Leopard print nails are the unexpected manicure of Spring 2026

As a leopard print lover, I’m not sure why leopard print nails have never crossed my mind. That was until late last year when Hailey Bieber put me onto them.

While on a trip to Tokyo, the Rhode founder showed off her new manicure – courtesy of her longtime manicurist Zola Ganzorigt – complete with a matching pedicure. Opting for a mix of classy French tips and full leopard print nails, as always, Hailey was an early adopter of the trend.

A few weeks later, the animal print appeared again, this time on the talons of Vanessa Hudgens – once again created by Zola – but this time in eye-catching cat-eye. “It’s a fur season!” the manicurist shared in the caption, which we’re interpreting as a fun and cruelty-free way of incorporating animal print into your style.

With the leopard print nail trend bubbling up at the end of 2025, it’s no surprise that we’re pegging it as one of 2026’s biggest manicure trends, and there’s something very chic about the print – especially when it’s reimagined in new and unexpected ways. From icy chrome finishes to atypical colour schemes, the classic works just as well too.

If you want to hop on the nail trend with Hailey Bieber and Vanessa Hudgens, we’ve rounded up some of our fave leopard print nails to inspire you.

Cat-eye leopard print French tips

Starting off strong, this one is a sophisticated take on leopard print nails reimagined in mesmerising cat-eye as chic French tips.

Gold cat-eye leopard print nails

Another classy cat-eye take on leopard print nails, the gold cat-eye base is the perfect shade for accentuating the animal print.

Ombré leopard print nails

A mix between ombré and aura nails, the subtle pops of brown on a nude base bring a natural-looking dimension to leopard print.

Chrome leopard print nails

An icy chrome finish, over strong metallic shades, can subtly take your leopard print nails to the next level.

Velvet leopard print nails

The superfine shimmer of velvet nails is hard to resist and the perfect way to glam up leopard print nails for the evening.

Pink French tip leopard print nails

Is there such a thing as too much for a manicure? Of course not! Hot pink and leopard print complement each other for a reason, so bring them together for one eye-catching manicure.

Pink heart leopard print nails

Perfect for those already looking forward to next Valentine’s Day – or those who love love – the leopard print is reimagined as cute red hearts.

Moody leopard print nails

While it’s not a shade you’ll spot on leopards out in the wild, this deep shade of burgundy is perfect for moody winter nails.

Gold-tipped leopard print Frenchies

A twist on classic French tips, the gold detailing is the perfect tiny accent to make your manicure feel even more sophisticated.

3D cherry leopard print nails

Cherries and leopard print together in one maximalist manicure – why not?!

Square leopard print nails

If you’re not usually a square nail type of girl, leopard print could be the perfect place to experiment.

Snow leopard print nails

This gunmetal grey cat-eye base is the perfect shade for achieving snow leopard print nails and the airbrush-like print gives a natural finish.

Autumnal leopard print nails

We love the delicious chocolate brown autumnal shade that is used to break up this leopard print manicure.

Hot pink leopard print nails

Hot pink + cat-eye + leopard print = one major manicure.

Star leopard print nails

If you’re already going all out with your leopard print nails, why not add some cute pastel-coloured stars on top to complete your manicure?