30 Trending Nail Designs Everyone Will Obsess Over in 2025
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Looking for a simple way to boost your mood or manifest your future? Your next manicure just might do the trick—especially since 2025’s trending nail designs are so cool that it’s impossible not to be inspired.
“For 2025 nail trends I see a lot of dark colors, cat-eye, and chrome finishes that will be popular in the upcoming season,” says celebrity manicurist and Amopé ambassador Zola Ganzorigt, Ganzorigt’s take is certainly worth considering: Her clients include trendsetters like Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, and Sabrina Carpenter.
Ganzorigt points to magnetic cat-eye styles as a trend to watch in particular: “It’s risen so much in popularity since there’s now a variety of options to choose from for the design,” she says. Case in point: Hailey Bieber’s cinnamon cat-eye manicure (more on that below).
We’ll be seeing plenty more takes on high-shine neutrals in the new year as well, adds Alyssa Fronce, nail artist and owner at Alyssa Nail Tech. “Nail trends in 2025 will be very moody, full of lots of chromes and neutrals,” she says. Think: espresso, nude, and glazed chrome like Sabrina Carpenter’s (more on that in a bit too).
We’ll also be seeing an uptick in skin and cuticle care, adds Ganzorigt. “Nail, hand, and foot care has become more popular, even if you don’t like polish on your nails,” she says. “I see lot of people started posting their hand- and feet-care routines.” Her favorite skin and cuticle care routine? Amopé's PediMask 20-Minute Foot Mask. For hands, Glamour editors are obsessed with Seaweed Bath Co. Collagen Rosemary Mint Hand Cream.
If you can envision it, you can paint it on with nail polish (or gel)…as long as you’re taking good care of your skin and cuticles too. Ahead, see 30 of the must-try nail designs that are trending for 2025. Get ready to screenshot and then book your January appointment. If you can’t wait that long, well, maybe distract yourself by scheduling a fresh haircut or color while you’re at it.
Instagram/@overglowedit1/30Dark Chocolate
Since 2025 in the Western hemisphere starts in the winter, you can expect to see an uptick in dark and moody shades post-New Year’s Eve. “In the new year, dark brown is taking the spotlight,” says Juli Russell, DIY nail expert for Sally Beauty. “It’s rich, it’s warm, it’s bold–but more wearable than a stark black.”
Her pro tip? “Dark shades look super high-fashion and chic on short nails, so now’s a good time to do a fresh chop for the new year,” she says. To get the look, opt for warm and chocolatey nail polish shades like Morgan Taylor Take the Lead Nail Lacquer.
Instagram/@overglowedit2/30Cool Cat Eye
Both Ganzorigt and Russell point to cat-eye nails as one of the biggest nail trends of 2025. “Cat-eye and magnetic polishes will be all the rage this new year,” says Russell. “They’re so popular because no two manicures are the same, making them fully custom and personalized!”
What’s more, while cat-eye nails look intricate and complicated, they’re actually super easy to DIY at home with the right products. “These Nailboo gels use a magnetic wand to create a cat-eye effect,” says Russell. “After you apply the gel, simply hold the magnetic wand over the gel to create cool looks. Experiment with the placement of the magnet, and watch the magnetic pigments polarize to create intricate cat-eye effects.”
Instagram/@nailsbyzola3/30Glazed Chrome
“Chrome nails are always popular no matter the season or year,” says Ganzorigt, pointing to Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet Tour glazed chrome mani as an example. “The color underneath the chrome just changes and it stays on everyone’s inspo board.”
To recreate Carpenter’s look, Ganzorigt suggests using OPI’s Bare My Soul, Tin Man Can, and Super Gloss No-Wipe Top Coat.
Instagram/@enamelle4/30Depth and Dimension
3D nail art is going to be bigger than ever in 2025. “Depth and dimension is here to stay,” celebrity nail artist Elle Gerstein says of next year’s trending manicures. “Everyone wants nails with dimensions, whether it’s mimicking a mermaid or jewelry. Painting nails one color is a thing of the past.”
Instagram/@nailsbyzola5/30Cinnamon Girl
While all kinds of cat eyes are having a moment, Ganzorigt points to Bieber’s cinnamon girl mani as an especially popular take on the trend. To get the look, Ganzorigt used OPI’s Cliffside Karaoke and Super Gloss No-Wipe Top Coat, followed by cat-eye nail polish.
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Instagram/@enamelle6/30More Metal
“Metals and chrome, whether they’re isolated, ombré, or blended, will elevate any manicure by putting a finish on it,” says Gerstein. “This trend will never really go away. It adds a unique finish you can’t do otherwise.”
To get the look, she suggests trying OPI Chrome Powders.
Instagram/@ohmynailsnyc7/30Patent Leather
What’s trending, neutral, and moody? Patent leather black, of course! Both Russell and Ganzorigt predict a resurgence in black manicures in 2025.
For a true shiny black, though, try OPI Black Onyx, Gucci Glossy Nail Polish Black Crystal, or Nails Inc. Gel Nail Polish Black Taxi.
Instagram/@nails_of_la, @lostangelsbeauty8/303D Neutral
According to Brittney Boyce, celebrity nail artist and founder of Nails of LA and Lost Angels Beauty, we’ll be seeing way more 3D neutral nails incorporating stones, charms, and sculptures into their designs. One of her most recommended styles, in fact, is this 3D neutral look—so much so she turned it into Lost Angels’ Stop Copying Me Press-Ons.
Instagram/@enamelle9/30Cat-Eye Chrome
Since both cat eye, chrome, and pops of metal are trending, it’s no surprise that combinations of the three are taking over too. Gerstein cites this unique take on the trends as a look to watch for in the year.
Instagram/@alyssanailtech10/30Animal Print
If you ask me, animal print never went out of style…but apparently, it’s back with a vengeance for 2025.
“Patterns, whether they’re animal prints or geometric, will remain very strong,” says Gerstein. “Start with a porcelain base coat and then dab on yellow, brown, and black jelly shades to create a shell-like effect.”
Kayla Oaddams/Getty Images11/30Short and Sweet
Gerstein also points to short, sweet, and soft shades as a major trend to watch for. “This could be pastels, it could be rich girl nude, or it could even be a subtle chrome,” she says. “The key is for it to be delicate—think a baby blue that’s so light you don’t realize it’s baby blue. ”
This look is more of a tint of color that gives a polished finish, as you always look better polished than undone, she adds. “Apres Light & Shadow Collection is a perfect example as it’s just a tinge of color.”
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Instagram/@nailsbyzola12/30Glass of Merlot
If black and brown feel too dark for your style, Ganzorigt recommends dabbling in a red wine shade instead. Her favorite example of the look? This merlot manicure she created for Ariana Greenblatt, which you can recreate with two coats of OPI’s Complimentary Wine or one coat of Big Apple Red.
Instagram/@nails_of_la13/30Dark Aura
Now that aura nails have taken over, Boyce says to keep an eye out for their moodier cousin manicure: dark aura nails. “Dark aura nails will be very popular for winter,” she says. “If you want to experiment with nail art, I highly suggest a dark aura nail.”
Instagram/@alyssanailtech14/30Mannequin Hands
Prepare for the return of mannequin hands. “Mannequin hands was a widely popular nail trend that circulated in the beauty community in the 2010 eras,” says Russell. “It features a skin-tone nail color that gives your hands the appearance of mannequins’ hands. This time around we have better skin-tone shades and formulas so you have more flattering options.”
To get the look, Russell suggests using a semi-sheer beige that elongates the fingers and looks clean and effortless. “This Nails Inc collection has a range of skin tone shades to help achieve that seamless tonal effect,” she says. “Pro tip: Always prep with a base coat and finish with a high-shine glossy topcoat to avoid giving your hands a dull appearance.”
Instagram/@enamelle15/30Blonde Tortoise
Remember what we said about animal print? Well, expect the unexpected when it comes to this trend. “We’re so used to seeing a brown tortoise, the fresh take is to make it blonde, as seen here,” she says.
Instagram/@nails_of_la16/30Go Big or Go Home
One of the biggest 2025 nail trends of all, according to Boyce, is to really let our creativity shine. Her favorite example of doing so is a set like this, which “has a good balance of everything: chrome, aura, and 3D.”
“If you want to try something, a little different that has different designs on each nail it’s important to make sure at the end of your manicure that everything is still going to flow,” she says. “I always suggest thinking this out ahead of time and not just doing it as you go because that can get a little overwhelming.”
Instagram @nailsbyniaw17/30Blush Nails
Shades of baby pink and hot pink will transform your aura nails into blush nails. To get the gradient affect, apply baby pink all over the flat side of a soft sponge before adding hot pink to the center. Carefully buff on to the nail and follow with a layer of clear topcoat.
Instagram/@kimkimnails18/30Groovy French
While minimalist nail looks are definitely in, loud, vivid colors aren’t gone for good; they’re just evolving.
“They can still be seen in more abstract designs and patterns, like bold, bright swirl designs and more vibrant French tips,” Michelle Nguyen, nail expert and founder and CEO of PLA Nails explains. “French manicures with a sheer base and a bold, vivid tip are a look to watch out for, as it blends a classic design with a pop of color.” For some inspo, check out this groovy design that was created for Dua Lipa.
Instagram/@katiesnails_19/30Oat Milk Latte
Latte nails, but make them muted and textured. This quiet-luxury-coded color scheme and 3D nail art are everywhere this year.
Instagram/@ketllennailsoficial20/30Simply Sheer
“We’re seeing a lot of sheers and pigmented skin-tone and nude shades trending for 2025,” says Nguyen. “For natural, neutral colors, we always recommend the What’s Cookin’ Good Lookin’ and Fashionably Light Collections.”
Instagram/@basecoatstories21/30Mod Monochrome
Nguyen points to abstract designs and patterns, like swirl designs and unconventional French tips, as trends to watch. We love this monochrome take on the look.
Instagram/@get.nailed.by.brie, @mysticmisfits_of_idahofalls22/30Psychedelic Vibes
Jan Arnold, a nail expert and cofounder and style director of CND, agrees; she says that next year’s nail designs will still be spiritual, virtual, and trippy (and therefore, super cool). More specifically, Arnold predicts psychedelic, holographic, and pearlescent finishes will trend for spring and she says summer will be a time to embrace “carefully curated, bright, warm, and cream palettes for love, light, and good fortune.”
Instagram/@lefevrediary23/30Pearly White
Selena Gomez recently brought back white nail polish, which is perfect timing: It’s the ultimate stealth-wealth shade. To get the look, try Chanel Le Vernis nail polish in Insomniaque.
Instagram/@buttercup.by.haru24/30Matcha Moment
Lattes aren’t the only beverage taking over nail trends. Anticipate more mint green, matcha-inspired manis in 2025.
Instagram/@meganrnails25/30Kaleidoscopic Pastels
Arnold also predicts an uptick in trippy designs in bright, warm, and cream palettes, like these kaleidoscopic pastels. DIY and make it your own with ILNP’s Poolside Collection.
Instagram/@nailsbykatiedutra26/30Forest Green
Prepare to see a lot of earthy green manis too. Think forest and emerald shades, like CND’s Aura.
Instagram/@thehotblend27/30Embellished Blue
Arnold points to “extravagant details like over-scale embellishments” as a top 2025 nail trend, and this regal manicure checks all of those boxes and more.
Instagram/@artnailnyc28/30Edgy French
The French manis of 2025 come in neutral shades, too, as seen in this look that is peak “quiet luxury meets edgy French.”
Instagram/@j3nnailedit29/303D Snakeskin
Snakeskin is another one of those extravagant details Arnold mentioned, proving quiet luxury doesn’t have to be so quiet.
Instagram/@charsgelnails_30/30Fancy and Festive
“Rich and luxurious colors will be a perfect design for a festive night out,” says Arnold, and this red-and-white structured style is proof of that.
