15 Blue Nail Designs to Keep You Ahead of The Trend This Summer

By Lauren Gordon
Essie
Essie
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Goodbye, clean girl nails — you were fun. If you're tired of the subtle nail trends that have dominated over the last year and want to inject more personality into your beauty routine, a blue nail design could be just the thing.

Certain nail polish colours can act as a mood booster. Not only are your hands and nails a part of your body that's in your line of sight all day, but certain shades are known to evoke particular feelings. Case in point? Warmer reds, oranges, and browns can make you feel cosy, and cooler tones, like having a blue nail design on the go, offer the mind a bit of relaxation.

Aside from making you feel better, blue nails are set to be one of the hottest shades this summer, according to celebrity manicurist Michelle Class. "This summer, we're seeing blue nails everywhere!" She tells PS UK. "Embrace the trend with shades like sky blue, turquoise, or even denim-inspired hues. Opt for fun nail art like waves, or abstract designs to capture the essence of the season and give you a holiday feeling! I am loving Sally Hansen's Blue Skies Ahead (£10) and Hyp-Nautical (£8) to create some cute nails ready for the summer season."

Nails INC founder Thea Green is also obsessed with blue nails at the moment – sky blue is a particular favourite. "Sky blue is a refreshing and calming colour, maiking it a popular choice during summer months. This tone of blue is particularly versatile, as it compliments a wide range of skin tones and outfits," says Green. "For example, a duck egg blue shade like Nails INC's Sky's My Limit (£9) is universally flattering on all skin tones and is great for everyday wear, it also adds a pop of colour to any outfit."

Ready for some inspiration to add to your beauty mood board? We rounded up some of the best blue nail designs around to take straight to your manicure.

Blue Jelly Nails

Jelly nails are another trend that's made its way back from the early aughts. Combine it with the royal blue colour seen here and add some abstract line work to give it a grown-up, trendy feel.

White and Blue Nail Designs

White and blue nail designs scream summer, so to prepare you for the hotter months, here's french tip nail design that uses blue for a pop of colour, elevating your basic french manicure to new heights.

Blue Nail Charms

Your blue manicure can also feature charms, allowing you to get in on the 3D-nails trend.

3D Blue Nails

Get creative during your next nail appointment by going for a 3D look with your blue nails. Add gems or pearls to add drama to your nail set, you can never do too much!

Pink and Blue Nail Designs

My mum always told me it was bad luck to wear pink and blue, but with a design as adorable as this, it's hard to resist! With spring nail trends in mind, opt for a pastel pink and blue shade to keep up with the seasonal trends.

Navy Blue Nail Designs

Navy blue doesn't get nearly as much credit as it deserves. It's the perfect hue of blue if you're not ready to go completely black and is a classic shade, adding timeless elegance to your nail set. For sparkle in your navy blue set, Bello recommends Mylee's A Night In Town Gel Polish (£8).

Royal Blue Nail Designs

Royal blue is a deep, vibrant blue that might seem a bit intimidating to try on your whole nail bed. Instead, try incorporating some royal blue nail designs onto a plain base for a refreshing new look.

Blue Skittles Nails

The Skittles manicure trend is the perfect way to play with different shades in the same colour family. For your blue-themed nails, paint individual fingers light blue, aquamarine, royal blue, and so on to get a beautiful gradient effect.

Negative-Space Blue Nails

While most nail art tends to create one uniform look across the manicure, negative-space designs allow you to break all of those rules and create fun, abstract shapes within a colour scheme.

Blue Nail Design With Silver Accents

Since blue is a cool-toned colour, other hues in the same tonal family complement it best. If you want to jazz up your manicure, use metallic shades like silver, platinum, or gunmetal to add a touch of something extra.

Light Blue Nail Designs

"Everyone's obsessed with chrome at the minute and pastels are a staple for spring," TikTok BIAB babe and nail artist Nailed By Belles previously told POPSUGAR UK, so why not go all out with a lightblue nail polish, like Mylee's Tiffany Gel Polish (£9), topped with a chrome coat for an extra-trendy set.

Simple Blue Nail Designs

If you'd rather go for a stripped back nail design, that won't have you sitting in the nail salon for too long, try a simple blue nail design, like this french tip, heart cut-out look.

Blue Watercolor Nails

French tips will always be in style, but swapping the white shade typically used at the top of the manicure with a blue watercolour design will have all eyes on you.

Blue Chrome Nails

Your blue nails don't have to be boring — just take a look at this abstract french-tip design. A chrome top coat and red crystals make this manicure look runway-ready.

Blue Aura Nails

Aura nail art is a staple during festival season, but a monochromatic blue nail design is the perfect way to make it wearable year-round.

Lauren Gordon is the editorial coordinator at POPSUGAR UK, where she creates lifestyle and identity content. Lauren has a degree in journalism from University of the Arts London and previously worked as a showbiz and TV reporter at The Mirror US. Lauren specialises in pop culture, hair and beauty, focusing on trends, sharing in-depth tutorials, and highlighting hidden gems in the beauty industry.