2024's Biggest Nail Trends Have Something For Everyone

Over the past year, french manicures have had a major resurgence. The latest trend, "naked french tips," is all about your nails but better. The look is a mix of a diffused french manicure and your natural nails. "This makes it look like a natural nail, as if you've got nothing but clear polish on, while still covering any imperfections," Vanessa Sanchez-McCullough, celebrity nail artist, previously told POPSUGAR.

Cat-eye nails are truly mesmerizing. The nail trend has a velvet-like finish and can be paired with any color of polish that you choose.

The viral "coquette aesthetic" from TikTok is influencing every area of our look. "Coquette nails are all about tapping into your ethereal, hyper-feminine side by using specific colors, patterns, and embellishments," Rianna Basurto, marketing specialist for the salon Bellacures, previously POPSUGAR. The manicures typically feature bows, pearls, and shades of pink.

You've probably seen aura nails on your social media feed at least once in 2023, but it's predicted to be huge in the next year. "The style features a circular ombre effect that emulates a glowing aura," Pattie Yankee, consulting manicurist for Dashing Diva, says. Not only is it stunning, but it's easy enough to re-create at home on your own.

To be clear: aura nails don't have to feature your actual accurate aura reading, but rather utilize colors that mimic the colors of the body's chakras and energy fields. (Think swirls of colors that diffuse outward, starting in the middle.)

Rita Pinto, founder of Vanity Projects nail salon, previously told POPSUGAR: "It's very New Age meets Gen Z because the colors of the manicures are way more interpretive and expansive than the usual aura-chart colors. I've also heard them be referred to as 'color trips' in the salon by clients."

Perhaps the biggest trend in 2023 was chrome nails, and that will continue into the next year. "It won't be a surprise to see chrome or metallic nails all over," says manicurist and LeChat nails educator Hemi Park. Expect to see chrome finishes across a range of different colors — silver, gold, blue, and pink, to name a few.

Like any other nail design, chrome can be used on the entire nail or as part of a nail art look — like french manicures, stars, and more — and the latter take will be a new twist on the trend you'll see a lot of in 2024.

The beauty of "junk nails" is that they can be whatever you want them to be. "This nail craze captivates a fusion of vibrant hues; 3D elements like rhinestones, beads, glitter; and eccentric nail art," Liana Thomson, nail expert at Nails.co.uk, previously told POPSUGAR.

Rich-girl nails are proving to be a popular nail style for 2023 after stars like Jennifer Lopez, Marsai Martin, and Hailee Steinfeld wore the look. The manicure is minimal, clean, and very chic. "'Rich girl' nails are a modern take on a sophisticated classic," celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik previously told POPSUGAR. "[The] color is a creamy, full-coverage nude playing homage to the greige inspiration originally seen with Chanel."

Because the rich-girl nail trend is all about the color, you can wear it in any shape. They're perfect for year-round wear, thanks to the minimal style.