The countdown is on for Easter nails. There's no such thing as too early when it comes to planning your next nail designs – after all, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. So, knowing you'll definitely want to have some some Easter nail art ideas in mind, we have approached some of the industry's finest nail experts to get your creative juices flowing.
When it comes to Easter nail designs, there are the usual motifs that instantly make us feel in the mood for chocolate eggs. Easter bunny rabbits, pastel florals, and pretty eggs are all common Easter nail art ideas that never fail to make an impression. But for 2024, there are also some fun additions to add to the mix too.
In line with the social media coquettish aesthetic, bow nails [1] are trending and make for the perfect feminine touch this Easter. Nail artist Anouska Anastasia [2] who's been hailed as a "sculpting wizard" and a "nail surgeon" by her Instagram followers, thinks the bow trend is going nowhere as they offer a "cute and girl vibe" for Easter designs.
In case you were wondering what your favourite A-Lister's nails were set to look like ahead of the seasonal change, Mylee [4] ambassador and A-List manicurist Tinu Belo, who's worked with the likes of "Killing Eve"'s Sandra Oh [5], TV presenter Holly Willoughby, and popstar Anne-Marie, says nostalgic floral Easter nail art and aura nails [6] will be making waves this Easter.
"Nostalgic floral nail art will also be everywhere for spring 2024. It's sunny, uplifting, and happy, and sparks a lot of joy," Belo tells us. And aura nails, which have crept into the zeitgeist in the last few months of 2023 are set to have their moment this Easter, following trends set by the likes of Megan Fox [7] and Vanessa Hudgens [8], who have both sported the look. "It's a beautiful, airbrushed look that takes inspiration from the aura surrounding you. What better way to celebrate the beautiful spring than with a stunning aura mani," Belo adds.
I love making my nails match the season, and I want my Easter nail design to be fun, bright, and floral — so I've requested a pastel pink and orange aura base, which my nail technician will create using an air brush. Or, I'd like to tap into the floral trend and add some miniature daisies to the tips of my nails, for an interesting twist on the micro french tip [9], which is set to be everywhere this spring.
So if you're about to go get your Easter nails and are on the lookout for Easter nail art ideas ahead of lighter evenings and mini egg marathons, you're in luck. Read ahead for some of our favourite Easter nail inspiration.
What Colour Nails Should I Get For Easter?
TikTok BIAB babe and nail artist Nailed By Belles [12] is certain that while pastels will be a favourite this spring, so will chrome tips, which she says will reign for Easter nail designs, but with a bright coloured twist. She tells us: "I think the spring nail trend will be pastel chrome tips! Everyone's obsessed with chrome at the minute and pastels are a staple for spring."
Meanwhile, Charlotte Knight, nail technician, CEO and founder of Ciaté London [13], says the recent coquette trend [14] means the milkier your nail polish shade this Easter, the better. "The season's safe choice is a pale ballet pink, part of the coquette trend that dominated the tail end of 2023. In the salon, try a pink acrylic for a colour that has more dimension than a flat paint shade. At home, make sure you're utilising a glossy topcoat," Knight advises.
How do You Paint Easter Nails?
Of course, you can do your Easter nail art at home and isn't as difficult as it may seem. While creating freehand designs takes more focus, you could also use stencils, airbrushes, sponges, stamps and nail stickers to elevate your designs. For example, when creating a french tip, you could use a stencil to create a crisp white line or you could use an airbrush or sponge for an ombre effect.
While these steps would have to be done before you apply a top coat, adding nail stickers can be done before or after your manicure, by simply sticking them to your nail and applying another clear coat on top. Generally, nail art brushes, dotting tools and sponges are your best friend if you're planning to work on your nail art, says nail artist and manicurist, Mariana Augusto [15]. "They don't have to be anything fancy as you can get these online for affordable prices and they honestly really help as you can play around with different techniques in order to achieve a variety of nail art styles," she says.
If you're opting for a solid colour or base for your Easter nail design, Mariana, who paints countless nails on a daily basis, says the key to a perfect finish is to take your time and for a seamless look, be sure to apply two to three coats of colour: "Make sure you are applying thin layers of the product to make sure they dry or cure fully in between, some colours definitely have more coverage than others which could mean you might need to go in with a third coat of colour to get that seamless look.
"Having a clean up brush will also help clean up around the nails or any areas that you might have accidentally painted!" Mariana adds. "Painting your non-dominant hand is definitely a challenge but practice makes perfect!"
Lauren Gordon [16] is the editorial coordinator at POPSUGAR UK, where she creates lifestyle and identity content. Lauren has a degree in journalism from University of the Arts London and previously worked as a showbiz and TV reporter at The Mirror US. Lauren specialises in pop culture, hair and beauty, focusing on trends, sharing in-depth tutorials, and highlighting hidden gems in the beauty industry.