The Biggest Nail Trends of 2026 You’ll See Everywhere Now
If you love nails, 2026 is going to be a very good year. There will be lots of juicy reds, luxe metallics, and still more light looks. We’re seeing design evolutions with cat eye gel and syrup shades, plus attractive new textures. But that’s not even half of what’s coming. Below are the biggest nail trends of 2026 you’ll see everywhere now.
The Biggest Nail Trends of 2026
Color Trends for 2026
We surveyed the experts from Cosmo, Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, Vogue, and the local salon. They’re all saying the same thing: red is making a big comeback, especially warm-toned crimson shades. One celebrity manicurist named the trend “tomato red”.
What’s more, brown and earthy shades will be in high demand. It’s like a blast back to the 1970s, helped along by fashion houses pushing mocha mousse, Pantone’s color of the year 2025. If you see warm gray, olive drab, and khaki on sale, stock up. These neutrals are good company for a wide variety of colors.
However, don’t let your favorite sheer shades run low. You may want them for luxurious skincare finishes embellished with just a hint of chrome, or all the fancy new French manicure styles. Another celebrity artist predicts that 2026 will be a “less is more year.” What she means is that simple designs like nude bases with clean outlines or minimalist color-blocking are becoming more popular.
Nail Art Trends for 2026
Colors are essential, but what we do with them makes all the difference. Here are the upcoming nail art trends for 2026.
French Tips
We must talk about how the French manicure continues to transform from the basic pink and white to extravagant glamour. For example, we’re predicting flashy tips dipped in crystals or reverse French with chrome cuffs. Alternatively, some artists are creating double and triple tips with narrow metal lines resembling bangles or nail jewelry.
Patterned Nails
Plaid nails are something we didn’t expect to become so popular. What was once a niche trend for winter has turned into a year-round obsession with artists simply swapping shades for the seasons. As someone pointed out, a tech needs a steady hand to make the pattern look professionally tailored. But what’s fun is putting the stripes over the top of jelly polish or layering with cat eye gel for extra depth.
French Lace Nail Sticker
Besides plaid or argyle, salons are seeing an increase in requests for lace nails. The good news is there are beautiful alternatives to handpainting intricate designs. Lacy nail art stickers save time and frustration. If you prefer a more hands-on approach, LAVIS Lace Gel is a satisfying fluid art tool to explore.
LAVIS Lace Gel
But it’s not all complex patterns. Those who love polka dots can continue making spotted nail designs in 2026 as polka dot clothing and accessories will be in shops everywhere. Moreover, striped nails, both vertical and horizontal, are also fair game. The best part is taking dots and lines to new levels with texture, metallic, or cat eye effects.
Cat Eye Magic Continues
We’re fans of cat eye gel. Our store stocks an incredible range of colors and effects along with magnets and tools for creative designs. So, we were pleased to hear that cat eye polish continues to be a fashion favorite. Instead of chunky glitter, it looks like the more delicate shimmer gels are rising in popularity. One artist links this to the Korean and Japanese influence.
LAVIS Cat Eye Collection - Beauty Bureau CE10
Syrup Nails
Speaking of Korean nail art, jelly polish and syrup looks will continue to sweeten up manicures in 2026. We also have a beautiful collection of jelly colors for your next venture, like creating nuance nails. There’s nothing like layering syrupy shades for watercolor effects.
Aura Nails Upgrade
One of the most intriguing nail trends of 2026 is the evolution of aura nails. Celebrity manicurist Michelle Humphrey described it as a “thermographic” style with multiple colors airbrushed on a single nail in a diffused ambience. Honestly, it makes sense, as “official” aura photographs reveal each person has more than one color.
Liquid Metal Looks
Another intriguing nail trend for 2026 is a liquid metal 3D nail art. For instance, think Dua Lipa’s metallic mani in 2025. It’s incredibly easy to create textured chrome looks with emboss gel, chrome matte top coat, and chrome powder. Apply the base color, remove the shine with chrome matte top, add the texture with embossing gel, and polish with chrome powder. The powder sticks to the embossing gel but not to the matte top coat, eliminating all the mess. Just brush off the excess and finish with a glossy top coat to restore the shine.
LAVIS Chrome Matte Top
Nail Piercing and Jewellery
One of the unexpected trends of 2025 was the rise of Prince Albert piercings in nail art. However, nail piercing and nail jewelry will continue in 2026, but perhaps with a more minimalist and sophisticated approach.
Nail Shape Trends for 2026
We talked about colors and designs, but what shapes and lengths will be the biggest nail trends of 2026?
Sculpted and Sharp
Blown glass nails and claw nails are now within reach of beginners who’ve never picked up a Kolinsky brush or gotten woozy from sniffing monomer. Builder gel and poly extension gel make the most extreme nail shapes doable, especially with the help of nail forms. Some artists predict that the cat claw shape will join the ranks of almond, oval, and square-tipped nails as a choice for daily wear.
Short and Rounded
But if you’re a fan of practical shapes and lengths, don’t worry because short nails, especially squoval will continue to be a popular choice in 2026. Moreover, rounded edges like those on elongated oval nails are also taking over the front seat while square tips have taken a step back waiting for their next turn.
Conclusion
And that wraps up our sneak peek at the biggest nail trends of 2026. We’re ready for them to take over our social feeds and salons! Our store is stocked with the supplies you need to reach all your nail goals throughout the coming year. Sign up for exclusive rewards and unlock free shipping so you can concentrate your cash on what’s most important.
Sources:
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/g69727442/nail-trend-predictions-2026/
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/nails/a69676734/2026-nail-trends/
https://www.voguescandinavia.com/articles/nail-trends-2026