No matter the design you choose, manicurist and OPI Global Ambassador Natalie Minerva says you can’t go wrong with bright colors and jelly finishes to close out summer 2024. As always though, we’re not solely here to give you tips—we like to offer visual inspo, too. With that in mind, keep reading to explore over a dozen August nail ideas worth recreating in the days and weeks to come.
3D Cream Floral Nails
Once upon a time, August was the last month you could wear white without looking gauche. Nowadays, that’s seen as an arbitrary fashion rule—but we still love the idea of celebrating the end of summer in creamy shades of marshmallow and linen. Add 3D floral nail art to your white mani for an extra seasonal touch.
3D Pink Lemonade Aura Nails
We love 3D floral nails so much, we had to include more than a few examples. This raised design sits atop pink lemonade-inspired aura nails, which can be crafted with an airbrush tool or the more DIY-friendly sponge technique.
Butter Yellow Nails
Looking for something simple? Opt for butter yellow polish. The happy, creamy color is one of the hottest hues of the season, and since it’s essentially a warmer version of white, it can be incorporated into neutral and vibrant looks alike.
Cyber Aura Heat Wave Nails
Aura nails are bold all on their own, but with this cobalt blue overlay, they’re even more eye-catching. To get the look, start with a red and orange aura base. Then, use a nail art brush to create the abstract cobalt overlay. Finish with a top coat.
Cyber Skittle Grid Nails
Cyber-inspired nails are popping up all over our social feeds (conjuring images of Zenon and Proto Zoa in the process). If you like the look, here’s what to do: Start with an aura base on each nail. Then, use a fine-lining nail art brush to create the curved grid effect in a contrasting color.
End-of-Summer Plaid Nails
Eager for fall? Close out the last full month of summer with plaid nail art featuring a mix of polishes that perfectly teeter between the seasons. Cream, mustard, mauve, and chartreuse are perfect picks.
Gold Chrome Abstract Nails
Here’s another August nail idea that works well for the transition into fall. With moodier gray, rust, and teal tones, this gold chrome-accented mani seamlessly blends the warmth of the end of summer with the briskness of autumn.
Golden Fleck Skittle Nails
The sun is setting on one of our favorite seasons while rising into another. You can bring that idea to your hands with a set of golden-flecked Skittle nails. Start with a solid coat of color on each nail, opting for a full coverage or French tip application. Then, apply a gold glitter topper and finish with a top coat.
Golden Mismatched 3D Nails
Butter yellow and shades of gold are gorgeous all on their own, but they look even brighter and more beautiful when mixed into one cheerful end-of-summer mani. For this look, you’ll need a couple of yellow polishes, builder gel, chrome powder, and plenty of patience—or a nail appointment, so someone else can bring it to life for you.
Golden Orange Nails
Shades of amber work just as well for August as they do for September and October. So, if you’re looking for a nail polish shade that can carry you from the twilight of summer to the dawn of fall, here you have it.
Mauve Half-and-Half Nails
For a more geometric mani, try a half-and-half approach. While we love this mauve and blush combo, the color pairing options are endless. Pro tip: To perfect the crisp lines, start with your base, then, once dry, apply a piece of nail tape horizontally across each nail and paint the polish on the tip. Remove the tape once dry.
Metallic Bubblegum Dewdrop Nails
How fun is this metallic dewdrop mani? It reminds us of spilled juice in the very best way. As for how to create it, you’ll need builder gel, pink polish, and pink chrome powder—or you can make it easy on yourself and call your nail tech.
Ombré Flame French Tips
Flame nails remain a mani mainstay, and we love how this rendition takes on an almost ombré effect thanks to the underlying aura haze at the tip.
Orange Spritz Dewdrop Nails
With shades of orange still top of mind, let’s take a moment to appreciate this juicy orange spritz dewdrop nail design. Given the intricacy of the art, this is one August mani we recommend enlisting the help of a pro for.
Peach Aura Nails
Meanwhile, a simple at-home August nail look is this peach aura mani. Paint a sponge with tangerine polish and add a dot of peach in the middle. Dab it onto each nail, use a nail art brush dipped in acetone to clean up the edges, and lock everything in with a top coat.
Peridot Marble Nails
Peridot is one of the August birthstones, and we love how the pale green color of the stone looks when paired with a classic marbled design. To DIY this nail art, start with a sheer matcha green base, then use a nail art brush to add white swirls and gold foil accents on top.
Pink and Red Nails
ICYMI: Pink paired with red isn’t exclusive to Valentine’s Day. It’s a color combo that adds bright contrast to any outfit or nail look, any time of year—even in August.
Terracotta Marble Nails
Terracotta and brick red polish blend beautifully for a sundown manicure perfect for August. Add gold foil or metallic gold polish on top to glam it up.
Tiger Nails
Craving something bold? Opt for animal print nails. Instead of classic cheetah nail art, though, consider vibrant tiger stripes as a nod to the heat of August.
Tortoiseshell Cream Swirl Nails
Say goodbye to summer 2024 with a gorgeous swirl mani that nods to the transition between seasons. The white represents summer, while the tortoiseshell honors the allure of autumn.
Two-Tone Skittle Wave Nails
Last but not least, we have this fun two-tone Skittle wave nail look. The trick to making it really pop? Pick two contrasting colors for each nail. Start with a swirl tip in one color, then go in with a nail art brush to create wavy stripes in the other.
