We Spoke to Celebrity Manicurists About the Hottest Nail Trends for Spring 2024

"Floral nail art will be everywhere this SS24," says A-list Manicurist, and Senior Mylee Ambassador, Tinu Bello, who counts Sandra Oh, Anne-Marie, and Holly Willoughby as her clients. "It's sunny, uplifting and happy, and sparks a lot of joy. Floral nail art does what it says on the tin. It's the placement of hand-painted, or sticker flowers on top of your colour, or natural nail. It can be a floral border at the cuticle or tip of your nail, or it can be one lone flower, or a spattering of them adorning your mani. The look is customisable to your own preferences, which is why I love it!"

To create the trend at-home Bello has these tips: "Opt for a nude or sheer pink based and then using a dotting tool like Mylee Dotting Tool (£5) create five dots in a circle and add a different colour dot in the middle." To give it the 2024 update you need to add a fine brush and drag the dots outward into more of a petal shape. "If you don't have a dotting tool to hand, grab a bobby pin and use the end to dip into your polish to create dots. If you're a novice with nail art, try with creating the look with floral stickers first, as it is so much easier to rectify any mishaps. When you become more confident, you can start to experiment with hand painting."

"I'm very into the Naked French for SS24," Georgia Rae, celebrity manicurist at Bio Sculpture, who was behind Sofia Richie's wedding nail look, tells PS UK. "A subtle interpretation of the classic French, it still gives that natural look, but it blurs any discolouration for a super refined, fresh appearance. I like to use all sheer shades - a sheer pink for the base and a sheer milky white for the tips to colour correct and brighten, almost as you would a concealer."

You can recreate the look at home using the same technique, says Rae: "Prepare your nails by neatening the cuticles, filing into the desired shape, and cleaning the surface of the nail. I'd then apply a base coat, one layer of a sheer natural shade, and using a liner brush apply the sheer white shade to the tips tracing the natural shape of your nail, lastly finish up with a glossy topcoat."

According to Nail Technician Lucy Tucker, who counts the Spice Girls, Girls Aloud and Anne Hathaway as her clients, this 90s teen trend is back. "They've been around for years, but I think they are coming back and are gonna be big again this summer!" Tucker tells PS UK. "These wraps are not the kind that need to be cured with an LED lamp, but the sticky kind you literally stick on over your nails. Which is great as it works for anyone; natural nails or gel nails make no difference!"

Nails wraps come in a variety of different colours and patterns, but Tucker recommends trying the more intricate artwork wraps, as these are much harder to recreate by hand. "I'm currently wearing blue and white marble with gold foils, which are perfect when you're in a rush or short of time but want a fab nail look quickly!" Simply peel, stick, and cut the edges before adding a top coat to seal.

It is no surprise the Pantone colour of the year has made it into the top trends for nails this spring and according to Thea Green, founder of Nails Inc, it's for good reason. "Apricot tones complement a variety of skin tones," Green tells PS UK. "Once you find your perfect shade, this colour is a great choice for both casual and formal occasions. The apricot and peach hues evoke a sense of freshness and vibrancy, making this the perfect shade for the upcoming summer months."

Green recommends Nails Inc Apricot Crush (£22) for this trend as it contains four different peachy/orange shades so you can work out which works best for you. It also has a shimmer polish which is ideal for the rainbow glaze trend.

For Charlotte Knight, nail technician, CEO and founder of Ciaté London, it is all about the shape and length this spring. "The stiletto shape has been building in popularity," she tells PS UK. "We've been seeing almond and coffin reign over the past few years, so the introduction of a new contender in the space is exciting."

Stiletto is a sexy, sleek style that pushes beauty boundaries in a way we've not seen for a while according to Knight. "You can explore this through filing your current almond to a point before your next nail appointment to see if this shape could work for you," she recommends.

Pastels for spring, we know groundbreaking. But according to Lynn Mason, nail expert for Mavala there's a good reason. "Pastel shades are always synonymous with spring," she tells PS UK. "After wearing dark shades all winter long, a lighter hue is sure to make your hands feel fresher for spring," she explains. "The mani shades I think will be on top for 2024 are pastel blue and pale purple shades, particularly with a glossy finish," says Mason.

We've been having a blue nail moment for a while now and this Mavala Blue Mint (£6.40) hits the spot.

We've had donut glazed nails, but this twist on the shimmer trend gives it a whole new vibe according Metta Francis, an award-winning London based manicurist and founder of Nails by Mets. "Rainbow glaze is a more colourful update on the donut glaze nails," Francis tells PS UK. "Apply a blend of fun, colourful shades on the nails and then add a pearlescent top coat or pigment to soften the colours. This will provide a beautiful rainbow glazed look. For spring opt for classic pastels and for summer, don't be afraid to reach for your brights!"

Matcha has been around for a while now, but according to Tina Michael, founder of Shoreditch Nails it isn't going anywhere. "We love a matcha moment," Michael tells PS UK. But, there's nothing boring about how Michael applies this pale green shade. She has turned the trend on its head by giving it a subtle marble effect.

"You will need three shades to complete the look, from our collection we would use The Bethnal Green (£12) (a pistachio hue), The Primrose Hill (a pale pink) and The Tottenham (a soft white), plus a dotting tool. To create the marble effect, place random small dots of each colour to cover the nail and quickly use your dotting tool to swirl the colours together to create the look of marble."

Do red nails ever go out of fashion? Not as far as we are concerned. Nail technician Hayley McColm, ambassador for Mii Cosmetics, says that for spring 2024 they are back brighter and bolder than before. "Red nails tend to make a comeback in the lead up to the summer months," McColm tells PS UK. "However this year, we'll likely see the classic red nail everywhere to reflect our mood and desire to start enjoying life again after the economic uncertainty." It is no surprise that nail techs like McColm have seen red picking up as a notable trend when you think of the red nail theory, which is said to give you all sorts of confidence boosts. "Classic reds are bold and playful, but needn't be something to shy away from. There is a slew of red polishes that provide universal appeal and against a crisp white shirt or dress set off with fine gold jewellery, there's nothing classier."

McColm recommends Mii Cosmetics Colour Confidence Polish in Red Devil (£9) a vibrant shade of red which suits all ages and skin tones and definitely creates that full of charisma mood!

Lay us down and slather us in butter, yes this super-sweet shade look set to be a big hit this spring according to London Grace Founder Kirsten White. "Butter yellow has been trending everywhere from TikTok to the spring/summer catwalks and it's easy to see why," she tells PS UK. "A few coats of a creamy pastel yellow is an instant mood booster, it radiates warmth and sunshine - even if the U.K. weather doesn't quite match yet!"

If you're wondering what has given this hue the moniker 'butter yellow' it is due to its softer, more wearable alternative to the usual bright yellows seen at this time of year, making it more palatable for those who prefer neutral shades and an understated, chic look.

White recommends London Grace polish in The Daisy (£12) to achieve the look at home.