With 2024 being the year of Hailey Bieber’s “Doughnut nails,” you may be wondering what nail trends are in store for 2025. We have researched everything that is expected to be popular, so that you can find plenty of trendy inspiration for your next nail appointment.
Named “Colour of the Year” by Pantone, Mocha Mousse is the go-to nail colour this year. This warm brown has been described as evoking “warmth, sophistication and naturalness,” making it the perfect choice for your next set of nails. In fact, according to nail expert Mazz Hanna it is a versatile natural and a fun alternative to your standard French Tip.
Talking of French Tips, the classic style is due to make an appearance in 2025. However, Vogue contributor Gina Edwards predicts this will come with a colourful twist. Instead of a standard white tip, a bright colour will be used to outline the whole edge of the nail. As well as this, we could see experimentation with fun 3D outlines and different textures.
One trend that has become popular with celebrities this year is “cat-eye nails.” This technique uses a special UV polish containing tiny metallic particles so that a line, which mirrors a cats eye, appears across the nail. Any colour looks good with this trend, making it a fun way to switch up your go-to nail choice.
With the rise of “Ballet core” in the fashion world, it is no surprise that Ballet pink is predicted to be a popular nail colour this year. This pale pink is the perfect nail colour if you want something a bit more on the subtle side. If you want to liven up the look, you can add some ribbon-style bows as nail art.
When it comes to nail shapes, oval nails are going to be big this year. Edwards claims the oval nail shape will begin to dominate our Instagram feeds, as its length allows lots of space for creative nail designs.
According to celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik, 2025 will be all about nail textures. From velvet nails to magnetic chrome, the majority of popular nail choices will revolve around “effects” rather than “crazy designs.” For example, Kara Nesvig predicts even nail art will begin to take a bolder 3D form.
In contrast to this, we can also expect to see the continuation of the minimalist “soap nails” trend. Popularised in 2024, this is when your manicure colour mimics your natural nail color, producing a shiny and smooth appearance. This trend is perfect if you prefer a more natural, clean appearance.
Last but not least, expect to see lots of pastel manicures as we move into spring. Bright yet still subtle, there are loads of fun colours to choose from. You could experiment with matcha green, or go for a more soft baby blue. If you can’t decide on a colour, Michelle Humphrey suggests picking a different colour for each nail.
References:
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/nails/a63443806/2025-nail-trends/#soft-neutrals
https://www.vogue.com/article/nail-trends-2025
https://graziadaily.co.uk/beauty-hair/nails/pastel-nail-art-trend
Photo by KARTIK GADA on Unsplash