As we look ahead to 2025, nail trends are taking a turn towards elegance and simplicity. While recent years have been dominated by bold choices—like abstract designs, vibrant French tips, and ultra-long lengths—2025 is all about embracing natural beauty with flattering nail colors and shapes that exude effortless charm.
Nails Trends That Will Dominate 2025
The start of a new year brings the perfect opportunity for a fresh perspective, including updating your manicure game. Whether you’re looking to refresh your go-to style or experiment with something completely new, these trends are sure to inspire your next salon visit.
From subtle neutrals to innovative shapes, these are the 8 stunning nail trends that will define 2025. Influenced by the latest buzz on social media, Pinterest boards, and trendsetters everywhere, these manicures promise to keep your nails on point all year long.
1/ Short nails
Long nails have undeniably been the most popular nail length for the past five years—or perhaps more—however people seem to be tiring of the upkeep of long nails, no matter if natural or faux. (Though, adding on faux nail tips contributes to upkeep even more, since it is quite expensive and takes longer at the salon.)
Slowly, there’s been a subtle switch over to short nails as an elegant alternative that also happens to be easier to maintain.
2/ Iridescent
If pearl nails were trending in 2024, mermaid-inspired nails are coming in 2025. Similar to the barely-there neutrals everyone is asking for, sheer iridescent nail colors have also become a new option to choose in lieu of your usual milky white or powder pink. It offers a wash of color that looks very subtle, yet catches the light in a fun way—giving the “your nails, but better” effect, seen above with Olive & June’s Mermaid Hair shade.
3/ Au Naturale Nails
Along the same lines of keeping it simple, there has been a gradual swap from the complicated, intensive nail designs that have been trending over the past three years for something on the total opposite end of the spectrum: natural. Barely-there neutral nail colors are being asked for even more than your trusty white Funny Bunny. The goal is for your nails to look natural, but a little bit better. Groomed, shiny, and slightly washed in color.
4/ Aura Nails
However, there is still room for playing with color in 2025. Aura nails have been slowly replacing the loud abstract nail designs previously made popular in the past few years. Instead, aura nails offer a dual-toned nail color scheme that looks more like an illusion.
The best part? It can be as subtle (using neutral nail colors, such as blush pink and white) or vibrant (using a light and dark version of the same color, as seen above) as you’d like.
5/ Metallics
While metallic nail colors can always be found lining the nail salon shelves, they’re becoming more popular as a versatile, more interesting neutral. Moreover, metallics seem to be replacing chrome nails, which reigned supreme this past year.
Choose lighter metallics for spring and summer, such as rose gold, and embrace sultry metallics for fall and winter, such as copper (we love Olive & June’s Penny shade, as seen above) and gunmetal.
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