Summer nails loading… This summer 2026, nails are seeing life in technicolour! Colours are becoming bolder, finishes glossier, effects brighter. Spotted on the runways, the season’s trending shades (vitamin-packed orange, lagoon blue, neon pink…) give you a healthy glow and refresh our looks in just a few brush strokes. Looking for a nail polish that enhances your complexion? The perfect manicure under the parasol? The nail art that will make you the star of August? We’ll tell you everything. In the meantime, there’s no doubt about it: summer will be HOT with colour.
What are the nail trends for summer 2026?
The big return of colour
After several seasons dominated by nude, minimalist palettes (which were starting to bore us a little, let’s be honest!), colour is FINALLY making its big comeback. The spring-summer 2026 shows are putting it back centre stage: electric blue, mandarin orange, poppy red, aqua green, vibrant fuchsia… all bold shades that bring fresh energy to silhouettes. Fashion experts confirm the trend, noting a real shift towards more expressive, joyful and daring looks. According to them, this desire for bright colours reflects a search for optimism and spontaneity. Bright yellow, lagoon blue or pop pink: sunny, vitamin-packed shades instantly wake up our wardrobes. For manicures, we’re riding this ultra-colourful wave with saturated colours, glossy finishes and shiny effects for a playful, ultra feel-good touch.
Vibrant colours, Jelly and Glazed effects: summer 2026 manicures will be dazzling!
(@bara.hoyle)
The Jelly effect for irresistible nails
Inspired by translucent sweets and syrupy textures, the Jelly nails trend has won us over. Polishes with sheer finishes play with the light and give our nails that irresistible effect, inspired by Korean manicures. This is the case with the red, pink and coral polishes in our Sweetscape collection (Glacé, Pink Sorbet, Sugar Plum, Pomme d’amour, Twizzle). Five new Green™ polishes perfect for a totally on-trend summer manicure.
Glazed and pearly effects for magnetic nails
Glazed nails are also taking the podium among summer 2026 nail trends. The soft, pearlescent chrome finish created by Manucurist Glazed powders (available in 4 colours: Blue, White, Pink, Golden) delivers holographic reflections and a striking magnetic effect. The result is beautiful over nude polishes as well as more pigmented red or burgundy polishes.
Nail colours to embrace for summer
Electric Feel: the collection that electrifies summer
Chrome reflections, glazed effect, energetic shades: these 3 new nail polish colours capture the sun’s rays and glow under the light (available in Green™ nail polish and Green Flash™ gel nail polish from 12 June 2026).
With its velvety aura and botanical inspiration, Halo is a soft milky mauve with an icy effect. A very on-trend colour, spotted on the Valentino catwalk.
Second option: Bloom, a vibrant pink with blue undertones that reveals magnetic intensity under the glow of neon for an ultra-bright floral touch. A standout colour at Erdem this season!
Groove, also seen on the Vaillant runway, is a distinctive pearlescent green infused with electric botanical energy. With it, we’re going retro-pop, for sure.
This summer, electrify your nails with Halo, Groove and Bloom.
(@tagwalk)
Lagoon Shades: aquatic blues and lilacs
On the beach or by the pool, aquatic and lagoon shades immerse our nails in an ocean of happiness.
The latest addition to the Active™ range, Active Plump Aqua Glazed (available from 3 July 2026), embodies this influence. It dresses nails in a sheer airy blue, seen on the Mugler runway, and gives them a plumped finish and a water shine effect. Plus: its formula enriched with collagen and bioactive wakame extracts helps preserve nail keratin. We’re already hooked!
In Green™ and Green Flash™ versions, we love Lisa Lilas, a pastel lilac inspired by summer sunsets and pop silhouettes from the 90s. A soft shade that adds a “retro-cool” touch to our hands, spotted on the Stella McCartney runway.
Finally, Ultramarine is perfect for intense blue nails, somewhere between the depth of the abyss and electric reflections. More vibrant than any other, it creates a manicure with character. Victoria Beckham also showcased it at her latest show.
Aquatic or lavender shades at your fingertips to play mermaid.
(@tagwalk)
Juicy & Spicy: fruity colours
This season, we’re also celebrating delicious… and spicy shades. Aïe caramba! Lemonade is a pale yellow glitter polish, inspired by iced lemonades on summer days… A fresh shade that brightens nails and plays beautifully with the sun’s reflections. A colour also having its moment at Loewe.
And here’s one that looks divine on dark skin tones: Tangerine, a light neon orange, a polish with joyful, spontaneous mandarin tones that instantly brightens your hands. A vitamin-packed shade also spotted at Rabanne.
At Valentino, we’re hypnotized by this striking raspberry red, almost incandescent. For nails, Spicy is this vibrant red polish with pink undertones, inspired by retro pop palettes and the vibrant colours of the ’80s. A shade that catches every eye.
Hot & fresh summer nails with Lemonade, Spicy & Tangerine.
(@tagwalk)
Nude & Natural: effortless chic essentials
Of course, you know we never forget minimalist manicure lovers. Very subtle nudes remain summer essentials for shining (in moderation).
Balenciaga puts milky pink in the spotlight. For hands, in the same spirit, opt for Milky Pink, a delicate pink inspired by powdery shades and a silk veil. A soft, glossy shade ideal for a nude base or a clean girl manicure.
This warm beige with apricot undertones is Pink Sand. A comforting shade inspired by the golden light at the end of the day, for a 100% effortless chic manicure. Also spotted at Chloé.
Last but not least: Dove Beige, a subtle greyed beige tinged with mineral and powdery nuances. A balanced colour, easy to wear for a second-skin effect and a sophisticated manicure, like this Alaïa dress.
Chic, natural summer manicures in powder pink and nude beige shades.
(@tagwalk)
👉 Discover our selection of on-trend colours to dress your nails in June, July and August.
Simple, easy-to-wear summer nail ideas
Colourful mini French tips
For sunny days, the French manicure is reinvented in colourful, playful versions, much to the delight of short-nail and minimalist nail art lovers. Among the easy-to-wear summer nail designs, we’re keeping:
- The Light Blue micro French: apply Hortencia as a base. Create the mini French tip with a fine brush using Light Blue along the free edge of the nail, or with our must-have Mani Stamper.
- The double Summer French: apply Milky Pink as a base and use a fine brush to draw 2 lines for the double mini French with Spicy and Tangerine.
Colourful French tips to revisit your classics for summer.
(@matejanova, @irasnailroom)
Clean summer manicures
The soap nails trend keeps charming us with the clean, natural look we love. Active™ care polishes - hybrid polishes that combine care and make-up to treat and enhance your nails in one step - are easy and quick to apply. With them, there’s no need for a Base Coat or Top Coat, and they dry in just 1 minute. Perfect for holiday manicures!
What’s more, Active™ polishes offer a fabulous variety of effects and finishes, from powder blush to bubble bath nails. For summer, we love the mirror-like reflections of the Active Smooth 01 + Active Glow Grape combo, applied in layers. It creates a glossy pink finish, perfect for those who love natural nails with a touch of elegance.
Soap nails and chrome effects, summer nail essentials.
(@m.o.n.a.j)
Chrome and pearlescent nails
Chrome effects and pearly finishes add a more couture dimension to the manicure. Catch the light with:
- Active™ Plump for a plumping effect and a pearly baby pink finish.
- Fairy or Bronzé all-over in Green™ or Green Flash™ to dress your nails in a holographic pearly white or a sparkling copper brown.
Which nail colour should you choose to suit your style?
For a chic manicure
Go for nude and glossy shades like Milky Pink, Dove Beige and Pink Sand. These nail polishes visually elongate the fingers and pair easily with a light summer wardrobe or, on the contrary, a colour-block outfit.
For a fun, colourful manicure
Opt for vibrant colours like Spicy, Tangerine, Bloom or Groove to add a pop to your outfit. Shades that work particularly well on medium and dark skin tones.
For a natural manicure
Active™ care polishes give a clean, fresh and luminous finish that’s easy to wear - to enhance your fairy hands in just a few brush strokes, without overdoing it.
For a trendy manicure
Jelly, glazed and chrome effects are THE effects not to miss this season. Play with the transparency of Jelly nails to add depth to short nails. And make an impact with the iridescent effects of Glazed powders, which transform your nail polish into precious fabric.
On-trend nail art for summer
Wavy design
Wave nail art, with wavy patterns, returns every year among summer nail trends. For a change from aquatic designs, here are 2 arty versions:
- Green Wave: apply Pistachio as a base and draw a vertical wave with Lime on half of the nail.
- Spicy Snake: opt for Hortencia as a base, then draw red squiggles with Spicy using a liner brush.
Give your summer nail art a twist with wavy nails and snake nails.
(@m.o.n.a.j, @bara.hoyle)
Polka dots & stripes
With graphic stripes and other polka dots, add a deliciously retro, very summer 26 touch to your nail art. Here are 2 cheerful, colourful nail art inspirations that are easy to personalise:
- Summer Stripes: apply Nebula as a base and Tangerine as an accent nail. Then, using a nail art brush, draw several fine or thicker vertical or horizontal stripes with Spicy, Riviera and Ultramarine.
- Pop Polka Dots: apply Nebula as a base and scatter small red dots over the nail with Spicy using a dotting tool.
Stripes and polka dots in retro-pop mode.
(@look8thenails, @irasnailroom)
Summer gradients
Colour-gradient nails (or Gradient nails) are making a big comeback this summer. Here are our favourite colour gradients:
- Aura Blue & Orange: apply Ultramarine as a base. On a sponge, apply a dot of Tangerine surrounded by Ultramarine, then dab onto the nail until you achieve the desired halo effect.
- Red Gradient: opt for Hortencia as a base. Apply 2 lines of Spicy and Tangerine to a sponge, then dab onto the free edge of the nail to create a sunset nails effect.
For summer, go for the hypnotic effect of aura nails and ombré nails.
(@look8thenails, @ellzabeth)
Gel polish or classic nail polish: which option should you choose for summer?
Classic nail polish
Classic nail polish remains ideal for those who like to change colours regularly and want to try lots of different nail art looks on their nails this summer. Easy to apply (without forgetting the Base Coat and Top Coat) and remove, classic nail polish lets you vary your looks according to your mood and holiday destinations.
Gel polish
Gel polish is a must-have for hassle-free holidays. Apply it before you leave for a long-lasting manicure that stands up to waves and sun. The Xtrem Flash™ top coat maximises wear even further: polish lasts without chipping for up to 21 days and removes in 10 minutes, with no filing or acetone. Its gel texture acts like a protective shield to create that plump, glossy effect we love. Please note: this top coat is only compatible with Green Flash™ polishes.
Summer nails FAQ
What nail colour should you choose for summer?
The hottest colours for summer 2026: vibrant reds and oranges (Tangerine, Spicy), aquatic blues and mauves (Active Plump Aqua Glazed, Ultramarine, Lisa Lilas), and tropical tones like Groove and Bloom. For a more understated look, nude shades are still in the game too (Milky Pink, Pink Sand,...).
What are the nail trends for summer 2026?
Summer 2026 nail trends focus on colour, transparency and light. Jelly effects with translucent finishes, ultra-shiny glazed nails, saturated colours and graphic nail art such as waves or subtle gradients are key for your summer manicure ideas.
Which simple manicure should you go for in summer?
For a simple, easy-to-wear summer manicure, short nails with a natural finish are ideal. A nude shade, a milky pink or a clean soap-nail manicure are all you need for a chic, minimalist result. Subtle nail art, such as micro dots, fine lines or a light colour gradient, is perfect for a soft, fuss-free summer look.
What colour should you choose for natural summer nails?
For natural summer nails, opt for soft, luminous shades like pale pink, rosy beige, milky white or sheer nude tones. These colours enhance nails while keeping the finish fresh, elegant and easy to pair with every style. The glossy or subtly pearly finishes of Active™ Plump and Plump Aqua Glazed nail polishes offer a luminous, natural look that is easy to combine with your summer wardrobe.
