15 Electric Blue Nail Ideas That Are Bright and Bold

Solid Blue

The beautiful thing about electric blue nail polish is that it’s so bold that you don’t even have to incorporate it into an intricate nail look—it stands out on its own. Here, nail artist Brittney Ellen is using MiniLuxe Pure Polish ($14) in the shade Plage.

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Cobalt Flames

Cobalt Flame manicure — @brushedbyb_ / instagram

Flame nails are huge in 2023. While most fire nail art features shades of red and orange, you can see how fun a vivid blue take on the trend is here. To recreate the look, you’ll need Mooncat Lacquer ($15) in the shades House of Hades and Emo for Life.

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Blue Thermal

Electric blue is head-turning on its own, but when you pair it with thermal detailing, you’ll have a mani worth a million compliments.

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Holo Shimmer

holographic cobalt shimmer manicure — @melanated.mani / instagram

To give your electric blue manicure an added spark, top it off with a holographic top coat. Alternatively, you can use a blue polish made with holographic sparkles, like the Mooncat Cosmic Cowboy Nail Lacquer ($14).

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Cobalt Cuticles

Cobalt Cuticle manicure — @iramshelton / instagram

Cobalt is one of those colors that’s so bold you don’t even have to cover your entire nail in it to make a statement. Case in point: This minimalist cobalt cuticle highlight nail art idea. Stunning, right?

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Cobalt Cutout

Cobalt Squiggle manicure — @lolo.nailedit / instagram

Another way to showcase cobalt on your nails is with a cutout-inspired negative space look. To recreate this design, you’ll need a fine-lining nail art brush and Essie Nail Polish ($10) in the shades Butler Please and Skinny Dip.

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Matte Cobalt Fade

Incorporating electric blue nail polish into a multicolor blue nail look is another manicure option. The light-to-dark approach makes a really bold impact. Plus, the chrome outline surrounding each blue tip makes each nail pop even more.

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Cobalt Check

Mismatched manicures are having a moment—and for a good reason. This playful nail trend allows you to combine all your favorite designs into one. Exhibit A: This checker, sparkle emoji, and retro heart manicure idea is so playful and cool.

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Cobalt Mix-and-Match

cobalt mismatched manicure — @disseynails / instagram

If you need more proof that a mismatched mani is the way to go, here it is. As you probably know, checker nails, floral accents, French tips, and smiley face nails are all trending here in 2023, so this nail look checks multiple boxes.

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Silver Swirls

Silver Swirl manicure — @melanated.mani / instagram

To jazz up your electric blue nail look, add silver swirls to the mix. The shimmery nail designs against the solid base create the perfect contrast.

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Cobalt Negative Space

This negative space design incorporates so many dynamic shapes, giving this mani a beyond-unique look. Take the manicure to the next level by swapping your traditional glossy topcoat with a matte topcoat. This look used Barry Cosmetics Matte Topcoat ($13) to achieve its non-glossy finish.

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Cobalt Squiggle

Even just opting for a few cobalt blue squiggles will transform the look of your nails. Here, you can once again see the power of the bold color when paired with a matte top coat.

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Shattered Cobalt

Shattered glass nails are popular in 2023. While the artistic design looks good in every color, we think this electric blue iteration is an especially wonderful choice.

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Illusion French Tips

While these trippy illusion French tips appear incredibly intricate, they’re DIY-friendly. To recreate this French illusion look, paint one side of your nail cobalt and the other pale lilac. Use a damp sponge to blend the polishes. Let it dry (or cure it if you’re using gel). Then, use French manicure nail art stickers (like the Orly Half Moon Guides, $6) to section off your tips. Apply your polish in the opposite direction and again use a damp sponge to blur the colors. Finish with a top coat, and voila.

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Cobalt Squoval

This mani serves as more proof that a solid electric blue mani is perfect on its own. However, if you want to add a twist, opt for squoval-shaped nails. To achieve this exact look, use OPI Nature Strong Natural Origin Lacquer ($12) in the shade Shore Is Something.

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