Summer 2024 is upon us, and what better way to embrace the season than with a stunning set of red nails? Whether you’re into classic styles or the latest trends, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the hottest red summer nail designs, providing detailed descriptions, necessary materials, and step-by-step instructions for achieving these looks at home.
Classic Red Chrome Nails
Red chrome nails are perfect for making a bold statement this summer. The shiny, metallic finish catches the light beautifully, giving your nails a sophisticated and modern look. This style is ideal for both everyday wear and special occasions, ensuring your nails always look trendy and polished.
Materials Needed:
Red chrome nail polish (e.g., OPI Chrome Effects in “No. 5 Red”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
Nail buffer
UV lamp (for gel polish)
How to Create This Look:
Start by buffing your nails to create a smooth surface.
Apply a base coat and cure under the UV lamp if using gel polish.
Apply two coats of red chrome nail polish, curing each layer under the UV lamp if needed.
Finish with a top coat to seal in the shine and cure again.
Gently clean around the edges with a nail brush for a professional finish.
Cute Red and Pink Accent Nails
Combining red with pink accents adds a fun and playful twist to your manicure. This design features solid red nails with a single accent nail in a contrasting pink shade, often adorned with a small heart or delicate line for added charm.
Materials Needed:
Red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Russian Roulette”)
Pink nail polish (e.g., Sally Hansen “Pink Blink”)
Nail art brush or dotting tool
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat to protect your natural nails.
Paint all nails red except for one accent nail on each hand.
Paint the accent nails pink.
Use a nail art brush or dotting tool to add a small heart or line design on the pink nails.
Seal with a top coat to protect your design and add shine.
French Tip with Red Heart Accents
The French tip manicure is a timeless classic that gets a vibrant update with red heart accents. This design features nude or light pink nails with red tips and adorable red hearts, perfect for adding a touch of romance to your summer look.
Materials Needed:
Nude or light pink nail polish (e.g., OPI “Bubble Bath”)
Red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Forever Yummy”)
Nail art brush
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
How to Create This Look:
Start with a base coat and let it dry.
Apply the nude or light pink polish to all nails.
Use a nail art brush to carefully paint red tips on each nail.
Add small red hearts near the cuticle area on selected nails.
Finish with a top coat to ensure longevity and shine.
Bright Red Nails with Minimalistic Tattoos
Bright red nails paired with minimalistic tattoo-style designs create an edgy and stylish look. This design is perfect for those who love to make a statement with their nails while keeping things simple and chic.
Materials Needed:
Bright red nail polish (e.g., Chanel Le Vernis “Gitane”)
Black nail art pen or fine brush
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat and let it dry completely.
Paint all nails with bright red polish.
Once the red polish is dry, use a black nail art pen or fine brush to create minimalistic tattoo designs (e.g., dots, lines, small shapes).
Seal with a top coat to protect your artwork and add a glossy finish.
Red and Pink French Tips with Heart Details
Combining red and pink in a French tip design with heart details creates a playful and romantic manicure. This style is perfect for summer, blending vibrant colors with cute and trendy accents.
Materials Needed:
Nude or light pink nail polish (e.g., OPI “Bare My Soul”)
Red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Scarlet O’Hara”)
Pink nail polish (e.g., Sally Hansen “Pink Pong”)
Nail art brush or dotting tool
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat to all nails.
Paint a nude or light pink base on all nails.
Use a nail art brush to create red and pink French tips.
Add small heart details near the tips or cuticle area using a dotting tool.
Finish with a top coat to protect the design and add shine.
Glossy Red French Tip Coffin Nails
These striking glossy red French tip nails feature a nude base with bold red tips, perfectly shaped into a coffin style. This design is both classy and eye-catching, making it ideal for those who want to make a statement with their summer nails.
Materials Needed:
Nude nail polish (e.g., OPI “Be There in a Prosecco”)
Red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Really Red”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
Nail art brush
How to Create This Look:
Start with a base coat to protect your nails.
Apply the nude polish and let it dry completely.
Use a nail art brush to create the red tips, ensuring they are even and smooth.
Apply a top coat to seal in the design and add extra shine.
Classic Red Oval Nails
Classic red nails never go out of style. This design showcases beautifully polished oval-shaped nails in a bright red hue, perfect for any occasion. The oval shape adds a touch of elegance, making these nails both simple and sophisticated.
Materials Needed:
Red nail polish (e.g., OPI “Big Apple Red”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat to your nails.
Paint your nails with two coats of red polish, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly.
Finish with a top coat to ensure a long-lasting, glossy finish.
Strawberry Nail Art
This playful design combines solid red nails with adorable strawberry and daisy accents on a nude base. It’s a fun and whimsical look that’s perfect for summer and adds a touch of creativity to your manicure.
Materials Needed:
Red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Forever Yummy”)
Nude or light pink nail polish (e.g., OPI “Bubble Bath”)
Nail art brushes
Green, white, and yellow nail polishes for the strawberries and daisies
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat to all nails.
Paint some nails red and others with the nude or light pink polish.
Use nail art brushes to paint strawberries and daisies on the nude nails.
Seal the design with a top coat to add shine and durability.
Dripping Red Tips
This edgy design features a nude base with red dripping tips, creating a bold and trendy look. It’s perfect for those who love to experiment with unique nail art and want their nails to stand out this summer.
Materials Needed:
Nude nail polish (e.g., Essie “Ballet Slippers”)
Red nail polish (e.g., OPI “Red Hot Rio”)
Nail art brush
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
How to Create This Look:
Start with a base coat and let it dry.
Apply the nude polish and allow it to dry completely.
Use a nail art brush to create the dripping red effect on the tips of your nails.
Finish with a top coat to protect your design and add shine.
Bright Red Almond Nails
Bright red almond-shaped nails are perfect for summer, offering a vibrant and chic look. This design is simple yet impactful, making it a great choice for those who love a bold and bright manicure.
Materials Needed:
Bright red nail polish (e.g., Chanel Le Vernis “Rouge Essentiel”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat to your nails.
Paint your nails with two coats of bright red polish, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly.
Finish with a top coat to ensure a long-lasting, glossy finish.
Glitter Heart and Matte Red Nails
This design features a mix of matte red nails with a single accent nail adorned with a glitter heart and tiny heart sequins encapsulated in a clear base. It’s a vibrant and fun style perfect for summer 2024, adding a touch of sparkle and playfulness to your manicure.
Materials Needed:
Matte red nail polish (e.g., Zoya Matte Velvet Lacquer in “Posh”)
Clear base and top coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base & Top Coat)
Red glitter for the heart (e.g., Born Pretty Red Glitter Powder)
Heart sequins (e.g., Nail Art Hearts Sequins)
Nail art brush
How to Create This Look:
Start with a clear base coat to protect your nails.
Apply the matte red polish on all nails except the accent nail.
For the accent nail, apply a clear base and place the heart sequins in desired patterns.
Use red glitter to create a heart shape on the accent nail.
Finish with a top coat to seal in the design and add extra shine to the accent nail.
Pink and Red Swirl Nails
This design showcases pink and red swirl patterns with gold accents, creating a whimsical and elegant look. The almond shape adds sophistication, while the swirling design is both trendy and eye-catching for summer 2024.
Materials Needed:
Pink nail polish (e.g., OPI “Mod About You”)
Red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Fifth Avenue”)
Gold striping tape or gold nail polish (e.g., Sally Hansen “Golden-I”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
Nail art brush
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat to protect your nails.
Use the pink polish as the base color.
Create red swirls using a nail art brush.
Add gold accents with striping tape or gold polish to outline the swirls.
Finish with a top coat to protect the design and add shine.
Red and Silver Checkered Nails
Red and silver checkered nails offer a bold and modern look. This design features alternating red and silver squares, perfect for those who want a unique and trendy manicure this summer.
Materials Needed:
Red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Russian Roulette”)
Silver nail polish (e.g., OPI “Turn On the Haute Light”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
Nail art brush or striping tape
How to Create This Look:
Start with a base coat to protect your nails.
Apply a base color if desired, or leave nails natural.
Use striping tape to create the checkered pattern, alternating red and silver squares.
Finish with a top coat to ensure a smooth and glossy finish.
Red French Tips with White Flowers
This chic design combines red French tips with delicate white flowers on a nude base. It’s a stylish and fun look that adds a touch of whimsy to a traditional French manicure
Materials Needed:
Nude nail polish (e.g., Essie “Ballet Slippers”)
Red nail polish (e.g., OPI “Big Apple Red”)
White nail polish (e.g., Sally Hansen “White On”)
Dotting tool
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat and let it dry.
Use the nude polish as the base color.
Create red French tips with a nail art brush.
Add small white flowers along the line of the French tips using a dotting tool. 5. Finish with a top coat to seal the design and add a glossy finish.
Glossy Square Red Nails
Glossy square red nails are a timeless and bold choice for summer 2024. The high-shine finish and perfectly squared edges make this design both trendy and sophisticated, suitable for any occasion.
Materials Needed:
Red nail polish (e.g., Chanel Le Vernis “Gitane”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat to your nails.
Paint your nails with two coats of red polish, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly.
Finish with a top coat to ensure a long-lasting, glossy finish.
Red Daisy Nail Art
This cute and simple design features glossy red nails with accent nails adorned with white daisy flowers. It’s perfect for a fresh and playful summer look, combining bright colors with a touch of floral charm.
Materials Needed:
Red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Russian Roulette”)
White nail polish (e.g., Sally Hansen “White On”)
Yellow nail polish (e.g., OPI “Never a Dulles Moment”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
Dotting tool or nail art brush
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat to protect your nails.
Paint most nails red, leaving the accent nails nude or lightly polished.
Use a dotting tool to create white daisies with yellow centers on the accent nails.
Seal with a top coat to protect the design and add shine.
Red Ombre Nails
Red ombre nails blend from a deep red at the tips to a softer pinkish-red near the cuticles. This gradient effect creates a sophisticated and trendy look that’s perfect for summer.
Materials Needed:
Deep red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Maki Me Happy”)
Light pink nail polish (e.g., OPI “Mod About You”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
Makeup sponge
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat and let it dry.
Paint a stripe of the deep red and the light pink polish side by side on a makeup sponge.
Dab the sponge onto your nails, blending the colors to create an ombre effect.
Finish with a top coat to smooth out the gradient and add shine.
Black and Red Gradient Nails
This dramatic design features a black-to-red gradient, creating a bold and edgy look. It’s perfect for those who love a striking and unique manicure that stands out.
Materials Needed:
Black nail polish (e.g., OPI “Black Onyx”)
Red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Russian Roulette”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
Makeup sponge
How to Create This Look:
Start with a base coat to protect your nails.
Apply the black polish to the top half of your nails.
Use a makeup sponge to blend the black into the red polish towards the bottom of your nails.
Finish with a top coat to seal the gradient and add a glossy finish.
Matte Red Square Nails
Matte red square nails are a bold and modern choice, offering a sophisticated yet simple look. The matte finish adds an elegant touch, making this design perfect for any occasion.
Materials Needed:
Matte red nail polish (e.g., Zoya Matte Velvet Lacquer in “Posh”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Matte top coat (e.g., OPI Matte Top Coat)
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat to your nails.
Paint your nails with two coats of matte red polish, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly.
Finish with a matte top coat to ensure a long-lasting, smooth finish.
Red Nails with Floral Accent
This elegant design combines glossy red nails with a floral accent nail. The floral design adds a delicate touch, making this manicure perfect for summer weddings or special events.
Materials Needed:
Red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Russian Roulette”)
White nail polish for the floral design (e.g., Sally Hansen “White On”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
Nail art brush
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat to protect your nails.
Paint most of your nails red, leaving one accent nail.
Use a nail art brush to create a delicate floral design on the accent nail.
Finish with a top coat to seal the design and add shine.
Long Red Stiletto Nails
These long red stiletto nails are perfect for making a bold and glamorous statement. The high-shine finish enhances the drama of the stiletto shape, making this design ideal for anyone looking to add a touch of sophistication and edge to their summer look.
Materials Needed:
Red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Really Red”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
Nail buffer
How to Create This Look:
Start by buffing your nails to create a smooth surface.
Apply a base coat and let it dry.
Paint your nails with two coats of red polish, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly.
Finish with a top coat to seal the color and add shine.
Red and Leopard Accent Nails
This chic design features classic red nails with a leopard print accent nail. The combination of vibrant red and bold leopard print creates a stylish and trendy look that’s perfect for summer 2024.
Materials Needed:
Red nail polish (e.g., OPI “Big Apple Red”)
Nude nail polish for the base of the accent nail (e.g., Essie “Ballet Slippers”)
Black and gold nail polish for the leopard print (e.g., Sally Hansen “Black Out” and “Golden-I”)
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
Nail art brush
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat to all nails.
Paint most of your nails red, leaving one accent nail with a nude base.
Use a nail art brush to create the leopard print on the accent nail with black and gold polish.
Seal with a top coat to protect the design and add shine.
Pink and Red Floral French Tips
This design combines delicate pink and red floral accents with French tips, creating a feminine and elegant look. The combination of soft pinks and bold reds makes this manicure perfect for summer events and weddings.
Materials Needed:
Nude nail polish (e.g., OPI “Bubble Bath”)
Pink nail polish (e.g., Essie “Mod About You”)
Red nail polish (e.g., Essie “Forever Yummy”)
Nail art brush or dotting tool
Base coat (e.g., Essie All In One Base)
Top coat (e.g., Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)
How to Create This Look:
Apply a base coat and let it dry.
Paint your nails with the nude polish.
Use a nail art brush to create pink and red floral designs and French tips.
Finish with a top coat to protect the design and add shine.
Elena Netrebich is a skilled fashion writer who expertly blends current trends with individual preferences, offering practical and innovative style advice that makes fashion accessible to everyone.