Ombre nails are a classic for a reason – here are our favourite designs
Ombre nails may not be new, but they're majorly trending once again thanks, in part, to the popularity of the almond and ballerina-shaped ombre Frenchies that celebs like JLo and Nicola Peltz Beckham have been wearing, and the chrome ombre (or chrombre) nails that have risen as a spin off to the now-iconic glazed donut.
It was only a matter of time before the boom in ‘90s beauty references made its way into nail designs and with airbrush nails and French tips firmly back on the agenda, it makes sense that we’ve seen a merge of the two, in the form of ombre French tips. As for the bolder, brighter and more experimental among us, we've also seen ombre design nails in pretty pastels, rainbow shades and jewel tones, proving there's a way to wear it for everyone.
What are ombre nails?
The ombre nails style sees a smooth transition from one shade to another (e.g. from light to dark), to give a fading effect. In the case of classic French tips, this means a seamless movement from creamy white tips, into a barely-there pink, without the traditional crisp contrast between the two. But we've seen neon and fruity shades colour-clashed against each other two, and multiple gradients of the same colour merging into each other.
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What colours are best for ombre nails?
This totally depends on your preference. For a classic French ombre, whites, creams and pinks work beautifully. For a gradient ombre, you could transition through one colour, with various shades (e.g. navy blue, mid blue and light blue). Shade families like pastels, or jewel tones work well, or for something bold you could try clashing ombre colour nails in opposing shades.
How long do ombre nails last?
This depends on the polish you choose. If you're using regular polish it should last around a week or two, depending on how sturdy your nail are. Gel polish will last longer (around two to three weeks) and acrylic or dip nails will last even longer (around three to four weeks).
Can you refill ombre nails?
Yes for acrylic nail ombre, you can refill around the cuticle with the same shade that you used at the base of your ombre.
Can ombre nails be done with gel?
Yes, the process is similar to regular polish, but gel polish is used and then set with a UV lamp to give a longer-lasting finish. If you're not confident, it's best to head to the salon and get your nails done by the pros. If you know what you're doing, you could always try and at-home gel nail kit.
How do you do ombre dip nails?
For those unfamiliar, dip powder nails fall somewhere between a regular mani and a set of acrylics. It's similar to a gel in the sense that it's fusing a coloured substance to your nail. But, instead of using UV rays to seal in your polish after it's been delicately painted on, the colour comes from a pigmented powder. And this technique works really well with ombre since you can layer up different coloured powders to blend into each other beautifully.
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What does ombre mean for nails?
The word “ombré” comes from the French for “shadow”. Essentially the technique sees colours fade into one another seamlessly, from light to dark. For nails, this means a two-toned or multi-toned mani with an imperceptible blend between the colours, rather than any stark lines.
Why do ombre nails cost more?
Ombre nails will cost more than a regular coat of polish since it's a form of nail art and more time consuming. The cost of your nail appointment will usually be based upon how long the designs take to create (among other factors like location, experience etc). The more complicated or time consuming your design, the more you'll likely be charged. The good news is that ombre is simpler to achieve than other more intricate designs and you can even do them yourself.
How to do ombre nails yourself?
Despite looking tricky, ombré is surprisingly easy to do (once you've worked out the secret). The best part is, ombré nails are a universal crowd-pleaser, whether you like bold pops of colour, keeping it minimal or sticking to one palette, it can cater to all. But, failing that, you can always try press-on nails which take care of the design for you and save you the hassle.
This is what you'll need to create your own ombre nails:
- A base coat
- Liquid latex (optional)
- A light nail polish
- A darker nail polish
- A makeup sponge
- A top coat
- A nail polish remover
- A nail brush or cotton buds
Follow these steps:
- Apply your base coat in an even layer to every finger and leave to dry
- Create a barrier around the edge of your nails with liquid latex for nails (you can use actual tape if you don't have any), or you can simply clean up the edges with nail polish remover later.
- Take a rectangular makeup sponge and apply the lighter colour horizontally along the top of the sponge. Then apply the darker colour beneath it, making sure there's a section in the middle where the two shades overlap. You can even add in extra colours if you like (see here for how).
- Press the sponge down onto your nail and the colours should fade into each other to give an ombre effect.
- Clean up the edges by removing the tape and removing any left-over smudges with nail polish remover.
- Finish with a top coat.
Now you're ready to go, these are some of our favourite ombre nail designs to try…
Soft French ombre
This delicate pink gradient mani nods to a classic French nail but with a lot more softness.
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Colour burst ombre
We never knew lime green could look so elegant, but faded out into a nearly-naked base, it gives maximalism and minimalism at the same time.
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Gradient ombre
Usually we see ombre created on each nail, but here the ombre effect is created across all five nails, moving from a pink pinky to a purple thumb.
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French chrome ombre
This hits the trifecta with three of our favourite nail artistry techniques in one mani: Frenchies, ombre and chrome. It's modern and pretty but with a little extra main character energy.
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Peach ombre
These peachy ombre tips are a cute way to add a fruity pop of colour to your mani.
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French square-tip ombre
These short, squared-off ombre Frenchies feel soft and slick in one hit.
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Raindrop ombre
For maximalism, you can't go wrong with a tequila sunrise colour palette and holographic water drops on top.
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Pink party ombre
This pink gradient nail keeps the colour in one family so it moves from pale to bright seamlessly.
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Fuchsia airbrush ombre
Airbrushed ombre tips help to soften the line of a trad Frenchie and this purple rendition keeps it feeling playful.
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Milky French ombre
This delicate milky French ombre is perfect if you want a pretty update on a classic.
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Sunrise ombre
Sunrise nails are a great shout. Take the colour from orange to yellow.
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Sunset ombre
This summer gradient ombre mani looks like the sun setting on the horizon. A total vibe.
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Vertical ombre
Most gradient nails change colour from the tip of the nail to the base, but we love a side-to-side ombre mani moment.
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Strawberry glazed donut ombre
Hailey Bieber's nail artist @nailsbyzola helped to popularise the almond ombre Frenchie and since then, she's remixed the look with new renditions, such as her strawberry glazed donut ombre Frenchies.
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Cosmic ombre
These tonal purple and blue ombre nails are the perfect blend if you can decide on one shade to land on.
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Glazed donut ombre
Ombre nails, but make them glossy. This ultra shiny pearly finish leans into the glazed nails and lipgloss nails trend.
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Pastel ombre
Short ombre nails look great, especially when paired with delicate pastels.
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Rainbow ombre
The cutest and most colourful way to wear ombre nails that we've seen.
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Nude ombre
These sugared almond ombre nails are subtle, classic, but very, very chic.
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Glitter ombre
There's no rule when it comes to ombre that says you have to just stick with nail polish. This glitter fade mani is a cool take on the trend (and perfect if you want something a little extra).
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Tri-tone ombre
Want something fresh, tropical and feel good? These sea blue to sand yellow ombre nails are perfect.
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Holographic ombre
These lavender sky ombre nails add a little something extra with a scattering of glitter.
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Matchy ombre
Match your mani to your outfit, like this ombre purple and mint mani which picks its colours out from the footwear.
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Elongated French ombre
Singer Kesha is also a fan on the ombre Frenchie, and wore a nude-pink take on the trend.
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Negative space ombre
Ombre nails: but make them side-to-side rainbow swoosh ombre nails.
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Soft pink French ombre
Switch up a white French tip for pink.
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Neon ombre
This nude and neon orange mani is bold, bright and a total mood boost.
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Natural ombre
Rita Ora kept things natural with ombre French tips created by celeb manicurist, Michelle Humphrey.
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Colour fade ombre
The tropical colour palette of this orange and yellow ombre mani is a total mood boost.
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Red hot ombre
What says spicy like red ombre tips?
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Summer ombre
The summer pinks, peaches, orange and yellow blend effortlessly together.
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Nail art ombre
Use your ombre as the base for cute nail art, like these watermelon nails.
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Chrome ombre
Whether you’re dipping your toe in with a partial chrome manicure or going full-on chrome, this metallic manicure is sure to catch people’s attention.
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Gothic ombre
If a darker aesthetic is more your vibe, try out a goth-friendly black ombre.
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Sky ombre
With delicate pastel pinks, purples and blues like the morning sky, go the extra mile with this manicure and add playful cloud details.
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Cut-out ombre
The extra cherry on top of this hot pink and gold set, a miniature heart cut out on each nail.
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Matte rose ombre
This matte manicure gently fades through delicate rose shades from left to right.
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Reverse French ombre
Flip the French mani on its head by leading with the darker shade up top, and switch neutral pink for a bolder sherbet shade.
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Technicolour ombre
Can’t decide on which ombre you like best? Tick them all off with a different colour combination for each nail.
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Pastel tip ombre
Swap French tips for pastel tips (and you can razz things up with a gold outline, if you want to take things further).
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