Eesha Kulkarni

Whether you’re the one to love all things romance come Valentine’s Day or the one to cringe at the sight of loved up couples — I think we can all agree that bae or no bae, Valentine’s Day is a great time to give yourself a little extra pampering and TLC. And what better way to spoil yourself than getting a brand new set of nails?

So ‘dip your toes’ in Barbiecore pink and paint on those hearts or stick to the classics with muted ‘glazed donut’ nails this season. Here are some nail trends you should be trying out not only for Valentine’s Day but throughout spring/summer 2023.

Cow Print Nails

Strawberry milk, anyone? These cute cow print nails are sure to get you in the ‘moo’d!

Chrome Nails

Also known as the Hailey Bieber-helmed ‘glazed donut’ trend, which was a huge hit in 2022, these nails are set to be hot this year too. Classic and timeless, there are various ways in which this look can be rendered, such as silver-white chrome, fresh chrome or a subtle chrome if you aren’t a fan too much bling.

French Manicure

This classic style is set to be trendy again in 2023. French tips was a popular look at NYFW Spring/Summer 2023, with brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Sandy Liang featuring them. The French manicure continues to live its best life but instead of the usual cream or white, opt for bold, bright colours (such as the Pantone colours), chrome or ombré. Some wicked designs can be done using magnetic polish as well.

Barbiecore Nails

Who doesn’t love a splash of pink, especially during the season of love? And if this is your colour, live it up with hot pink on your nails as seen in shows from Batsheva and Pierpaolo Piccioli. And, with the Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling coming out in July, it’s a look that will probably catch on even more after that.

Retro Swirls

Swirls and bubble hearts make for the perfect Y2K manicure.

‘Clean Girl’ Nails

The ‘clean girl‘ aesthetic was a big beauty trend in 2022 and TikTok was brimming with such looks and tips on how to achieve them. This trend is set to move on to our nails in 2023. Minimal, short, well-groomed nails are in and you can pick a nude shade to accentuate this look. Your nails will look healthy and will require minimal maintenance, which makes it a winning trend for us.

3D Nails or Press-on Nails

This look has been spotted several times on rapper/singer Doja Cat and on the hit TV series Euphoria. Bold and big are two words associated with this look and you can glam it up with studs, gems or chains. This conceptual, space age, chunky 3D nail look is not hugely practical but will definitely get you noticed.

Lip Gloss Nails

A ‘lip gloss manicure’ can be achieved by using nude and pink shades of gel polish, as well as a super-glossy top coat, to achieve a lip gloss look - and trust us, the results are chic and timeless. Move over glazed donut, lip gloss nails are taking over!

Pearls and Bows

Infuse some vintage energy into your love-themed manicure with intricate pearls and bows. These nails should be a great way to attract that old-school kind of love you’ve always dreamed of, right?