adrife hearts? Cute, easy, and totally Pinterest-worthy. It’s giving strawberry milkshake vibes with a side of self-love.
I would use OPI of Let Me Bayou a Drink, or Essie of Ballet Slipper as a base. Hands-on painting is possible to make the hearts appear on them with the help of dotting tool and a fine brush–DND Red Carpet gel polish is the shade you need and want the hearts to be on. To simplify it, you can also get mini heart decals or stencils but frankly speaking, freehand is so much adorable.
This would be the right time to apply two layers of your pink-toned base and apply a dotting tool on the top and bottom of the hearts. Use a small brush to pull them into points. Top everything with a glossy gel finish. Nail tech Steph Stone used to post on Instagram back in the day the fact that applying two varying pinks under the red art produces a slight 3D lift altogether and I have been in the trap of that tip since.
I also have this kind of thing in a solo self-care weekend and I could not stop smiling whenever I saw my manicure. Not to mention it is not limited to Valentine s day only – hearts in August feel different when you have them so you can wear them just on yourself.
Olive Luxe with Gold Foil
This one’s elegance bottled. An intense olive foundation embellished with ethereal gold leaf seems like the logical next step of the green nail madness of the previous seasons. And what makes it contemporized in 2025 is the stripped down effect and the heavy gloss-coating–very clean girl, very deliberate. The shape of an acrylic square becomes more structured, and it is the perfect option both to wear daily and at more serious occasions.
As far as the color is concerned, I adore Olive & June the color “WKF” or OPI the color “Suzi -The First Lady of Nails”. Single leaves of gold foil may be obtained at any nail supply shop, or you can go with metallic leaf gel, of which Born Pretty sells the reflective-est version, that won t come off your nails. Position the foil with tweezers to where you desire after which seal it using two coats of a high-gloss topcoat.
There is nothing wrong with combining vertical and diagonal placements of gold, it makes it more editorial. Personally, I will tend to smooth the foil into the tacky layer upon curing the base color using a tool made out of silicone. Nail educator Simcha Whitehill offers to do it with foil every time using an accent nail and then spread further after you have struck the right balance.
I wore this set to a late summer roof top dinner and got catcalls and comments on the waiter. It has got that 5-star, little unobtrusive thing that is just quiet elegant.
Sunset Stone Shards
And If you ever took one look at the sky transforming from some lavender to orange and thought, I want to look exactly like sky, then this is the way to go. It is jewel-coloured like a sunset, with scratches of gold crackle all through– a geode on the one hand, a stained-window on the other. This is one of the notable ones to be in 2025 particularly to the souls that would like to have some artistic, sentimental design. The square rule allows the circulation of the layers of color to their surface without being too consuming. It’s like wearing a landscape on your hands.
Choose Beetles Gel, in the series, named Sunset and the Le Mini Macaron in the series called Lavender, this time to create this type of a watercolor look. Apply some blooming gel base and make the colors blend gently, then apply the metallic gold strip of a gel or foil to receive the crack-like detailing. The topcoat ought to be very shiny so as to provide the glass effect like a smooth cut stone.
This design is easier than it looks. Put layers of paint when it is still wet and lightly swash it with a thin liner brush for the marble swished effect. Finish half way and then add the metallic,– this keeps the edges, with no bleeding. Nail artist Sarah Bland suggests adding builder gel to the end of the process in case you desire an additional dimension and durability.
It is the type of manicure that makes one feel as if he or she has expected the golden hour. It’s vibrant, creative, and honestly, kind of meditative.
Electric Tangerine Flames
Welcome to the statement manicure of late summer 2025. Hot orange flames in combination with the abstract black sparks fire resemble a combination of the hot asphalt and high fashion. It is cool and toned, it will work best when you wear it with a lot of confidence. The smooth shape of the almond is added in order to make up to the ferociousness of the design. It is a kind of acrylic appearance that is not supposed to blend in the crowd.
To construct this set, go bockety with China Glaze in orange hue called, Orange Knockout or a Bio Seaweed Gel in a pumpkin face Named, Pumpkin Patch. The flames can be done using black gel liner such as The GelBottle Black Art Gel and a fine tipped brush. Between the layers cured to give you that wonderful contrast then finished with a no-wipe top coat.
The secret on how to create a flame design is to work according to the direction of your nail – narrow at the area around cuticle, thick in the middle, and thin at the ends. Nail artist Brittney Boyce (aka @nails_of_la) often recommends visualizing flames like the letter “S” layered in motion. It helps keep the curves fluid and natural.
I have worn this one to a popular music festival and I felt at no point like it was not a good match with my energy. It’s powerful, bold, and unapologetically summer. In case you are ready to get out of neutrals this is the set that will do that.
Chrome Rainbow Frenchies
This outfit could possibly take the cake in overcoming the notion of being the most fun in the whole of August 2025 compilation. It’s a modern take on the French tip, except instead of soft white arcs, we get a full chrome gradient in pink, red, yellow, blue, and neon green — each nail its own moment. Its almond shape makes it become classy, and the colored ends have a fresh Gen Z feel to it. It is perfect to be used in short gel, ideas short or longer acrylic form. In any case this is to the girls who want energy at their fingertips.
This look calls for a sheer nude base (try OPI’s “Bubble Bath”) and bright, highly pigmented gel polishes for the tips. Apply a short detail brush or a French tip guide (that has been pre-shaped). That high gloss top coat is Gelish Top It Off and under a UV lamp you will get chrome.
First paint the tips in color, then leaving them to dry, paint the rest of your hair the color that you want to, then leave it to dry again, you may also use a sponge to make the colors blend to one another into an ombr effect but in this case the clean color-block will be the one to concern. Top it with a light coating of chrome powder finish so it looks glass-like and you have basically nail jewelry.
I had to wear the design over the weekend during a road trip to Palm Springs and it was amazing with everything pool water, iced drinks and gold rings. It’s joy in color form. and that to me is late summer style.
Color Block Couture
In the event nail art got a catwalk moment, this would be it. Cuts of yellow, teal, scarlet, orange, pink and navy, divided by super-thin black lines – this is definitely a modernist glam all the way. It is directing toward that graphic editorial power that has dominated the Pinterest boards in 2025, and an acrylic base provides it with an orderly and robust shape. The shapes are clean, colors are intense and the payoff is big. You do not fit in this set because you stand out.
As polish, I think that DND offers their “Sunflower Yellow” color, Zoya has their own color as “Soko” one, OPI has their color as My Paprika is Hotter than yours, and Beetles Gel as Teal Blue. To obtain such crisp lines between the color blocks you can use black striping gel or The GelBottle Liner Brush Kit. The perfect glassy cure simply cannot do without a UV lamp.
Precision is everything here. Apply your color a section at a time, cure and repeat. Take your time with detailing the work All you want each of the segments to keep shape. It is with this type of look that you will have to have a bit of patience included in the routine. As editorial nail artist Eichi Matsunaga put it about this form of geometric art, this type of art is rhythmical in nature and I can not concur more.
I was spotted to wear a similar one at the Fashion Week previews, and it seemed that my nails were a part of the outfit. That is the type of 2025 square art that leaves one with the feeling of being a star in his/her own campaign.
Diagonal Candy Stripe
This is to the minimalist who does not want to sacrifice even the wink of energy. A vertical stripe (made out of black and white) goes into contact with a neat diagonal orange cut, tribute to mod style and geometric designs. The stark contrast is toned down by the almond shape that gives it a neat but trendy line. It is one of the casual styles which you can have on about everything to still appear instantly modeled. Especially in end of the summer when you are trying to make your nails noticed but still not to over-under-perform.
In the case of the sharp lines, pick Gelish arctic freeze light, madam glam perfect black and Bio seaweed mandarin. Mark your areas with striping tape or even detail brushes and then fill in. A no-wipe gloss is your best bet in completing your work all clean.
The most logical way of doing this is to begin with your nude base and then cure it followed by free-handing your stripe or stripe it with the nail tape to achieve total precision. Use the orange in the last and diagonally so that it would cut the pattern across like a sash. Nail influencer @naileditbeauty insists on rubbing the orange off with sponges of makeup in case you desire to leave it faded at the ends, but it is optional and nice change.
It is one that is wonderful in the workplace, over the weekend or even when you are simply trying to serve a touch of the street-style chic. Chic and sharp, without being too much.
Velvet Hearts & Gold Dreams
I do not know who should read this, but matte burgundy is the underdog winner of 2025. And when it goes with fine gold accents, in this case, little heart necklaces and wimpy French bands, it is snug, sexy and stunning at the same time. The set is almond-shaped and seems to be like a piece of jewelry. And in case you are fed up on shiny shines yet still need that effect, then consider this matte moment to be your cue to take that change.
The best way to make it similar is to apply OPI Malaga Wine or Essie Bordeaux and then apply velvet matte topcoat -I carry Zoya Matte Velvet Top in my kit. In the case of the metallic, French and heart accents, choose gold nail foil or decals. It is also possible to use a gold gel pen in case you have stable hands.
Finish painting all matte foundation, then barely line cuticle edge with gold by putting it on a liner brush. Apply hearts with a tweezer for precision. Leave it out to dry and seal only the metallics with a bit topcoat on it so as to have the contrast of the dual textures.
It is like a sweater that is knitted and a bold lipstick all in one. Great late-or night, on a date or when you have to feel grown and solid.
Zebra Flame Couture
Welcome to wild sophistication. This collection is an intermingling of French tip styles in abstract backgrounds and very angular zebra stripe and gilded foil-all on a ground of matte blush and coral. It is crazy combinations of patterns, which still seems to be wearable somehow. It is put together in the shape of an acrylic coffin, and it is spicy enough with the contrast of matte-meets-metallic. It is a trend of the future (2025), which changes the priorities in thinking about animal print as the pattern, but as the art.
In order to recreate it, you will require Beetles Coral Pink Gel, Essies Matte About You and striping gel in black. Add gold foil or chrome flakes to the tips. Concerning the involved curve lines, a liner brush of flexible tip will enable you to form those smooth curves without smudges.
It is layering process as nude will be underneath, followed by coral color block, the black zebra block and finally, the metallic topper. Cure each step fully before moving on. Nail artist Chaun Legend suggests a combination of matte and gloss finishes like this in the same set so as to achieve an edgy level of contrasting, and that is precisely this.
There is one time (I went to open a pop-up gallery) I wore this design and felt like it was a fashion week. It is not too much but it is brash and completely unlike any stripes or tips you see on a daily basis.
Soft Blue Tulip Tips
Let’s close with a breath of fresh air. It is airy in nature -whisper-thin baby blue ends and delicate tulip petals at the cuticle. It is kind of a French tip, but floralized, and much more modernized. Such a soft-focus technique is ideal to short or simple nail-loving people who do not give up on something creative. The softer shape is accompanied by the almond shape and the gradient makes it a bit dreamy and moderate. Anyone who would want to have peace on their hands will find this a grab.
In order to create this impression, you need to use such a base as OPI Funny Bunny or Zoya Genesis, which are milky white. Then use a sheer blue (try LeChat’s “Baby Blue”) to create the fine petal details. To bring out the center of the tulip I find the best way is to dot this out in the centre and pull it out with a small brush. Seal the topcoat using a high-gloss finish in order to keep some remnant of this soft, liquid shimmer.
Start small — less is more here. Apply gel polish on the petal so as to be able to layer color. The advantage of this appearance is that it has a rather soft and diffused edge as opposed to sharp lines. As celeb nail artist Tom Bachik is fond of saying, imperfection makes things look more real and to me, this one does.
It smells soft, it tastes sweet, it is the mani incarnation of new linen shirt on the sunny August morning. A perfect way to wrap up the season.
Galaxy Drip Dream
There are nail designs that are out of mention because they exist in a different world. This galaxy-inspired nail art is one of them. The colour scheme is a mixture of cool purple tones, midnight blue, soft whites and an occasional dot of stars to make the cosmos into one in front of your eyes. It is fanciful, nostalgic, and a bit out of this world, that type of design that makes people look a bit longer at their hands. And especially when you are in your short nail period, applying this will be one sensational method of impacting without the added length.
To live through this mini-universe, you are going to require several shades of gel: Madam Glam Perfect White, Beetles Gel Violet Sky, and Bio Seaweed Deep Space. Your makeup sponge is priceless in this situation in terms of blending and you should not forget about the dotting tools to make those little stars. Finish it off with a high gloss as a substitute of clear night shine.
Begin with the basic color and apply it, and then with the sponge apply layering blues and purples. Water color; mix with a little acetone to get a water color effect, cure and then with a fine brush you can add white dots and sparkles. Nail expert Katie Masters has said that a touch of shimmer gel brightened by the stars provides the impression of depth and she is so correct.
I have done this look not only once before a trip to Sedona, but it was a right feeling. It’s peaceful but bold, perfect for the introspective part of late summer — when you’re winding down and soaking up the last glow before fall.
Sunset Sherbet Ombré
On the one hand, it is light and lacy, playful and gentle, on the other, it makes me think that this gradient look is what August should be. An uninterrupted ombr on the combination of pink, yellow, and peach, these square short nails remind frozen sherbet, sunsets by the beach, and rosy cheeks after spending a day in the open. It is among the best nail 2025 ideas of the short nails that are trendy, but at the same time, being in-trend, they are timeless. Simple? Yes. But boring? Never.
To achieve this feel, you simply need to apply a soft white foundation such as OPI Funny Bunny then mix some of Le Mini Macaron Rose Creme and Gelish Sunburst Yellow. Paint with the sponge technique in a gradient effect manner i.e. begin at the tip and proceed towards the center. Blend carefully to avoid harsh lines. The gloss top coat unites the whole thing and makes it shiny like a candy.
If you’re going DIY, be patient between layers. The light coats provide you with a smoother ombr not so patchy. According to nail tech Sarah Nguyen, you can tap the sponge all at once and cure in between each layer, but it comes later but yields you more professional-looking look.
This mani is such a mood boost. I used this print when going to the beach with my friends, which was the best fit at that moment as it was care-free, sunny, and glowing. It is a simple style, and it can be applied without difficulties on short gel, square, or even acrylic one when you wish it to be longer. Either way, it’s summer bottled.
Well, by making this far, you are evidently also obsessed with nail design as much as I am, but, to be fair, me, too.
The year 2025 has been an exhilarating one due to nail art since it has provided room to be as creative as well as simple. Your galaxy graduations, your graphic minimalism, and your juicy pink and yellow swirl are all optional at this point, but the most popular manicures as of right now are the ones that have a story behind them. They’re bold. They’re soft. They’re unapologetically fun.
Before the pumpkin spice arrives in menus and before we start to wear clothes made of knit, have this last moment of summer to yourself. Select a design to represent how you are feeling, how you are rolling or what your favorite iced drink is. Your hands speak volumes, they are really good tasting.
