Nd with it comes the warmth, the flowers, and the overall optimism that’s just part and parcel with a fresh, new spring. While transitional dressing can always be a little tricky, tweaking your manicure is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to usher in the season. Spring nail polish colors, in all their happy-go-lucky glory, can help bridge the gap ‘til summer and possibly even boost your mood along the way. But while the spring 2023 nail color trends definitely capture the essence of the season, they’re still so excitingly unexpected.
This past winter was all about opulent takes on the classic moody colors typically associated with the season. Deep browns and grays got dressed up in “glazed donut”-style chrome finishes, textured charms and beads acted like nail accessories, and red carpets were dominated by vampy oxbloods. This spring’s nail trends take a decidedly more relaxed approach to manicure colors, focusing on Mother Nature-inspired shades and finishes that can make anywhere feel sunny and 65 degrees. Below, TZR taps two top nail experts for a firsthand look at what nail colors to expect to see everywhere this spring.
“We are seeing an extension of the great classics that took the nail world by storm recently, ” shares Nails.INC founder Thea Green, listing glazed donut manis, neon French tips, and pastels as just a few examples. She says to count on spring nail trends being just as fun and playful, with options for maximalists and minimliasts alike. Traditional spring colors like yellow-toned grass green, soft blues and purples, orange-tinted reds, and every shade of pink are back again this year, too. The new class of spring colors, though, are mixing things up. An editorial nail artist and CEO of the Nailing Hollywood agency, Mazz Hanna says to be on the lookout for more muted citrus shades rather than those with full-on brightness. “Think the inside of a lemon, lime, and orange rather than the vibrant outside peel, ” she explains.
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For inspiration, just look to your favorite springtime drinks. The shades of muddled fruit in your cocktail is the perfect jumping-off point for spring’s biggest nail color trend.
If 2021 was all about the French manicure resurgence, 2022 was absolutely dedicated to glazed nails. Created by nail artist Zola Ganzorigt and popularized by her client Hailey Bieber, the gauzy, shimmery finish was everywhere last year — but it might
Hanna theorizes that the trend is losing steam, but could be replaced by similarly-interesting finishes. “I feel like this spring we’ll be seeing a lot more metallic and pearlized versions of the more vibrant shades of last spring.” For example, she explains, if a classic pastel purple was popular last year, the spring 2023 version would be a pearlized, “unicorn-esque” version of the same shade. “Last year we saw more pigmented pastels but this year everything feels a bit softer.”
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As Green points out, there’s usually a synchronicity between fashion on the runway and nail trends as a whole — and while this year is similar, she says, it’s about pushing boundaries. “We are seeing a lot resurface from the Y2K era, bringing about the blue and neon pink hues, but also moving with the bare-face movement.” In other words, she says, “the no manicure-manicure is here to stay.”
Originally created and coined by nail artist Tom Bachik for his client Jennifer Lopez, the emerging “lip gloss nails” trend perfectly exemplifies Green’s notion of barefaced manicures. By focusing on neat edges, clean cuticles, and just enough color and shine, the style looks especially shiny and even juicy, not unlike the way actual lip gloss works.
10 Pretty Floral Nail Designs To Try This Spring By Jessica Fields Go For Full-On Reinvention With These Exciting Spring FragrancesBy Amanda Ross Dakota Johnson’s Extra-Long Manicure Is Sporting Spring’s Chicest Color ComboBy Amanda Ross These 10 Manicures Prove Green Is The Freshest Spring Shade By Jessica FieldsI always love the turn of a new season, and in my opinion, spring could not come around quicker. I'm feeling far more optimistic as the days are gradually growing longer (see ya, SAD) and I'm ready to pack away my winter nail colors and welcome in the spring nail trends now that winter is behind us. After all, is there anything more cheery than a seasonal manicure?
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Whether it be floral nail art or a palette cleanser of pastel nail colors, a slick of nail lacquer is one of the easiest ways to tap into the new season trends and boost your mood, whether you are heading into the salon for your next appointment or doing your nails at home. For spring, we naturally see brighter nail colors, pretty floral nail art and plenty of experimentation with textures and finishes. But what spring nail trends will we be seeing on our feeds in 2023?
To find out which spring nail trends everyone will be booking in for, I asked one of my favorite expert nail techs, Iram Shelton, and celebrity manicurist and MyLee brand ambassador, Tinu Bello, to shed light on what the key seasonal nail trends are to watch out for in the season ahead. Ahead, you'll find plenty of spring nail ideas and inspo for your next mani.
"The world of skincare is taking over and people are taking care of themselves now more than ever. The 'clean girl' aesthetic is here to stay with other similar trends appearing too like the 'vanilla girl' or 'lipgloss nails' trends, " says Shelton. These often feature sheer, neutral tones that add just enough color but allow you to see the natural nail underneath. "With minimal, short, well-groomed nails being at the forefront, I think people will be more focused on nursing their natural nails back to health, " she says. Think plenty of cuticle oil and regular maintenance in between appointments.
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"The perfect nail shade to achieve this look is my go-to: OPI Bubble Bath. I find this shade complements all skin tones and can be paired with nail art if that’s your style, " she says. "What I also love about this particular shade is that it can be mixed with OPI Alpine Snow to create a beautiful milky look without being too white. It’s a winner for me."
This trend is so flattering and instantly makes your nails look healthy. Look for semi-sheer nail polishes and nail illuminators to give a healthy sheen. Cuticle oil is a must to maintain a healthy and shiny look.
3D nail art and embellishments are going to be big for spring, says Shelton. "Think sculpting art with gel or adding embellishments or accents to the nails. I also think that nail jewelery will be popular. This is adding piercings or chains to the nails, " she continues.
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"I love this idea but think it works best on longer nails, however, I am going to try this look on my shorter nails, so keep your eyes peeled, " she says.
We've seen velvet nails—or cat-eye nails—cropping up on our feeds, but the trend shows no sign of stopping as a spring nail trend. "Velvet nails, or the cat eye nails, are also a great look which I have seen becoming popular. The lighter colors will be perfect for summer and add that extra flair to a manicure, " explains Shelton.
"To create this effect you will need some magnetic polish. Apply the polish and use the magnet that comes with the polish to create your design. Then add a top coat. It’s really that easy, " she says.
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Florals, for spring? It might not be groundbreaking, but it's a classic spring nail trend we turn to every year. "Floral nails are always a good idea and can be created both with gel polish, regular polish, or even by adding fresh or dried flowers, " says Shelton.
"This trend comes back year on year and it’s because it is so pretty and can look great as a full nail art look or even just as an accent nail, " she says. "I love the pastel shades from the Max Factor Miracle Pure range, in particular cherry blossom, moonstone blue, and lemon tea. They are the perfect shades to create floral nails with, " says Shelton.
All you need is a dotting tool or Bobby pin and you can create the look. "It’s very simple, add a dot in the centre (I’d choose Lemon tea) then following the shape of a flower create more dots around the centre, " she says.
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Nail art can be fun, but there's something refreshing about a classic monochrome mani in timeless shades, and it's easy to do at home too.
"A lot of people have started painting their nails at home since lockdown and many are still trying to figure out how to achieve the salon look at home, " says Shelton. "I think monochromatic manis are the go-to for people who aren’t that confident with nail art, so I think we’ll always have nude nails at the top of the list, and black, red and even white, " she says. "I’ve recently spotted Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner rocking simple monochromatic nails and they looked amazing."
"I would always
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