25 Beach-Inspired Nail Ideas For Your Next Summer Vacation

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@imarninails /Instagram

‘ title=”Negative space manicure with ocean waves.”>

What is it about summer nail designs that get us so excited to head to the salon? Even the most neutral, minimalistic lovers amongst us seem to swap the classic French manicures in favor of neon nail looks, richly detailed tropical designs, and nautical seashell nails. Whether you're jetting off on summer vacation or looking to inject vacay vibes into your day-to-day, we're here to tell you that beach-inspired nails are a must-try. From iridescent chrome looks and barely-there, negative space nails to calming, cool shades of bloom, beachy nails give off a refreshing feel that perfectly encapsulates summer. To provide inspiration, we've rounded up the 25 best beachy nail ideas. Keep reading to find your next manicure

Baby Blue Shells

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@heygreatnails/Instagram

‘ title=”Periwinkle seashell mani with french mani accent nails”>

Sheeny, hazy, and romantically detailed with itty bitty pearls, this baby blue seashell set serves major Cinderella vibes.

Tropical Jelly Nails

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@myprettyset / Instagram

‘ title=”Close up of magenta and orange nails with white hibiscus nail art and silver rhinestones.”>

These vibrant summer jelly nails bring the exact energy we're looking for on vacation—and the featured hibiscus flower art and silver rhinestones are just a downright must.

Deep Sea Set

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@vanityprojects / Instagram

‘ title=”Close up of dark blue nails with white marbling and under the sea creatures like coral and seahorses.”>

Don't just draw inspiration from land level: Take a look at what lies under the sea. Seahorses, coral, seaweed, and shells stand out on the moody blue background, reminiscent of what you'd see on a scuba diving sesh.

Wate Surface Effect

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@brushedbyb_ / Instagram

‘ title=”A blue manicure with water drop details”>

Pro nail artist Brittany Ellen uses a cool trick to get this water surface pattern. To get the look, mix clear polish with sheer white polish and brush the mixture across the full nail. Immediately follow up by using a dotting tool to place dots of clear polish on top, and you're good to go.

Chrome Seashells

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@myprettyset / Instagram

‘ title=”Close up of long square nails with an ombre chrome, 3D seashell design.”>

This square-shaped chrome seashell manicure tackles three of summer's hottest trends in one go. We're obsessed with the gradient of colors and bubble-encapsulated sea treasures.

Oceanic Swirls

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@imarninails/Instagram

‘ title=”Negative space manicure with ocean waves.”>

Water marbling is the perfect technique for achieving ocean-like waves. Instead of dipping the full nail into the marbled water as you would traditionally, dip just the tips for an instant abstract French, as seen above.

Shimmer Sand Ombré Nails

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@LOLO.NAILEDIT / INSTAGRAM

‘ title=”Hand with a gold glitte ombre manicure.”>

Who said beach-inspired manis had to be bright? This creamy beige topped with a fine gold glitter ombré screams beachside without a drop of non-neutral color.

Luxe Foil

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@phoebesummernails / Instagram

‘ title=”Tidal Marble”>

For a more glam take on the marbled ocean swirl, add gold foil to the negative space of your nails. It's giving buried treasure under the water.

Seagulls and Waves

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@phoebesummernails / Instagram

‘ title=”Short, square-shaped nails with nude base and wave nail art”>

Pay homage to the most common creature of the beach, the seagull. This look opts to skip the details, favoring the bird's sleek silhouette rising above the waves.

Fresh Out of the Sea

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@glitterbels / Instagram

‘ title=”Close up of long oval nails with earthy brown seashell and white pearl 3D art.”>

Did this mani just wash ashore? If you're looking for a life-like seashell nail idea, this design has all the requirements: 3D texture reminiscent of shell ridges, pearls, and a neutral palette.

Seashell Accent Nails

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@glitterbels / Instagram

‘ title=”Close up of nude oval nails with white seashell and star fish accent nails.”>

Strategically placed decals, pearls, and beads make just as much of an impact as elaborate sets do. You just have to look a little closer to sea the details.

Fijian Flowers

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@nuka.nails / Instagram

‘ title=”Fiji Nails”>

Ever looked at a Fiji Water bottle and wished you could be transported into the luscious scene? Now you can, with these blue ombré nails complete with realistic water droplets and Fiji's national flower, the pink hibiscus.

Mismatched Beach Nails

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@vanityprojects / Instagram

‘ title=”Close up of a mismatched ocean and sand manicure, with seashell details.”>

Textured pearls, water surface patterns, shells, sand dollars, and starfish details make us long walks and treasure hunts on the shore.

Neutral Seashell Shimmer

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@glitterbels / Instagram

‘ title=”Close up of nude square nails with glitter white seashell and starfish details.”>

For sunset dinners or days spent exploring the boardwalk, nothing beats a seashell manicure that matches your chic summer outfits, no matter what you're wearing. That's why we love this clear and white set with iridescent shimmers.

Katsushika Hokusai-Inspired Wave French

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@shoreditchnails / Instagram

‘ title=”Manicure with one hand of Hokusai wave designs and one hand of island floral designs”>

This manicure recreates Katsushika Hokusai's famous "The Great Wave" woodblock print on a tinier canvas, adding a personal touch with neon tropical florals.

Freshly Picked

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@glitterbels / Instagram

‘ title=”Close up of sheer white oval nails with multi colored hibiscus flower art.”>

Mixing citrus shades with cobalt blue and aquamarine is always a stunning option. To ensure the details of your hibiscus flowers stand out, try a milky nude or white hue.

Sunset Hibiscus French

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@heluviee / Instagram

‘ title=”Close up of yellow nails with orange airbrushed hibiscus details.”>

Spring's favorite nail color, butter yellow, gets a summer rebrand when paired with sunset orange.

Airbrushed Sunset French

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@heluviee / Instagram

‘ title=”close up of nude nails with pink and yellow ombre French tips and white hibiscus art.”>

By airbrushing each pale sherbet orange tip with a pop of bright coral polish, you can achieve a sunset-like effect. Add white hibiscus details to push the tropical vibes even further.

Make a Splash

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@nuka.nails / Instagram

‘ title=”Pool Water”>

Another creative underwater mani design, this set utilizes subtle variations of blue and white to showcase how light reflects off the surface of the ocean.

Ocean Ombré

<img src='https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/tGKnBQz55ktFl5NAI4RjgN94wCc=/fit-in/640×480/seagradient-1032385aa43544c8b11a703d24010d6e.png' alt='

@melanated.mani / Instagram

‘ title=”Close up of oval nails with a sparkling aquamarine to deep blue gradient effect.”>

Whether you dare to explore the deep end or prefer to swim in the shallows, this glittery ombré manicure captures the changing colors and depths of the sea perfectly.

Long Beach Nails

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@myprettyset / Instagram

‘ title=”Close up of long sea foam green and blue French tip nails with beach-themed art, like 3D coconuts, gold shells, and water droplets.”>

While we adore short nails for summer, long nails provide extra space to include kitschy details (like half-opened 3D coconuts and solid gold starfishes).

Gold Bead Accents

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@overglowedit / Instagram

‘ title=”Chic Shells”>

Gilded gold seashell beads and miniature pearls give a distinctly antique vibe that, when paired with a nearly nude glitter nail, looks super modern and cool.

Abstract French

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@imarninails / Instagram

‘ title=”A matte negative space manicure wth blue swirl accent nails”>

Clean lines in cool, vibrant blues make the manicure perfect for modern minimalist fans. With a steady hand, you can DIY this look at home, alternating swirl art with double French tips.

Tropical Fauna French

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@gotg0ld / Instagram

‘ title=”White French tip nails with pink hibiscus flower and palm leaf designs.”>

Not quite ready to move on from the chunky square French tip? Simply add palm leaves, banana leaves, and bright florals to capture that tropical nail vibe.

Palm Tree Scene

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@yo_keshh / Instagram

‘ title=”Close up of pink, yellow, blue and purple ombre nails with black palm tree, seagull, and star art.”>

You can practically smell the saltwater while admiring this palm tree, which takes the beach theme quite literally. The addition of the sunset gradient trailing off into the blue water really sells the vision.

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