You’ve seen beach nails and mermaidcore manicures with seashells and pearls. Now it’s time for starfish nail ideas to bring the ocean even closer. They’re a whimsical addition that will perk up your mood. People can’t help but love starfish! Check out the starfish nail art below for inspiration.
Starfish Nail Ideas
Beach Nails with Starfish
Pearls, tiny gold seashells, and water are ideal companions for a five-armed sea star. It’s perched on the French tip and seems simple to draw but look closer. The artist went the extra mile to add texture, making it a bit more realistic.
If you love having long nails as your nail art canvas, start with soft gel extensions. They are straightforward to apply and healthier than acrylics. If you want to give ocean nails extra zing, use clear hard gel for water droplets.
Soft Gel Tips
Lavis Builder Gel in the Jar Collection
Colorful Starfish
Are starfish this vibrant in real life? Yes, they are, plus some have over three dozen arms!
Here the artist uses a translucent jelly polish with a matte top coat on almond-shaped nails. They’ve placed several of the starfish off the edges as if they were just coming into view. If you can draw a five-pointed star, you can create a sea star—just make the arms a little thinner and perhaps curve a few. Remember to add the texture on top to distinguish them from a typical star decoration.
Starfish Fun Facts
Here's some cool starfish trivia to tell people when you show off your nails:
First, sea stars can regrow lost arms. Some can sprout a whole new body from a single limb. What a way to bounce back! Plus, they have eyes at the end of each arm!
Next, starfish move by pumping water through hundreds of tiny tube feet to grip surfaces and glide across the ocean floor. They can go pretty fast!
Surprisingly, starfish lack a brain and have no blood. Their nervous system extends throughout their body. They use seawater to move nutrients around inside.
Moreover, they are not actually fish but part of the echinoderm family like sea urchins and sand dollars. These species all have spiny skin and a water-based transport system.
Starfish and Shells on Short Nails
Embossing gel is the easy way to get a 3D raised texture on nails. You can add a sprinkle of acrylic or dip powder on top before curing, too. Here the artist has chosen the perfect skin tone shade for the short nails, then added oceanic decorations like shells and starfish. It’s all in an elegant, neutral palette.
Emboss Gel Polish Nail Art - White
Starfish on French Tips
What beautiful attention to detail! The tiny ocean waves on these square French tips are complemented by the colorful little starfish on the glazed nude base.
Not All Starfish Have Five Arms
No, it’s not an AI-generated image. When you see the sunflower sea star, it’s not like a typical starfish. It has up to twenty-four arms, so it appears lumpy. This endangered species is dying out at a record pace due to ocean warming and a disease called sea star wasting syndrome. As it disappears, so do the kelp forests along the coasts. That’s because sea stars eat sea urchins that wipe out the kelp. Starfish eat other predators that don’t have natural enemies and so they keep the balance. When you wear starfish on your nails, you have an opportunity to start a conversation about preserving an essential part of the ocean ecosystem.
White Starfish
White starfish are less common in nature than colorful ones, but they look pretty on these water-patterned nails.
Shell Nails
Sculpted nails like these might be acrylics or they could be poly gel. Not everyone has mastered acrylics—they might be put off by the chemical odor or the challenge of wetting the bead just right. Also, acrylics air dry, so there’s only a few minutes before the nail art sets. However, poly gel doesn’t have those challenges.
Lavis poly extension gel comes pre-mixed so there’s no guesswork. It’s ready to use right out of the tube. You shape it by dampening a brush with slip solution (rubbing alcohol) and pressing the paste into place. It’s ideal for nail art and extensions. Moreover, it’s odorless and won’t set until you cure it in a nail lamp. Use it with other nail systems like gel polish or dip powder to make the nail designs of your dreams!
Poly Gel
Nail Charms
Neon Starfish
Brighten up your fingertips with vibrant neon polish and perky little starfish. Try transparent spider gel for miniature drops and swirls.
Lavis Spider Gel - Clear
LX4 Urban Lightning Collection
Pink Sea Stars with Chrome Tips
Bubblegum pink sea stars are one of the largest species. They weigh up to two pounds and are up to two feet around! Yes, you guessed it—they inspired the creation of Patrick Star for SpongeBob Squarepants.
Pink starfish eat sand dollars and clams, so they prefer to hang out in the mud. But they also climb up on coral and rocks to munch on barnacles and mussels.
Starfish Symbolism in Nail Art
If you see someone with starfish on their nails, does it mean anything? It might mean that the wearer wants to be on vacation! Or it could have a deeper significance.
For example, sea stars are believed to help people find their way home when they are lost. Since they can regenerate lost limbs, they are symbols of rebirth and starting anew after a setback.
Five-armed starfish stand for the five elements of water, earth, air, fire, and metal. These elements can support someone facing a challenge.
Finally, sea stars can also mean healing and a connection to cosmic energy. The creatures themselves are very sensitive to their environment, so they can symbolize intuition.
Conclusion
It’s decided—we want starfish nails, pronto! We hope you found inspiration here as well. It’s always a good time for a fresh look.
If you’re tired of the same old shades, check out our Summer Colors Collection for hot new hues to brighten up your day.
Sources:
https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2020/12/biologist-helps-place-starfish-critically-endangered-list
https://www.treehugger.com/bizarre-and-beautiful-starfish-species-4864159