The customary post-salon snap honestly hits different now that we’re thinking ahead to warmer days.
Spring has nearly sprung, which means a mani refresh is in order. In keeping with the season’s air of optimism, soft, cheery tips, chrome finishes, and super cute florals are some of the trend frontrunners, vying for a place on our nail radar.
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H! Fashion got the inside scoop from expert nail technician and founder of Manicured London, Tinu Bello, on the spring 2025 nail trends to have on your radar. “Spring 2025 is all about soft, dreamy pastels with a twist,” Tinu reveals.”Think buttery yellows, peach sorbets, and muted lavenders that exude quiet luxury.”
According to Tinu, we’ll also see the return of “high-shine, jelly-like finishes,” adding a playful yet sophisticated edge. She continues, “Nail art is leaning into delicate, intricate details: pressed flowers, negative space designs, and fluid watercolor-like blends. Also, expect to see more tonal ombré, where different shades of the same colour seamlessly blend across each nail.”
Butter Yellow
Creamy butter yellow tones are arguably the most notable colourway in the world of fashion at the minute, so why shouldn’t it decent into your beauty regime too? If you’re someone who prefers a block colour for your manicure, this statement shade is subtle yet overly alluring and will be the perfect complement to a fresh summer glow.
Matcha Green
© @gelcare.official
Coming in a close second behind Butter Yellow as this season’s most sought-after colourway, matcha green is a dreamy pastel shade that mimics the vibrant shade of a matcha latte. Perfect for those who like to dabble in colour but don’t want something too striking, matcha green is for you.
Polka Dots
Polka dot print is a SS25 staple, seen in the form of floaty dresses, mini skirts, head scarves and even ballet flats, the fun-loving print boast playful yet elegant energy and who wouldn’t want their manicure to ooze just that?
Dolce Vita
© @nailsit38
Tones of rich blue and white and pops of lemon yellow are synonymous with the Dolce Vita lifestyle, which basically translates to “the sweet life.” Think Amalfi Coast in the height of summer, fresh lemonade and sun-kissed skin and you’re bang on the money.
Crystal Clear Water
Baby blue tones will always remind us of crystal clear water reflecting the hot summer sun, the perfect nod to warmer weather. This particular design also features a selection of perfectly placed crystals made to look like a glistening ocean.
Ice Cream Manicure
© @harrietwestmoreland
“A fun, whimsical take on pastels. This trend plays with smooth, creamy shades and melted, swirl-like patterns to create a deliciously sweet effect. It’s a great way to experiment with colours while still keeping the look soft and wearable.”
Daisy Nails
Whimsical and distinctly spring-appropriate, a daisy-inspired mani is a great choice if you’re into pretty, classic blooms. Trend forecasters at discount platform Wethrift analysed Pinterest search volume data and found that interest in this look is up by +1750%.
© Instagram / @_alwbeauty
Daisy nails feel in line with the mood of the season, but there’s also scope for experimentation. The flower head can be combined with verdant stem detailing or featured in a half design, with a focus on the delicacy of the petals.
Mocha Mousse
Tinu says, “The rise of the caramel manicure aka mocha mousse has been an unexpected delight. As Pantone’s colour of the year, mocha mousse is playful, nostalgic, and allows for so much creativity when paired with pastel swirls, drip effects, and even tiny sprinkles for a 3D effect.” Adding, “It’s a fun contrast to the more minimal, barely-there manicures that are also trending this season.”
Strawberry Milk Nails
This trend is the epitome of effortless chic. It’s a sheer, milky pink that enhances the natural beauty of the nail while adding a soft, feminine glow. It’s perfect for those who love a clean, polished look but still want a hint of colour.
Aura Nails
Inspired by energy fields and spirituality, aura nails are definitely the most vibey nail trend of 2024. With a hazy, diffused appearance, the look features a base shade with a blurred orb of colour in the centre.
© Instagram / @j3nnailedit
The effect can be achieved either via an airbrush or a sponge to achieve the soft-focus coloured edges.
Lavender Chrome
Chrome is one of those nail trends that is still building momentum at the moment, despite having been huge last year. The brilliant thing about a beautiful, iridescent powder that is can be super subtle, appreciated fully only when held up to the light.
© Instagram / @sarah_george_frank
Lavender consistently creeps back up on our shade radar around this time of year, but when paired with chrome, it presents a slightly more futuristic, fantastical feel than classic pearly pink.
Barely-There Manicure
“A huge shift towards natural-looking nails continues,” Tinu says. ” Think ultra-sheer pinks, beiges, and high-gloss, healthy finishes. This trend is perfect for minimalists or those who want a polished, low-maintenance look.”
Spring Florals
© Instagram / @nailsbydairine
Basic? Perhaps a little. But there’s no need to apologise. This spring we’re utterly spoilt for choice when it comes to super cute floral designs, meaning there are heaps of bloom-inspired options that feel fresh and modern rather than twee and overdone.
Lean into slender stems and pretty tulip motifs, otherwise if you don’t want to limit your look to one particular type of flower, a pastel assortment with metallic framing can look really lovely.
Milk Bath Nails
© Instagram / @paintedbycourtney
Another vote for a muted colour palette comes in the form of milk bath nails. The translucent effect is minimalist and often finished with floral detailing – richly reminiscent of a dried petal-strewn bath, hence the name. Tinu tells H! Fashion, “Inspired by the ethereal beauty of floating flowers in milky water, this trend involves soft, translucent whites and embedded floral designs. Its a modern romantic take on the classic sheer manicure and works beautifully for spring.”
For low-maintenance girlies, this super forgiving trend is a godsend – especially if you choose a base shade that is similar to your natural nail plate so that growth will be virtually imperceptible.
Pastel Tips
© Instagram / @carolynsnailart
Pastels are a bona fide spring classic, and for “good reason”, according to Swiss nailcare brand Mavala‘s nail expert Lynn Mason. “After wearing dark shades all winter long, a lighter hue is sure to make your hands feel fresher for spring.” She predicts minty blue and pale purple will be popular this year, as well as soft, baby pink, “a winner for the clean, feminine feel”.
© Instagram / @amyburvillnails
As for pastel designs, slim-line versions of the French mani are set to be huge. “The classic white will be switched for a pop of colour for spring/summer – the perfect way of transitioning into the brighter months,” Herefordshire-based manicurist and content creator Amy Burvill previously told Hello! Fashion.
Nude Chrome
© Instagram / @corrinnabianca
Luxe minimalism was all over the agenda last year, both in fashion and beauty, and that extends to our nail game.
© Instagram / @strangenails_d
Manicurists are jazzing up skin tone-adjacent hues – milky brown, powdery pink, earthy olive and the like – with iridescent chrome for pretty luminosity.
Cherry coded
© @polished.by.jada
I know it’s getting to spring but deeper cherry red are still red hot. Tinu reveals, “Red has been having a moment, and this trend takes it a step further by incorporating vibrant cherry-red shades, playful cherry art, and glossy finishes. Its fresh, bold, and adds a punch of colour to any spring look.”
Rasperry Nails
© Instagram / @nailedbyrebeka
Juicy and super sweet, rasperry nails are the fruity nail trend you didn’t even know you needed in your life. Hailey Bieber, poster girl for last summer’s stratospheric ‘Strawberry Girl’ aesthetic, championed the berry motif mani, and the look is set to make a reappearance for SS25.
© Instagram / @hels.gels
From three-dimensional seeded texture and impossibly accurate naturalistic takes to micro strawbs or raspberry’s, there’s an option to suit all tastes.
Coquette
© Instagram / @overglowedit
The hyper-feminine coquette aesthetic took TikTok by storm, and going hand in hand with fluttery lashes and a blush overload are the super saccharine nail looks.
© Instagram / @naileditbeauty
Bows, hearts and pearls aplenty, this trend lends itself to a three-dimensional aspect. Maximalists, go wild.
Brick Red
© Instagram / @paintedbyjools
Energising scarlet hues were spotted all over the SS24 runways, and this season’s hottest hue has now infiltrated the salons. “Red is having a major moment right now and it’s only going to continue,” nail tastemaker Julia Diogo previously told Hello! Fashion.
© Instagram / @3.7nails
Pure, unsaturated colour works beautifully both with neat, unfussy lengths and longer almond shapes.
Spring Texture
© Instagram / @natalie_thedollshouse
A spring-themed tactile element can be super striking if you’re looking to make a statement. Raised dots and petals in pastel hues give the classic seasonal colour palette a whole new dimension, literally.
© Instagram / @nailsxalexa
Alternatively, take your cues from the runways and opt for three-dimensional blooms, perhaps even with dew-soaked detailing.
Lip Gloss Nails
© Instagram / @l.ostudio
Ultra-shiny top coats layered over neutral base shades to create the ultimate gleamy effect are still high up on the agenda for SS24.
© Instagram / @bynatashad
Manicurist Dian Mitchell finds that among her clientele, the juicy, high-shine finish reigns supreme. “Super glossy nails – the lip gloss manicure for example – will continue to be popular, along with ‘Blush Nails’, a very popular aesthetic in Korean and Japanese manicures,” she previously told Hello! Fashion.
Olive
© Instagram /@paiwaloves
Categorically chic, olive brings more warmth than some of its other green shade counterparts. It’s earthy, but not too subdued that it feels out of place for spring.
© Instagram / @cutie.cals
Block olive is versatile, a stellar choice if you’re after a non-showy, luxe mani that can seamlessly align with a variety of dress codes.
Oyster Nails
© Instagram / @rebeccapaintsnails
Off the back of the mermaidcore trend comes a different manicure look, inspired by another area of marine life, though no less fanciful.
© Instagram / @salemrosenails
Oyster nails give you freedom to choose – no rules, you can lean into maximalist embellishment with micro pearls and metallic beads, or simply let a splash of iridescence act as the focal point.
Easter Egg Art
© @natalieholtnailartist
Easter Egg nail art but make it chic. If you want a playful take on spring manicures, consider these fun egg-tastic designs. There are a range of ways to play with nail art and this design is a way to incorporate minimal shades with a dash of colour.
Balletcore
© Instagram / @sharongaffka, created by @georgieporgie.nails
Raise the barre and hop on the balletcore trend this spring with blush pinks, opalescent white and pearl accents.
© Instagram / @nailsbyminhanh
But for the main event, bows are key. Statement takes have much in common with the coquette trend, but the distinction lies in the fact that balletcore feels daintier, and the inclusion of slipper motifs, complete with lace-up ties.
