Spring is on the horizon, bringing joy and freshness to our wardrobes and routines. With it, the nail trends for 2025 are set to reflect the season's vibrant spirit, featuring hues and designs meant to uplift and energize. Experts have weighed in on the upcoming nail trends, ensuring nail enthusiasts are ready to embrace the change and express their individuality.
This year, as the lighter layers of spring replace winter’s heaviness, the nail design scene is also shedding its darker palettes. The emphasis is on colors and designs infused with joy, including playful iterations of classic styles. According to Hayley McColm, pro nail ambassador at Mii Cosmetics, we should expect to see “playful French designs, and animal print is a great way to add a twist to your French tips.” This refreshed take on the French manicure will inject fun and personality, moving away from traditional designs.
Along with playful French tips, milky manicures are predicted to receive their own spring revamp. This season, these manicures will incorporate soft pastel shades, versatile enough to suit all skin tones. McColm suggests these colors will look exceptionally fresh on short, square nail shapes. One such example could be the lavender-tinted designs popularized by Nails by Jordan: both stylish and fitting for the fresh feeling of spring.
Transitioning to brighter tones, eye-catching citrus shades are set to emerge as big trends this spring. Manicurist Ami Streets notes, “Bold orange and energizing yellow colours will liven up manicures,” offering the perfect way to add warmth to your look. Vibrant oranges are getting particularly highlighted as bold choices, making statements wherever they appear.
Meanwhile, floral patterns may be predictable for spring, but this year’s designs promise to reinvent their charm. Celebrity nail artist Loi Lien indicates, “I know I’ll be doing a lot of small and dainty flowers this season.” Designs could be as simple as rows or clusters of flowers, created with the use of dot tools for ease and precision, providing cute and refreshing alternatives to the classic spring florals.
Those leaning toward minimalist aesthetics will find their wish fulfilled with creamy, pastel blue shades. Julia Diogo, top technician at Bio Sculpture, forecasts vibrant blue tones like Bubblegum Ice Cream will capture attention without overwhelming the eye. Designs such as Lauren’s sky blue manicure exemplify this aesthetic—aiming to embrace fun, all the way from classic choices to more adventurous alternatives.
While metallic hues usually dominate during winter, the transition to spring will favor high-shine finishes paired with softer pastel tones. “Mixing metallic shades or creating metallic effects is a great way to customize your look for the season,” explains McColm. These combinations promise to add sophistication to your manicures.
Overall, spring 2025 embraces minimalism, with simple detailing set to reign supreme. Streets mentions the use of 3D gel to create soft shapes, delicate metallic detailing, and understated accents with pearls or crystals. This shift from overly embellished designs to softer aesthetics allows for creativity without being overwhelming—an ethereal touch to complement the warming weather.
An exciting new entry to the color scene is the predicted popularity of cantaloupe. Lien suggests this refreshing shade, akin to tangerine and salmon, will be the go-to choice for nail salons. Expect to see this color combined with others for whimsical blends!
Micro nail art, which makes use of inflowing tiny and cute designs like fruits and emojis, aims to take center stage this season. “It’s a fresh and fun way to lift any manicure and make it feel super seasonal,” expresses Diogo. Her illustrative examples—such as tiny fruit designs paired with chic pink bases—show how simple designs can have big impacts.
Lastly, those who enjoy multidimensional styles can anticipate ombré nails reflecting spring's transitional nature. Streets remarks on how ombré designs allow experimentation with different shades, perfectly matching the hues luxuriously blossoming outside. Manicurist Monika Mayer's sunset ombré reflects this notion, manifesting the vibrant shades we’ll see transforming throughout spring.
Brown shades aren’t fading away as we embrace warmer weather; they are instead morphing. While there has been much buzz around mocha mousse manicures, lighter coffee and taupe shades are slated to dominate heaps of manicures as sleek and modern choices for spring 2025. With products like Nailberry’s Nail Lacquer bringing fresh options, brown can effectively join the spring palette.
This spring season is about rejuvenation and celebrating simplicity, offering nail designs to appeal to everyone’s taste, from minimalist elegance to bold expressions. With these trends, it’s clear nails will blossom just as beautifully as the flowers outside.