There's something special about the mother-daughter manicure experience. Growing up, one of my favorite pastimes was getting my nails done with my mom. As I got to the tween and teen years, it made me feel especially grown up and put together, even if I was rocking absurdly long acrylics in neon colors.
These days, moms and daughters are going DIY on the manicures. Hands are getting a lot of wear and tear with constant handwashing, so frequent manicures add up quickly. These facilities aren't open consistently around the country right now, either. Couple that with a newfound need for self-care, and many manis are happening at home.
Moms and daughters can get excited about experimenting with spring's new nail trends, whether they're DIYing their manicures or getting them done at a salon. Colors both subtle and bright and sweet designs guarantee there's something every nail-art fan in your family will adore.
Natural Nudes
Clean, sleek nails have been in for a bit now. While some will go with well-manicured bare nails, you can achieve the natural look while indulging in polish by picking the perfect shade of nude for you. Give it a hint of edge with some equally clean accent hardware.
Bubblegum Pink
Poppy, punchy pinks are going to be huge this year. Pale pinks will play nice with nude trends, but for those who just want to have fun, it's all about the pop of the bright pinks.
Plenty of Pastels
Pastels always make an appearance in springtime, but we're seeing them in creative new ways this year. Many are finding ways to keep the whole nail minimal, using pastels to add subtle accents, like geometric shapes and lines.
Mismatched Nails
The mismatched nail trend began in 2020, but we expect to see some pretty creative takes on it through 2021. Expect to see some of the most popular colors of the spring showcased in manicures with alternating colors. The solid nail seems to be the best way not to take the trend too far.
Tie-Dye Nails
People have rediscovered tie-dye in a big way this year, so it's only natural for the trend to have a nail-art take. Splashes of color can bring your nails to life in a big way this spring. Pastels seem to be an early favorite for color schemes, but it definitely allows a lot of room for creativity.
Checkered Nails
Break out those fine brushes! You'll need a steady hand (or some reliable tape) to make the checkered look happen. Do something subtle with a half-circle at the base of the nail or a stripe along the tips, or go bolder with a whole-nail design.
Animal Prints
Maybe there's still a bit of that Tiger King viewer lingering in us, but animal prints are expected to continue their moment. All the cool cats and kittens will be drawing their nail art inspiration from the animal kingdom. We're loving leopard and giraffe prints.
Going Green
Green is the color of money and plants, and we all want to see both of those growing this year. The color offers a lot of attractive nail-art possibilities, whether you're into pastels or prefer the darker side of things.
Beautiful Blues
Expect to see a lot of blue in nail art this spring. Go light and summon the blue skies of spring, like in Pantone's Spring/Summer 2021 palette. You can also add in dark, nearly black shades to get playful with some contrast to other light colors.
Neon Matte Polishes
A lot of spring's colorful looks will involve some neon matte polishes. It works with other callbacks to the '80s you'll see in spring fashion. They really pop, whether you dress plain or go for an all-out Lisa Frank-style look.
Chain Nails
Chain nails go all the way back to the '90s, but the trend has found new life in recent months. Now it's proving itself an asset to punky alternative looks you'll see around this spring. Chain nails go easily from chic to playful with the change of an outfit.
Wavy Nails
There's no right or wrong way to make waves, and the same is true for this nail trend. You can make them big and swooping or smaller. It's also an easy way to incorporate some different colors into your nail art with a simple, almost foolproof design.
Negative Space Designs
Sometimes, it's all about what's not there. A lot of nail artists are experimenting with negative space designs and loving the results. These often minimalistic designs really make what is there stand out in a special way.
Lettered Manicures
We're all about saying it how you feel, and now you can do that with your nails! We're seeing a lot of lettered manicures, and we have a feeling it will be a creative challenge. Gothic letters seem to be the favorite so far, but we're intrigued to see what other fonts reign supreme.
Match With Your Mask
Since so many people are doing less with makeup right now due to mask wearing, they're doing more with their nails. Match your nails to your collection of masks for fun, new ways to accessorize. DIY both for an even more amazing look to show off to loved ones.
