Have you ever watched raindrops fall down a window, blurring everything on the other side into a soft, abstract picture? That’s essentially what a watercolor painting looks like—and that’s the mood nail artists are looking for in their manicures this rainy season. Watercolor nails echo the romance of Impressionist paintings and feature sheer, blended color that feels expressive and artistic, much like a swirl of arnibal settling into a glass of your favorite taho.
Nail artists are particularly excited about the trend, as it allows them to tap into their creative range fully. “I love watercolor nails and being able to use actual art supplies to create unique nail designs,” says Hadley Dunn, a nail artist based in Kentucky.
When San Sung Kim, a Korean nail artist, creates her watercolor nails, she starts with a cat-eye base, as its light-shifting shimmer particles make the finished look more dynamic. “I have been working with velvet polishes since the beginning of my nail journey, and I always try to come up with fresh new takes,” she previously told Allure, noting that colorful swirl candies inspire her take on watercolor nails.
Courtesy of @sansungnails
Courtesy of @sansungnails
Kim then uses a nail art marker (a felt-tip pen filled with polish) to paint swirls and patches in varying sizes, before taking a wet nail brush to blur her hand-painted design for a realistic watercolor look. The result? A dreamy manicure that would feel at home next to paintings by Monet and Renoir.
Some nail artists, like New York City-based Natalia Mercedes, prefer using an airbrush to achieve watercolor paint’s signature blend. “It’s similar to how aura nails are created with an airbrush,” Mercedes says, noting that she uses polish formulated specifically for the tool (like the polishes from Favai) and builds color in sheer, controlled layers.
With color theory in mind, each shade subtly shifts the one beneath it: “When I layer yellow over blue, I get a bit of green, and that’s what creates that seamless, diffused effect,” Mercedes adds. To keep the layering intentional rather than muddy, she lightly cures each layer before adding the next.
Annie Ngo, a nail artist in Atlanta, uses a more unconventional method: dabbing eye shadow pigments onto the nail in layers to achieve the watercolor effect. Ngo coats each nail with a matte primer, which creates a smooth base, before buffing the powder across the surface with a nail sponge. She does this with multiple colors, allowing them to overlap at the edges to create a beautifully blurred look, then seals it with a glossy top coat.
No matter how it’s achieved, it’s undeniable that the soft, dreamy nail look is one we’ll be seeing everywhere this rainy season. Ahead, collect inspo for your watercolor manicure.
Bright watercolor nails
Courtesy of @kimkimnails crop
Courtesy of @karin.nailedit
Courtesy of @donebyhadleydunn
Jewel-toned watercolor nails
Courtesy of @d_summons_thee
Courtesy of @deesummonsthee
Floral watercolor nails
Flowers aren’t just nice to look at; they’re also great as decorations for your fingertips, and they’re a sight to see, especially during the rainy season. Lean into the soft white and green washes of the sampaguita and the warm, coral pink blends of the gumamela for a more Filipino-inspired nail look. It’s the same blurred, wet-brush technique, but with a more familiar selection.
Courtesy of @bees.knees.nails
Courtesy of @bexbeautynails
Watercolor fruit nails
In a country like ours, having fruits like mango and watermelon seems like the best way to usher in summer! Take inspiration from the soft washes of golden-yellow from mango; red, white, and green from watermelon; and your nails will be just as juicy.
Courtesy of @jazzynails.x
Courtesy of @nailsbyninn crop
Milky watercolor nails
Courtesy of @friskynails
Rainbow watercolor nails
Courtesy of @thehaloeffectbyangel
One thing worth keeping in mind is if you’re bringing this inspo to your next nail appointment: the thin, translucent layers that make these watercolor nails so dreamy might smudge or lift in our humid climate. Ask your nail tech to fully cure each layer before adding the next, and consider layering gel over regular lacquer to make it last longer.
