Polka Dot Nails Are the Vintage Manicure Trend You Need to Try

Is it just me or is everyone vacationing in Italy again? For the past few years, we’ve been obsessed with all things Italian summer: tomato girls with their flushed cheeks and lips, effortlessly glamorous Italian bobs tied with printed silk scarves, and equally retro outfits to match. This summer, though, we’ve traded gingham capris for polka dot prints—and now nails are following suit.

Seemingly overnight, cheerful little dots began popping up on nail trendsetters like Hailey Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter. Their shared nail artist, Zola Ganzorigt, says celebrities have been embracing the motif lately, interpreting it in their own unique way. Bieber’s spots were topped with her signature glaze, while Carpenter’s recent set included cheeky little rhinestones, perfectly matching her glamour-girl-with-a-twist persona. “They really love the look,” Ganzorigt says. “It’s playful, unexpected, and adds a fun element to a neutral nail.”

Rita Remark, manicurist and Essie global ambassador, attributes the popularity of the polka dot manicure to how well it works with so many aesthetics. You can go full Italian summer with a red and white palette, coquettish with pinks, or French-ified with classic black and white.

Elle Gerstein, a New York City-based nail artist, says, “The look feels fresh every time, whether done in bold colors or soft neutrals, micro-dots or oversized ones.”

As I write this, my nails are sheer with white dots, inspired by Carpenter’s go-to look. On Cardi B, nail artist Coca Michelle crafted an exaggerated black-and-white polka dot look. Ganzorigt has also done a few different versions for Bieber, including a lemon yellow polka dot manicure that’s ideal for lounging on a yacht in the Mediterranean. The vibes are all different—and they are all delightful.

Polka dot nails and their spiritual sibling, the equally carefree and cute micro-fruit manicure, have experienced an uptick in popularity this season, making it clear we’re not ready to leave the Italian Riviera anytime soon. Each trend features designs that are small in scale and exude a vintage charm, making them feel especially sweet and summery. “Last year’s tomato girl aesthetic brought us bold reds, linen textures, and a romantic Mediterranean vibe,” says Gerstein. “This year, polka dots feel like a continuation of that story. They’re still nostalgic, rooted in vintage femininity, but have a slightly cheekier twist.”

Mazz Hanna, a manicurist and CEO of the boutique talent agency Nailing Hollywood, further defines that twist: “The way people are wearing dots now—with minimal spacing, muted colors, or just a few accents—makes them feel current,” she says.

The nail world has been inundated with milky manicures, soap nails, and glossy sheers for the last few years. But the emergence of polka dots could be a sign that the tide is shifting back to something more playful. “The clean-girl, glazed donut, and neutral manis will always be on trend,” says Gerstein. “But I think people are craving more personality and fun in their nails again.”

She’s noticed a return to nail maximalism, with ombré, cat-eye, color blocking, smiley faces, and cherries being dominant themes. “Nail art is becoming more expressive again,” Gerstein continues. “I’m loving anything that feels like a wink—graphic shapes, mix-and-match designs, and art that tells a little story. People have always used their nails to show personality.”

How to get polka dot nails at home

“All you need is a dotting tool,” advises Ganzorigt. Dotting tools are widely available and inexpensive, but a toothpick or bobby pin can also work. To create your dots, Hanna recommends dipping your tool of choice into polish and lightly pressing during application to make the dot shape. “Less pressure gives smaller dots, more pressure gives bigger ones,” she advises. “Let the base color dry fully first to avoid smudging. If you want clean placement, start with one dot in the center, and build out from there.”

Polka dot nail inspiration

Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of the most colorful, cheeky, and classic polka dot manicures to inspire your next summer set.

Vintage-inspired polka dot nails

Colorful polka dot nails

Sparkling polka dot nails

Black and white polka dot nails with ladybugs

Black and white polka dot nails

Mismatched polka dot nails

Polka dot nail polish ideas

You’ve got an infinite palette to work from, as polka dot nails can be subtle and sheer or bright and colorful. “What I love about the trend is that there’s no right or wrong color,” Ganzorigt says. Hanna likes “unexpected” color combos like cream and chocolate brown, lavender and pale gray, and matte black over a neutral. “Even a glossy, clear base with tonal dots, like blush on blush, can give the effect without looking too bold,” she says.

Cream and brown

Orly Breathable Nail Lacquer in Fall Mind Body Spirit + Zoya Nail Lacquer in Gina

Lavender and gray

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Chill in the Heir + OPI Nail Lacquer in Suzi Talks With Her Hands

Matte black and nude

OPI Black Onyx + Sally Hansen Big Matte Top Coat + OPI Infinite Shine 2 in Dulce de Leche

Glossy Base and Blush

Sally Hansen Repair + Rescue Super Strength Defense + CuCo Nail Polish Blush Hour 

Meet the experts:

Zola Ganzorigt is a manicurist based in Los Angeles.

Rita Remark is a manicurist and Essie global ambassador based in New York City.

Elle Gerstein is a manicurist based in New York City.

Mazz Hanna is a manicurist and CEO of Nailing Hollywood, a boutique talent agency based in Los Angeles.