If we were to pick a main character for summer, the mermaids have it. It may be as groundbreaking as florals for spring but there's a reason mermaid nail designs are already trending on Google search. The aesthetic is as whimsical and beautiful as it is wearable – and honestly, if looking down at our fingernails can spark joy, we're all about it.
Of course, the Mermaid movement has been building for a while, with crimped mermaid waves, wet-look hair and dolphin skin all making a splash. Likewise mermaid nail art has been remixed, reinvented and personalised for the past few summers, with some of our favourite manicurists and influencers finding new ways to keep the aesthetic feeling current. And, if the Chanel Cruise 26/27 runway is anything to go by, interest in the trend is only set to intensify. Models were sent down the runway with freshly misted skin, fishnet hair accessories and sheer, shimmering, water-washed manis in seashell whites and pinks, sandy yellows and ocean blues.
How to wear mermaid nail designs?
The cool-girls have tapped up current leading mani trends, then updated them with a nod to mermaidcore. French tips and chrome finishes are still going no-where, meanwhile 3D and maximalist nails are picking up a growing fan base. We've seen them worn in metallic silvers that replicate shimmering scales or in ocean tones like aqua, sea foam and azure. Likewise, pearlescent shell-like shades (like pale pink and yellow) are trending in their own right.
If you want to go a little more literal, we have all the inspo there, too. We've seen nails decorated with teensy shells, star fish and waves, which may not sound chic, but we've got the pics to prove it. Ditto, tiny pearl details dotted across nails play perfectly into the theme.
Want in? Here's some of our favourite ways to wear mermaid nails…
