Popsicle Nails Are The Sweetest Treat For Summer 2024 Manicures

Syrupy-sweet popsicle nails are summer 2024's most irresistible manicure trend. This year, we're moving on from pastel sorbet polishes and reaching for loud, head-turning shades. These warm weather nails call for bold colors, including blood orange and candy apple red, as they take inspiration from carefree, popsicle-stained lips. Juicy reds, purples, blues, and pinks fall right in line for this theme, and a high-shine lacquer wouldn't be remiss here either. 

What's more, editorial nail artist Jin Soon Choi tells Byrdie that a "hot orange-red shade with a translucent finish" will be the shade throughout the season. "It's vibrant and lively, capturing the essence of summer unlike anything else," she adds. You can never go wrong with classic nail polish colors, such as hot pink and warm red, so choosing the right shade is the easy part. Any bright, snow cone-worthy hue works perfectly for this look, as long as you go for a unique design and top if off with a glossy finish that glitters under the sun.

Metallic chrome nails are such a trendy look right now and they suit virtually any color, including blood orange or neon tangerine. Reflective chrome manis are stunning enough on their own, but combining it with a daring shade like blood orange takes this look over the top. Chrome nails also tiptoe the line between minimalist and maximalist nail designs, so they look especially sweet as a fun summer manicure idea for short nails.

When popsicle-stained lips come to mind, it's almost impossible not to think of the gradient-like palette of melting popsicles and slushies. Embrace the rainbow with the paint chip nails trend and get creative with tasty ice cold tones, such as pink, orange, and purple. You can also add an ombré element to the mix with a pink-orange gradient nail design.

Whimsical aura nails are one of the major nail trends for 2024, and they add an ethereal touch to the popsicle-stained mani trend. Stacking your trends in a coherent way is an art form, but these dreamy jelly nails make it a piece of cake. This design suits any of the approved popsicle nail colors, but it looks especially sweet in a rose petal pink.

Colorful French manicures are the perfect blend of bright summer shades and neutral nail trends, making them an excellent popsicle nail design. For this look, don't be afraid to throw in some blue and yellow, as they're essential for a true rainbow-inspired mani. Opt for alternating colors — one per nail — or go for a two-toned French tip look to make it abstract. Regardless of which design you choose, you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone who isn't obsessed with these summer French-tip nails.

Candy apple red nails look good enough to eat, which stays true to the theme and looks absolutely fabulous. After all, bright red nails bring to mind feelings of passion and confidence, according to the TikTok red nail theory. This vivid candy red hue is perfect for summer date nights and holiday clubbing with the girls.