45 Nail Designs for 2022 You’ll Want to Try Immediately
By While the general vibe of next year still feels uncertain, at least we’re sure of the best nail designs of 2022, and they’re good. While you could certainly spend your extra time indoors this winter searching for them, we took it upon ourselves to do it for you and gathered up every single save-worthy nail trend to cross our feeds in the past few months.
From plenty of twists on the French manicure to DIY-able rainbow nails and velvet nails, there’s something for every vibe, mood, and all different nail shapes here. Whether you plan on hitting up your local salon or go the DIY route (be sure to brush up on how to paint your nails at home, first), scroll on for the best nail designs of 2022.
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Instagram/@evemeetsnails1/45Velvet Tips
Velvet nails took Instagram by storm for the holidays, but the festivities aren’t over yet. Tone down the mesmerizing style (seriously, you have to see them in motion) by keeping the glitz to the tips.
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Instagram/@laurenladnier2/45Checkerboard Nails
Colorful checkerboard is having a moment in fashion—I can’t scroll through Insta without seeing the print—so it makes sense it’s now migrated to nails. Keeping it just on your tips ups the quirky factor even more.
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Instagram/@willwork4glitter3/45French Manicure
Yes, the French mani is sticking around, and there are a ton of different ways to wear it. Check out our guide to the best French manicure ideas for even more inspo.
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Instagram/@overglowedit4/45Mismatched Hands
For a unique nail idea, try different colored nails on each hand. Make it even cooler with very of-the-moment shades like lilac and moss green. Try Essie Expressie in getting a Mauve On and Precious Car-Go! for a similar vibe.
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Instagram/@overglowedit5/45Pastel Swirls
Just looking at this metallic, pastel, ombré situation makes you feel calmer. The best part is they actually nail wraps, so it’s super easy to get the same look at home.
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Instagram/@stephstonenails6/45Black and White Flowers
White and black nail designs are so graphic and cool, especially when paired with something traditionally feminine like flowers.
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Instagram/@amyytran9/45Graphic Edge
Negative space will not be the coolest way to do nail art, and we’re particularly into this graphic black and gold take on the trend.
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Instagram/@nailsbycanishiea10/45Cool Emerald
As the weather gets cooler, it’s a perfect excuse to dip into the jewel tones—deep green is one of our favorite trending nail colors right now.
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Instragram/@evemeetsnails11/45Mismatched Art
Art that’s a little different on every nail is way easier if you’re going to attempt it yourself. Bonus: You get to play with tons of colors. (We’re particularly into Essie’s new winter collection as far as shades go.)
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Instagram/@paintboxnails/@@thefashionguitar12/45Edgy French
Toughen up French tips with a bright red base and black tips (we like OPI Big Apple Red and Sally Hansen Insta Dri in Black to Black). It looks so cool against an all-black outfit and stacked rings.
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Instagram/@_by_shelley13/45Golden Swirls
This luxe nail art looks way more difficult than it is to DIY. All you need is a tiny detail brush, a metallic gold polish, and a crisp, bright white.
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Instagram/@lemanoir14/45’90s Butterflies
The only thing cuter than these butterfly decals? Pairing them with a throwback French mani, of course.
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Instagram/@betina_goldstein15/45Holographic Manicure
There’s nothing better than an eye-catching mani that takes no effort to do. Enter holographic nail polish, which does all the work for you. Pacifica’s Moonray Hologloss 7 Free Top Coat is one of our favorites for a super-shiny look.
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Instagram/@lemanoir16/45Sunflowers
Channel summer all year round with some cheerful sunflowers—they’re easy enough to DIY with a toothpick and a solid yellow polish (try Essie Atelier at the Bay).
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Instagram/@nailsbymh17/45Smiley-Face Nails
It seems the internet is seeking out joy wherever possible because smiley-face nail design ideas are everywhere we look. They’ve been spotted on everyone from Dua Lipa to Harry Styles—and just about every nail blogger on Insta.
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Instagram / @bingbangnyc18/45Rainbow Smileys
See what we mean? But here you get two trends in one.
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Instagram/@nailsbymei19/45Foil French
What do you get when you combine some of the coolest nails looks this year? This insane green foil French situation.
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Instagram / @xjuliatalisman20/45Bright Stripes
How do you take rainbow nails up a notch? Add even more color, of course.
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Instagram/@paintbox21/45Pretty Purples
The way the graphic shapes are contrasted by the softness of the purple is, in a word, genius. For the exact shades, use Paintbox’s Power Couples in Like Lilac + Like Muse.
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Instagram/@stephstonenails22/45Pink Ombré
Can’t decide on a single shade? Put your polish collection to work by using a different tone of one color on each nail (or just mix your base shade with varying levels of white for the same effect).
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Instagram/@fleuryrosenails23/45Cow Print
Make a celebrity fave even cooler with a peachy background instead of white.
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Instagram/@nailsbymh24/45Pastel Tips
Look at that, yet another variation on French tips. A rainbow of pastel shades makes the style feel modern and retro at the same time.
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Instagram/@paintbucketnails26/45Graphic Sparkle
Even the most glitter-adverse people can find some joy in this “sparkle” art.
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Instagram/@danaboulos27/45Negative-Space Hearts
Poppy red and negative space make hearts cool, not cutesy. To DIY, just paint over a heart-shaped sticker, let dry, and peel it off.
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Instagram/@nataliepavloskinails28/45Mix-and-Match Stripes
Half-and-half stripes add even more punch to a rainbow-bright manicure.
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@betina_goldstein / Instagram30/45Slime Green
Our Nickelodeon days might be over, but our love for slime lives on. Copy nail artist Betina Goldstein and use two coats of Essie Nail Polish in Blanc and one coat of Stencil Me In to really make the green pop.
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Instagram/@overglowedit31/45Blingy Blooms
Make a classic daisy even cuter by adding some gemstones in the center. If you have longer nails, add even more sparkle by adding a sprinkle of stones in any blank spaces.
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Instagram/@themaniclub32/45Silver Glitter
When you want something a little more than your basic mani but don’t want to head to the salon, a high-coverage glitter is your best bet. For a similar shade, try Olive & June in Exclamation Point.
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Instagram/@nataliepavloskinails33/45Realistic Flowers
Once you discover the rabbit hole that is Etsy nail decals, a whole new world opens up. These photorealistic roses could win over the most plant-averse person.
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Instagram/@betina_goldstein34/45Baby French
Ramp up a French manicure with two shades of pink. The thin lines look so cute on shorter nails, but thicker tips would make for a cute acrylic nail design.
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Instagram/@lolo.nailedit35/45Doodle Nails
One of 2021’s coolest nail trends was treating each nail like a page in a scrapbook, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. Use a mix of stickers and hand-painted designs for the coolest mix.
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Instagram/@oliveandjune36/45Shiny Stars
Forgo nail polish entirely and cover your nails in pretty stickers for a high-impact, low-effort mani.
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Instagram/@oliveandjune37/45Moody Half Moons
In a word: chic.
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Instagram/@lolo.nailedit38/45Negative French
Put a fresh spin on a classic by creating a French tip out of negative space.
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Instagram/@hollyfalconenails39/45Tiny Florals
You don’t need to have a green thumb to appreciate these dainty daisies. Use a toothpick or the end of a bobby pin for perfectly symmetrical dots. Easy.
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Instagram/@overglowedit40/45Colorful French
For another cool twist on a French mani, go with a different color tip on each nail. A gold decal adds another special touch.
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Instagram/@themaniclub41/45Blue Ombré
Another easy way to spice up your go-to mani? Use different variations of the same color on each finger for a cool ombré effect.
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Instagram/@overglowedit42/45Green Swirls
Green is having a major moment, both in fashion and across our nails. Maximize your mani with two shades of green, and a groovy swirl design.
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Instagram/@julieknailsnyc43/45Mix and Match
For a mani that does the most, but one of this year’s trendiest nail designs on each finger. A bright color palette makes it even more eye-catching.
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Instagram/@julieknailsnyc44/45Pearly White
Take a frosty-white polish even further by adding teeny-tiny pearls at the cuticle line.
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Instagram/@lolo.nailedit45/45Blue Sparkles
For another take on cartoon sparkles, decorate only a few nails. An ice blue color palette keeps everything feeling fresh.
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