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With Independence Day nearing, summer is undoubtedly in full swing. And what better way to celebrate than festive Fourth of July nails?
Let’s set the record straight though: Iterations of the flag aren’t the only ways to join in on the holiday fun. “Even if you don’t want to do something that’s so precisely ‘themed’, you can still play around with colors and styles that relate to the holiday,” explains celebrity nail-pro Natalie Minerva—the artist behind Euphoria nail designs. “I’ve always strayed away from direct themes and instead done designs that still feel holiday-esque but can be wearable once the holiday is over.”
To help you put your best hand forward this holiday, we’ve rounded up the best Fourth of July nails that are right on theme.
Glittered Ombre
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Metallics get a tropical upgrade with this design by Mei. “Chrome nails will be the perfect nail color to kick off your summer with,” says celebrity nail artist Naomi Yasuda. Just pick fun summertime colors.
Positive Vibes
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“To take the nail art game a step further, joyful nail art stickers on accent nails or on all nails are great for the holidays!” explains editorial manicurist and founder of the eponymous nail brand and salon, Jin Soon Choi. Take a page from her playbook with fun stickers you can add to any mani.
Abstract Lines
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“Summer looks will be bright and fun,” says celebrity nail artist Mei Kawajiri. Play with lines and vibrant colors for a unique, eye-catching mani.
Festive Fruits
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Your favorite summer foods would make an excellent statement nail—from hot dogs to strawberries to peaches.
Practical Press-Ons
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Low on time? Press-on nails are the way to go. “They are a fast and easy way to dress up your vacation looks, interchangeable when you want and new design right away, and don’t take up a lot of room in your luggage!” explains Rita Pinto, founder of Vanity Projects New York and Miami. Get your hands on customized sets by her salon’s artists, or place an order from Olive June’s lineup.
Star Studded
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“Of course, we all know stars are very Fourth of July themed,” says Minerva. “With this set, I used classic patriotic blue, but then added in pink tones to give it a bit more of a feminine, softer look.”
By The Sea
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“I believe any holiday is a fun time to experiment with nail art. You can be a bit more cheeky and playful,” says celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein. She’s got the right idea with this oceanic mani inspired by the waves.
Summer Florals
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Inspired by this mani by celebrity nail artist Gina Edwards, we’re brainstorming summer florals without hesitation. Opt for a halo design like hers or vibrant seasonal flowers.
Airbrushed 3D
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Kawajiri is fully embracing a modern take on airbrushed finishes right now. To recreate this look, she describes this as: “[airbrushed] red center fade art, shown here in a unique lipstick shape or classic round shape made more playful with a chrome base and 3D gel bubbles on top.”
Color Gradient Statement
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We’ve been loving the color gradient nail trend for its versatility—allowing us to try multiple colors at once. Make it more patriotic with all the reds, whites, and blues your heart desires—or even press-ons like these by Kiss.
Tie-Dye
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Who says tie-dye is reserved for clothes and fabrics. Take the designs to nails this season in your pick of festive or classic colors.
Glitter Gradient
“Gold glitter gradients and fireworks-themed nails are also always popular!” says Pinto. Just think of it as a take on fireworks—that last a lot longer.
Chrome Craze
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Adding a bit of metallic chrome to any design is an easy way to put a twist on a classic manicure. The artists at Vanity Project and our celebrity experts agree that we’ll be seeing the shade all season long.
Neon Agenda
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“Fruit and bright colored nail designs are also a BIG favorite for July 4th!” says Pinto. Pair the two ideas together with your favorite summertime fruit in complementing polish colors—like pink and green for a watermelon design.
Picnic Preferred
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“I love doing food-inspired nails, and these cherry and gingham nails are perfect for Fourth of July,” Minerva notes. “What’s great about these too is they are wearable for all of summer!”
Scalloped Tips
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“If you don’t feel like doing something completely themed, you can always just choose one element from our flag,” Minerva says. “I love this design because it’s chic and relatively simple but packs a punch!”
Light Bright
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Give your nails a high-tech upgrade with NFC LED chips—a hack Minerva recently began using in her designs. “ It’s giving Fourth of July fireworks but in the most fun and interactive way! I’m absolutely obsessed with these,” she says, offering this application tip: “I started out by implanting the NFC chips inside the nail by laying hard gel on top of them.”
Blooming Crystals
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We’ve already been embracing florals thanks to trending spring nail designs, but to make them pop a bit more, we’ll be adding colorful rhinestones all summer long à la Yasuda.
Geometric Graphics
“Be bold and modern with negative space using a variety of colors–for this July Fourth, I recommend reds, whites, and blues,” says Choi.
