French manicure designs perfect for summer-ready nails

While winter and the colder months can inspire some great manicures, summer is when we can really have fun. With longer days and warmer temperatures, people tend to gravitate toward brighter shades, bolder colors, and designs that evoke summer energy. One of the best ways to embrace this season is with a French manicure—not the one your grandma has been sporting since the 1970s.

The French manicure has come a long way and is no longer just a natural-looking nail polish with a white tip, but a whole new animal. “(The French manicure) will never go out of style and it goes with everything,” nail artist Betina R. Goldstein tells Allure. “There are also many ways to make it look younger, fresher and more current. And how you pair it (like a blazer), based on color choices, shape, width and pattern , can make it look really new and different.”

Even though we’ve already seen plenty of nail trends for summer 2024, we haven’t yet seen enough French manicures that embrace the season and pay homage to it. So, with July quickly approaching, there’s no better time than now to get your French manicure ready for summer.

Experiment with neon tips

You don’t have to be Barbie and Ken rollerblading on a boardwalk to know that neon and summer vibes definitely work. Whether you stick to just one neon color or spice things up with a few different shades, you create an eye-catching look. Sure, neon in high doses can be irritating, but as a French tip, it’s just perfect.

Give flowers to your baby blue tips

As we already know, pastel nails have been all the rage this year. Once spring rolled around, it seemed like everyone was rocking their favorite pastel nail. To keep with this trend, but give it a summery twist, a pastel nail with flowers is a great option. Not a fan of flowers? Then choose a design that reminds you of summer. After all, someone has to be the first to rock a pastel nail with complementary hot dog patterns.

Let the world know about your favorite treat

Summer is officially strawberry season. For this reason, there’s no better way to celebrate than with a strawberry manicure. While color tips with dancing strawberry designs are definitely a fun choice, if you want to be really bold, you can opt for tips that look like the real deal. Sure, it’s a little wacky, but manicures are supposed to be fun.

Build a garden with your matcha tips

In April, manicures in shades of matcha and mint began to appear. A stunning alternative to forest green just in time for sunny days, it was the look of the moment. While April may be behind us, manicures in shades of matcha and mint are not. Instead, they were modernized for summer, having evolved into French tips with flowers. It’s such a beautiful combination that this type of manicure could even give the Jardin des Tuileries some stiff competition.

Make Every Day a Beach Day

If you think you have to be a mermaid named Ariel to pull off ocean wave-like nails, think again. Anyone, even those who live in landlocked areas, can pull off an ocean-inspired French manicure. Not only will you be on-trend for summer, but you’ll also be making a statement. No one will be able to look away from those blue waves, and the best part is, you won’t have to worry about popping Dramamine to get through the day.