Manicure at sea 2024: the best nail ideas for holidays with a tropical vibe
There are numerous rituals one must complete before hopping on a flight, including packing your suitcase, narrowing down your makeup bag must-haves, and updating your passport photo. But arguably, the most important thing to do before heading on vacation is getting a fresh mani. Nothing sets the tone for a relaxing getaway quite like hues of neon, sunset ombrés, tropical florals, fruity designs, and aquatic adventures that scream warm climates. And even if you don't have plans to take a trip any time soon, you can still rock these looks: Think of them as a staycation on your hands. To get you in that out-of-office mood and provide plenty of inspo, we've rounded up 22 of our favorite tropical looks.
Keep scrolling for the best vacation nail ideas, from ocean waves to bright color combos.
01 Pool Party
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It's impossible to see this aquatic hue and not instantly think of a swimming pool. The 3D droplet nail art takes the water surface–patterned French mani to another level. Grab a polish in a similar hue and play with shapes to re-create the look yourself.
Make waves with an abstract, DIY approach to ocean art. With a dotting tool, dot varying sizes of circles in shades of foam green, violet, cobalt, and aqua onto each nail. Then, add a dash of shimmer polish and metallic gems to complete your look.
Gold and pearl will always be an iconic pairing, especially when it comes to glamorous vacation nails. This design is centered on the middle of the nail, making it ideal for all lengths and shapes.
Remember making tie-dye shirts at camp? Use your nails as the canvas to bring back that feeling of childhood joy. Best of all, this mani is even easier to create than those tees—all you need is a couple of colors and a steady hand.
When you can't pick just one, this option has you covered. Each mismatched nail is adorned with a unique vacation-ready design. If you have a favorite, use it on all 10 tips.
06 Brighten Up
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If strawberry shortcake and orange creamsicle had a manicure baby, it would be this happy-hued design. Don't be fooled—DIY-ing the look is easier than it seems. Just start with a baby pink polish base, and then swirl on curvy lines in different colors.
When life gives you lemons, paint them onto your nails. Summer fruits are a vacation mani mainstay for a reason. If citrus isn't your squeeze, you can always opt for strawberries, cherries, or watermelons.
Give this classic, summery floral mani a trendy update for your next vacation by making those buds neon and 3D.
10 Cue the Confetti
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Once that out-of-office is up, the start of vacation has you in a party-ready mood. Celebrate that vibe with confetti-inspired nails. Choose summery colors to make the design just right for the season.
11 Watermelon Wonder
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Few things are as synonymous with summer as watermelon, and this mani is so juicy-looking you can practically taste it. If you don't want to go full fruit, just add seeds to an accent nail or two.
The water nails trend was basically made for summer. First, apply a coat of aqua-blue nail polish to your nails. Then make a dot design on the nail with a color that is two or three shades darker than the aqua. Finish by using a dotting tool to create a small white flower at the base of the nail.
13 Rainbow Bright
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This rainbow mani—featuring cheery summery shades—puts a sophisticated spin on the trend with subtle arches on the tips.
Abstract swirls, lines, and glitter remind us of the scales you'd see on a school of fish as you scuba in the deep sea. Large water droplets sell the beachy nail vibes and amplify the intricate details.
15 Tropical Tips
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A classic French mani is always in style. With just the simple addition of palm and banana leaves, the short square nails are elevated and vacay-ready.
16 French Hibiscus
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Nothing could be more tropical than that of a hibiscus design. These beauties draw inspiration from the timeless reddish magenta and white variety, matching the center floral shade with a curved French.
Who knew a nail design could be so refreshing? Lime, pear green, and white mix and match in a delicious dot-and-swirl combo, reminding us of a fresh poolside bar mojito.
18 Sun and Sand
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This shimmering blue, orange-gold, and white set screams poolside behavior. One look at this mani, and we're already dreaming of sunny days spent with our toes in the warm sand, with nothing but clear blue seas on the horizon.
19 Sunset Glow
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Arguably one of the best parts about vacation is walking on the beach at sunset. This mani captures that iconic glowing sight, shifting to a coral hue at the tips from a shimmery, light pink base.
20 Velvet Mermaid
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Velvet nails are one of this winter's most talked-about nail trends, and we'll be rocking this look on our upcoming island adventures. This shimmering, mermaid-like blue-and-purple look reflects different shades depending on the light, and we couldn't be more in love.
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