Back to school has a little taste of the 1990s revival! Neon manicures are taking over our Instagram and TikTok feeds. From flashy pink polish to vitamin-packed orange, through tangy green or electric blue polish, you can’t miss it. But how to revisit this era and adopt this trend with elegance and creativity without falling into excess nostalgia? We tell you everything!
The best neon colors to adopt
The 90’s nails are all about boldness to the tips! Say goodbye to too tame pastel shades to make way for the fluorescent colors of the 1990s, like the Spice Girls or Britney Spears. But it’s about adopting them with a decidedly 2025 twist: neon polishes are shown all-over or as accent nails, for colorful manicures that brighten up a minimalist outfit or a beautiful sun-kissed skin.
Neon pinks and reds: powerful and vibrant
It's impossible to talk about the neon nail trend without mentioning red and pink colors. Say goodbye to clean girl nails and other soap nails all in nude shades. If you love incandescent hues, the fiery red polish with orange undertones from Lava will surely captivate you.
For a more electric vibe, we love the pink polish Néon Pink, with ultra vibrant bluish undertones. Its semi-matte finish requires a layer of top coat to add the perfect touch of shine. Another pink with blue undertones, Pétula might also catch your eye to enhance long nails or for a very arty nail art design.
And if you prefer softer tones, go for Pop, a polish that subtly reinvents the fluorescent pink color with its orangey undertones, so Britney. Ideal for a fresh and girly look, it enhances both long nails and short, rounded nails.
These good-vibes shades are perfect for nail art aura nails or blush nails, to brighten fair or medium skin. In color block on dark skin, they reveal their full intensity.
Neon reds and pinks for nails that pop.
Pop oranges & yellows: back to summer 90's
Extend summer with a joyful cocktail of neon yellow and orange colors. We love the Gold button, a bright yellow polish that works wonders on dark skin, available in Green™ polish (and soon in Green Flash™ semi-permanent polish, stay tuned!), bolder than the pastel yellow shades of Butter nails.
Between a Californian sunset and the Spritz nails trend, the orange polish Sunset is perfect to make a summer look sparkle and catch every eye.
And with Coral Reef, a clever blend of red and orange, you bring a big dose of energy to your nails for a truly flashy manicure.
These vibrant shades especially flatter medium to dark skin with warm undertones, with that sunny glow we love to keep all year long. Get your polishes ready!
A 90’s glow with sunny shades for a feel-good look all year round.
Bright blues and greens: futuristic and arty
Want to stand out and swap classic colors for bold, offbeat neon nail polishes?
You’ll love Ultramarine, an electric blue reminiscent of the iconic 90s eyeshadow, to wear all over almond-shaped nails or in a deep French manicure for an ultra punchy effect.
If you’re more of a green team, you can’t miss the lime green polish Lime. Its tangy shade makes it a perfect ally to ride the Brat nails trend.
Otherwise, go for the must-have Brazil, a deep emerald green that, with a layer of top coat, instantly transports you under the Rio sun.
Three colors to favor on cool undertone skin to highlight all the magic and brightness of these original shades.
The neon manicure in an electrifying version between retro blue and Brat vibes.
(@matejanova)
5 neon nail art ideas
The goal of a neon manicure is to be as eye-catching as possible. When used in color blocks, fluorescent polishes burst into the spotlight. Used in nail art to create geometric patterns or gradient effects, they take on a more subtle and sophisticated dimension. Here are some inspirations to play elegantly with the range of fluorescent colors:
Aura and Baby Boomer
We love the neon manicure in the style of Aura nails, a soft gradient mixing the shades Pale Rose and Neon Pink, highlighted by a micro-french manicure line in Pistachio. A fruity and fresh nail art, perfect for those who love blush nails effects without giving up color.
In a more pop version, choose a Baby Boomer manicure in sunset mode by blending Lava and Neon Pink shades on a Pale Rose base. This vibrant gradient creates a graphic and bold result to wear on long nails for a stunning neon baby-boomer effect.
Blush, baby boomer, aura nails… neons become arty and ultra desirable.
(@look8thenails, @m.o.n.a.j)
90's designs
Like almost every decade, the 1990s had their Polka dots phase. Easy to create, polka dot manicures are super fun and play freely with color contrasts. To change from black and white Polka dots nails, choose a white polish base Porcelaine and small Neon Pink dots applied with a dotting tool… Terribly effective, this look plays on the codes of minimalist manicure with a 90’s nails twist.
If you love flashy colors, gather your favorites in a beautiful Neon Rainbow nails nail art. Each finger is adorned with a different shade, for a pop and vitamin-rich color gradient (here with Crème, Bubble, Neon Pink, Pistachio, and Sunset).
Rainbow vibes and tangy dots: 90’s nails have never been so pop.
(@look8thenails, @shanivynails)
Pinky chic
Twist your nail art by creating stunning Snake nails with neon highlights! An ultra-graphic serpentine pattern full of movement that, drawn with Neon Pink polish, gives crazy energy to your look.
Want something more sunny? Adopt the Wavy nails look, with its vitamin-rich duo Pétula and Sunset. Waves of flashy polish that instantly awaken the manicure and enhance your nails.
Snake or Wavy neon nails, patterns that make your nails vibrate.
(@m.o.n.a.j)
Neon patterns
Still in a good mood spirit, we love the Neon Bubbles, a tangy and mischievous nail art made with fluorescent Pop, Lime, and Bubble polishes. Perfect for playing with layering and adding volume, while keeping a peppy pink base.
To see life in blue, fall for the Blue Dots, a minimalist but striking nail art. A few Ultramarine dots placed on a neutral base are enough to make a difference for a graphic and playful manicure without overdoing it.
Bubble or Dots? One thing is for sure: it’s going to flash.
(@lovedbykaro, @alyxlippiatt)
Tips to make your manicure last so chic
To keep your beautiful neon manicure as long as possible, here are some essential rules:
- Good nail preparation: we explain everything you need to (properly) do in this article.
- A 4-step application with base coat and top coat: before applying polish, apply a layer of base coat to protect the nail plate and facilitate color application. Then apply two thin layers of your favorite neon polish, making sure to cover the nail edge well to avoid chipping. Seal everything with a layer of top coat for a brilliant shine and long-lasting tenue. It is essential to use the base coat and top coat from the same range as the chosen polish.
- Take the time to dry well to avoid wrinkled polish: if you choose Green™ polish, let each layer air dry and make sure the last applied layer is not sticky before applying the next. If you have chosen a Green Flash™ polish, respect the drying time of each layer under LED lamp.
- Continuous care after application and beyond: apply a few drops of Green Oil to hydrate the nail and its surrounding area just after application and every day the manicure lasts, to keep nails strong, flexible, and radiant. Protect your nails from impacts that could chip or scratch the polish and avoid overexposure to moisture.
The optimal tenue of a neon manicure relies above all on good nail preparation and careful application.
The spirit of the 1990s made a remarkable comeback during the summer of 2025 and inspires the world of manicure more than ever. Bold colors, extravagant patterns, and arty touches are dared right down to the fingertips. It’s the perfect opportunity to rediscover the Green™ and Green Flash™ color palettes to find the most beautiful flashy shades and create stunning 90’s nails!
