Summer nails 2025: we’ve found 18 of the most stylish looks for holidays

When it comes to your summer nails 2025, the world is your oyster. Choose from the brightest fluoro shades to demure milky nails. Butter yellow nails are still trending, and there’s always a moment for some nail art or a subtle design detail.

Depending on the steadiness of your hand and artistic capabilities, you can definitely recreate some of the looks we’ve chosen in our summer 2025 nail roundup, but if your budget and schedule allow, then we always recommend going to see a nail pro. They get to show off their skills and you get to rest, relax and have the prettiest of nails at the end of it.

Here’s our edit of summer nails 2025 to bring you, and your hands, some joy.

18 summer nails 2025 designs

Little mermaid

Channel your inner Ariel with some shell and starfish motifs in an iridescent shade. A shimmering pink has been chosen here but it would look equally gorgeous in purple, blue or green.

Say it with flowers

Well, it is summer after all. We love the combination of pastel coral on every other finger and a gorgeous nude base in between, topped with flowers and the odd gem for a flash of sparkle.

Rising spots

How cute is this simple design? Ask for three ascending dots up the centre of the nail in different pastel and fluoro shades against a soft pink base.

Watermelon sugar high

Pretty, clever and funny – what’s not to like?  From a certain angle, people may think you’ve gone with a classic red mani but then –bam! – show your ring and pinky finger and the watermelon design is revealed.

Love in the negative

Talking of classic red manicures, if you fancy adding a little something to yours then this heart and evil-eye, painted onto the negative space (that means onto a bare nail) is the way to go.

Lovely in lavender

Is purple your go-to nail colour? For your summer nails 2025, opt for a softer lilac-meets-lavender shade. It looks fabulous with or without a tan, working on all skin tones.

Arch to tip

If you can’t decide between having a statement tip or a statement cuticle arch, then have both, as well as block colour nails. We love this summery azure blue shade.

Dotted lines

This is such a chic way to incorporate some nail design into your usual nude base. We love the way the black spots increase in size around the half moon of the nail. It would also look great with a brighter colour, but the beauty of a summer nails 2025 look like this is that it will go with everything you pack.

Talisman talons

It doesn’t matter if you’re not heading to the Mediterranean this summer; you can bring an element of it to you by sporting an evil eye design on your nails. Here it has been painted onto every nail, but it would also look great just worn on a few fingers.

Cherry check

Cherries have been one of the main events in beauty this year. It has been the note used in new perfumes, an ingredient in skincare and a colour emulated in lipsticks and blush. Now it’s time to wear a cherry on your nails.

Double parked

Why choose one colour for your tips when you can wear two? We love how effective it is to have a thinner and bolder line at the start of the tip and a slightly paler colour covering the rest. You can use a tip template to ensure perfect curves. 

Candy stripes

Unless you have a super-steady hand, this is a look to hand over to your favourite nail technician. Just look at how straight and evenly spaced those stripes are! We love the combo of pink and red, but any complementary shades will do.

Squiggles of blue

Another fabulous option for anyone who’s not sure if they’re really ‘into’ nail art. An ultra-thin squiggly line looks chic and stylish without being overpowering, especially when teamed with a neutral base. 

Milky nails

It’s the nail look that’s seemingly not going anywhere. Milky nails are the perfect blend of white and pink, creating a nude look that’s not too stark.

Butter yellow tips

Butter yellow has been the colour for the warmer weather – it’s the perfect pale yellow shade that suits all skin tones. Of course, you can wear it all over, but we love how it has just been used on long tips here.

Rose quartz

Bring an element of the crystal world to your nails. The brighter pink shade has been marbled to create a quartz effect, and the gold leaf definition line frames it beautifully.

Rainbow mani

If you are wracked with indecision when you step into the nail salon over which shade to choose, pick all of them! These matte pastel shades look wonderful together, and this look works whatever nail length and shape you have.

Dotty for dots

Chances are you’re packing polka dots galore in your holiday suitcase, because they’re all over the high street right now, so why not take the pattern to your nails too? This multi-coloured set is gorgeous but plain black dots would also be super chic.