Can you believe we are already in May?! This means we are almost halfway through 2024. But the good thing is, it’s already Summer! And the season calls for all things fun and colorful.
While you can experiment with your outfits and hair colors, there is also room for showcasing your creativity on your nails. Unlike your good old Fall or Winter nails that limit your color palette and design chart, May allows you to go all crazy with all bright and groovy vibes. We all know that April Showers Bring May Flowers. So, it’s time to have fun with your nails this season. Either get salon manicures or DIY with at-home polishes. But experiment with plenty of bright colors and fresh flowers this time.
Don’t worry! You need to spend hours looking for ideas on Pinterest and Instagram only to end up with boring or old designs. We are here with the May Nail Design Ideas fresh for the Summer of 2024.
25 May Nail Ideas for Summer 2024
Keep reading to uncover nail art ideas that will have you ready for warm, sunny days.
1) Watermelon Nails
Can you imagine summers without fruits? And watermelons are such a vibe when it comes to the hot season! Watermelon nails are all over the Internet this year and for all the good reasons. It has all things summery – hot pink and green hues with aura and French tip designs. A bold clash of the two bright tones with a soft aura base and teeny-tiny French tips gives you all the vibrant feel you need. You may also top it off on your medium square nails with some black seeds to give the juicy watermelon look!
2) Lovely in Lime
Talking about juicy fruits, who doesn’t want lime and lemony summers? If you’ve waited all year long to use bright nail colors, this is your time. Get this abstract design in a pop of color this May to beat the heat and flaunt your summer body with pretty fingertips! You can go all creative and DIY this design in your at-home manicures if you don’t want to spend hours at the salon. And who cares for perfection when the design is all fun and games?
3) Neon Mismatch Nails
Talk of Summer and all you can think about is bright neons, isn’t it? Rock this vibrant and funky design this May and become the talk of the town all through the summer days. It’s an all-inclusive design that has neons, flames, emojis, ombre checks, bright oranges, and a little bit of sparkle here and there. Flaunt this design at your next staycation and you will love the heat!
4) Sunset Tips
Did someone just say staycation?! All we can imagine this summer is sunsets and spritzes. And this bold nail design will bring the May sunsets to your fingertips, quite literally! The striking combo of pink and orange and the bold hue of both give a fresh feel to the design. The negative space concept gives it a subtle vibe replicating grown-out cuticles. Get your nail tech to recreate this fun design for you this month.
5) Abstract Rainbow
This design is for the short nail girlies to rock this season! If you don’t want long-ass claws but still want to add a touch of fun to your micro French tips, give a shot to this colorful twist. We know it’s too early for rainbows, but this warm and cool ombre gives a summery twist to basic nails. Shape and file your natural nails and go crazy with all shades of blue and orange creating abstract art.
6) Colorful Minimalist
Talking about short square nails with all shades of the rainbow, choose this subtle matte design. A fun twist to the micro French tip nails, this design uses everything from pastels and bright reds to black and white. On a scale of over-the-top to overly simple, this summer nail art strikes the perfect balance to be carried from office to pool parties.
7) Pink French Tip Nails
If you think Barbiecore nails are a 2023 trend, think again! The pink French tip nails are still ‘giving’ even in the summer of 2024. And you are sure to rock this design in May to overcome the summer blues with these bright pink nails. Add chunky glitters to give some detailing to the thin French tips on these long almond nails. Either DIY it using custom-made press-on nails or get it done on your preferred nail enhancements from your favorite nail salon.
8) Neon Mismatch Nails
This design is the perfect blend of all things fun and summery. Just looking at it gives those pool party and tequila shots vibes! It has everything you can think of – bright and loud colors, ombre, glitter, abstract designs, and whatnot. If you can’t decide between so many colors and art, this can be the best escape for you. You don’t need long or sharp nails to go all loud and bold with this design, just a good nail tech!
9) Spritz-Inspired French Tips
Bring all the sunny and Aperol spritz vibes to your nails with this fun combination of bright yellows and oranges. Sip on to the citrus drink with these stunning long and tapered French nail tips with pretty sparkles, swirls, and smileys. Recreate this look to crash a party in this May. Enjoy sunsets and cruises while flaunting your fingertips with all things bright and neon!
10) Maximalist Floral Nails
If you don’t want to go classy or fun this season but also want to flaunt florals and pretty colors, choose to try this bold Pinterest design. The transition from Spring to Summer with this multicolor floral mani. You can easily DIY it with Pinterest or YouTube tricks. Grab all your bright and opaque colors and go all crazy creating this May mani and recreating this abstract design. It has everything you need to pair up with all your summer dresses.
11) Colorful Croc-Inspired
Speaking of bringing all the crazy colors to your nails, this design has one of the most Instagrammable trends of summer to try this May. And that is – crocs! From your funky foam footwear to your fingertips, crocs are everywhere. Ask your manicurist to recreate this design for you to become the life of the summer parties. You can go for long almonds or even experiment with stilettos and dazzle them up with colorful rhinestones for that added glam.
12) Pressed Florals
If you want to reflect your feminine personality and still want to go cute and colorful this May, opt for this subtly beautiful design. It isn’t bold or loud and still has that fresh floral charm. This pressed-floral design can be your best bet if you are still not over Spring. Choose all the girly colors from the rainbow and get your nail tech to redesign them with a touch of shimmer and matching dry flowers.
13) Candy Confection
These summer-centric, candy-colored nails are feminine yet funky and ideal for your May nail set. Gel a long oval press-on nail set designed with these colorful swirls and negative space to form the perfect minimalistic and fun design. The intricacy of two-tone candy swirls makes it an all-time wear from house parties to poolside.
14) Ombré Flame Nails
Flames are the perfect representation of the ‘hot’ season we are welcoming with the onset of May. Become the heat of the moment with this head-turning, over-the-top design. Flames have always been a summer trend and you can give them a 2024 touch with this neon pigment ombre. Sway the design from greens to blues with all the bright colors of the rainbow to add more fun to the art.
15) Metallic Butterfly Nails
Metallic nail polish is one of the most loved trends of 2024 and you can still flaunt it to bring Spring and Summer together at your fingertips! This ombre French manicure with blue and green tones is the bold reimagination of the otherwise subtle nail art. And, the pretty little butterfly accents add to the girly vibe. You may choose to get them handpainted or use fun nail stickers to achieve the look.
16) Coral and Chrome
If you are still not over the 2023 chrome craze and still want to incorporate in your May nails this 2024, this design can be your best bet! The bright coral gives the warm summery vibes while the imperfect chrome accents add a party element to the plain solid nails. Choose long or short nails to flaunt this design and don’t forget to add a shiny top coat for that extra-glossy effect.
17) Squiggle French Tips
Do you want creamy gels, French manis, shimmers, and swirls, all in one? If this thought excites you, then this design is tailor-made for you. This reimagined French manicure with random swirls and squiggles gives fun and poolside vibes. Choose bright and loud colors and contrasting shimmers to achieve this look and ask your nail artist to play with them all on your fingertips with a nude base coat for an added pop.
18) Vivid Swirls
Did someone talk about shimmers and squiggles? If that’s your taste, you can’t miss out on this design. The bright rainbow color palette is something you’d love to embrace this summer with this swirly May mani. With so much color and sparkle blooming and squiggling across your nails, you are sure to enjoy all your beach and pool parties. Play with all the bright and shimmery polishes and you don’t even need to be perfect with your swirls and twirls!
19) Dreamy Clouds
Bring down the clear skies of the May summer to your fingertips by DIYing this cute and Pinteresty design in your next at-home manicure session. Choose your base from clear blue skies or sunset yellows or even an ombre of yellow and orange to resemble the charm of the season. Top up these warm or cool tones with soft clouds made using a sponge to create the imperfect floating effect.
20) Pretty Little Cherries
If the teenager in you keeps daydreaming about a life in fairytale homes and dreamy cafes seen on Pinterest, this girlish French manicure nail design is all that you need. Bring these juicy and delicious cherries on your fingernails this summer and flaunt the cuteness complimented by the classiness of the huge French tips. You can easily DIY this maximalist yet minimalist design or get it done by a professional for your May manicure.
21) Groovy Blooms
Think of swiftly moving from Spring to Summer and imagine the clear daylight, bright blue skies, and fresh-cut grass. Does that remind you of all the pretty colors – yellows, oranges, blues, and greens? Great! Now bring them all to your nails with this pretty and colorful nail design which is all things girly and cute. Rather than going solid, try a negative space swirl design and top it off with tiny white flowers.
22) Tie-Dye Accents
Did we just discuss the bright summer color palette above? Use a similar palette but to achieve this fun tie-dye design for that unique and creative art. Either twin the design with your summer dresses or wear it all by itself. Choose different base colors for different fingernails and work your magic with the tie-dye design on one or two accent nails. Have fun creating this look without worrying about perfection.
23) Daisy Blues
If you still want to add the ‘April Showers Bring May Flowers’ charm to your nails, make it aesthetic with this stunning daisy nail art on bright blue polish. Experience the May blooms every day while the season brings everything to life. Be creative on each fingernail with solid colors, Frenchies, and bold daisies. Get stunning press-ons designed with this art recreated and flaunt them for the whole month of May.
24) Snake Skin
If you are done with all the colors, want to preserve them for Spring, or are simply done with all things colorful, go different with these white croc nails. They give all the boho chic vibes and look like a creative version of the good old French manicure. Wear these stunning nails boldly at the beach in your white crochet dress or even flaunt them as workwear nails, the art is so versatile and stunning.
25) Peach Ombré
Peach Fuzz is the Pantone color of 2024 and we aren’t still over it while entering May. It is one of the most popular colors of Spring and if you want to bring it in summer too, opt for complimenting it with vivid orange to give that warm touch to the muted peach tone. Get these classy ombre oval nails in the same color family of tangerine and papaya for that sun-kissed feel. This set doesn’t have those over-the-top designs and is still a well-balanced idea of neutrals and poppy colors.
The Final Word
As we bid farewell to the breezy days of Spring, let’s embrace the vibrant spirit of Summer with these stunning nail ideas this May. Whether you’re lounging by the pool or dancing under the stars, your nails can be the perfect accessory to complement your summer style. From bold, tropical designs to chic, minimalist patterns, the options are endless. So, grab your favorite nail polishes and get ready to create your masterpiece. Let your nails be a reflection of your sunny disposition and adventurous spirit. After all, summer is all about embracing the warmth and beauty around us. Here’s to a season filled with sunshine, smiles, and fabulous nails until 2024!
