Manicure at sea 2024: the best nail ideas for holidays with a tropical vibe
There are numerous rituals one must complete before hopping on a flight, including packing your suitcase, narrowing down your makeup bag must-haves, and updating your passport photo. But arguably, the most important thing to do before heading on vacation is getting a fresh mani. Nothing sets the tone for a relaxing getaway quite like hues of neon, sunset ombrés, tropical florals, fruity designs, and aquatic adventures that scream warm climates. And even if you don't have plans to take a trip any time soon, you can still rock these looks: Think of them as a staycation on your hands. To get you in that out-of-office mood and provide plenty of inspo, we've rounded up 22 of our favorite tropical looks.
Keep scrolling for the best vacation nail ideas, from ocean waves to bright color combos.
01 Pool Party
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It's impossible to see this aquatic hue and not instantly think of a swimming pool. The 3D droplet nail art takes the water surface–patterned French mani to another level. Grab a polish in a similar hue and play with shapes to re-create the look yourself.
Make waves with an abstract, DIY approach to ocean art. With a dotting tool, dot varying sizes of circles in shades of foam green, violet, cobalt, and aqua onto each nail. Then, add a dash of shimmer polish and metallic gems to complete your look.
Gold and pearl will always be an iconic pairing, especially when it comes to glamorous vacation nails. This design is centered on the middle of the nail, making it ideal for all lengths and shapes.
If strawberry shortcake and orange creamsicle had a manicure baby, it would be this happy-hued design. Don't be fooled—DIY-ing the look is easier than it seems. Just start with a baby pink polish base, and then swirl on curvy lines in different colors.
Once that out-of-office is up, the start of vacation has you in a party-ready mood. Celebrate that vibe with confetti-inspired nails. Choose summery colors to make the design just right for the season.
06 Watermelon Wonder
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Few things are as synonymous with summer as watermelon, and this mani is so juicy-looking you can practically taste it. If you don't want to go full fruit, just add seeds to an accent nail or two.
Abstract swirls, lines, and glitter remind us of the scales you'd see on a school of fish as you scuba in the deep sea. Large water droplets sell the beachy nail vibes and amplify the intricate details.
09 French Hibiscus
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Nothing could be more tropical than that of a hibiscus design. These beauties draw inspiration from the timeless reddish magenta and white variety, matching the center floral shade with a curved French.
Who knew a nail design could be so refreshing? Lime, pear green, and white mix and match in a delicious dot-and-swirl combo, reminding us of a fresh poolside bar mojito.
11 Velvet Mermaid
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Velvet nails are one of this winter's most talked-about nail trends, and we'll be rocking this look on our upcoming island adventures. This shimmering, mermaid-like blue-and-purple look reflects different shades depending on the light, and we couldn't be more in love.
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