2024's Biggest Nail Trends Have Something For Everyone

Over the past year, french manicures have had a major resurgence. The latest trend, "naked french tips," is all about your nails but better. The look is a mix of a diffused french manicure and your natural nails. "This makes it look like a natural nail, as if you've got nothing but clear polish on, while still covering any imperfections," Vanessa Sanchez-McCullough, celebrity nail artist, previously told POPSUGAR.

The beauty of "junk nails" is that they can be whatever you want them to be. "This nail craze captivates a fusion of vibrant hues; 3D elements like rhinestones, beads, glitter; and eccentric nail art," Liana Thomson, nail expert at Nails.co.uk, previously told POPSUGAR.

"Old-money nails are all about chic, classic colours paired with super-clean cuticle work," Mazz Hanna, CEO of Nailing Hollywood, previously told POPSUGAR. The trend is most often seen with sheer polish, pared-down looks like a french manicure, or classic colours like reds and light pinks. While the look is popular with short nails, it can be adapted based on your preferences.

"Milk-tea nails are essentially just a light brown manicure," Mazz Hanna, chief executive officer of Nailing Hollywood, previously told POPSUGAR. The trend is all about recreating the look of milky tea, as the name implies. The look works on all nail shapes and lengths, and it's the perfect neutral manicure to go with any outfit.

You've probably seen aura nails on your social media feed at least once in 2023, but it's predicted to be huge in the next year. "The style features a circular ombre effect that emulates a glowing aura," Pattie Yankee, consulting manicurist for Dashing Diva, tells POPSUGAR. Not only is it stunning, but it's easy enough to re-create at home on your own.

To be clear: aura nails don't have to feature your actual accurate aura reading, but rather utilise colours that mimic the colours of the body's chakras and energy fields. (Think swirls of colours that diffuse outward, starting in the middle.)

Rita Pinto, founder of Vanity Projects nail salon, previously told POPSUGAR: "It's very New Age meets Gen Z because the colours of the manicures are way more interpretive and expansive than the usual aura-chart colours. I've also heard them be referred to as 'colour trips' in the salon by clients."

Perhaps the biggest trend in 2023 was chrome nails, and that will continue into the next year. "It won't be a surprise to see chrome or metallic nails all over," says manicurist and LeChat nails educator Hemi Park. Expect to see chrome finishes across a range of different colours — silver, gold, blue, and pink, to name a few.

Like any other nail design, chrome can be used on the entire nail or as part of a nail art look — like french manicures, stars, and more — and the latter take will be a new twist on the trend you'll see a lot of in 2024.

Rich-girl nails are proving to be a popular nail style for 2023 after stars like Jennifer Lopez, Marsai Martin, and Hailee Steinfeld wore the look. The manicure is minimal, clean, and very chic. "'Rich girl' nails are a modern take on a sophisticated classic," celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik previously told POPSUGAR. "[The] colour is a creamy, full-coverage nude playing homage to the greige inspiration originally seen with Chanel."

Because the rich-girl nail trend is all about the colour, you can wear it in any shape. They're perfect for year-round wear, thanks to the minimal style.

Take a page out of Wednesday Addams's book and embrace dark, goth-inspired nails — another fun trend for 2024. "Goth is so in right now, I have to hold myself back from releasing only goth looks," Braelinn Frank, founder of Rave Nailz, tells POPSUGAR. When a swipe of black polish just won't do, add either an accent nail or some extra texture in an equally dark or moody colour — think grey, red, or dark blue — to give your manicure some gothic flair. If you want to try out a simple version of the trend, give cherry mocha nails a spin.