Gabrielle Union's Blue Sky-Inspired Nails Are Quintessentially Summer - How To Pull Them Off Like Her

Actor Gabrielle Union-Wade shared photos of her latest manicure via Instagram on May 25, 2024, and they make for the perfect summer nails. The 51-year-old's sky-inspired nails are another Thuy Nguyen creation — the very nail artist responsible for Nicole Kidman's subtle French manicures – so it comes as no surprise that the "Bring It On" celeb's nails have sparked a dreamy new obsession.

Moreover, the "teeny little baby clouds," as Nguyen says in the comment section of her post, deserve all the attention here. For the "Love and Basketball" star's manicure, Nguyen painted the clouds a radiant white and they appear to be hand-painted rather than decal stickers. When painting your own billow of clouds, you can choose to paint them by hand or create fluffy clouds by dabbing lightly with a sponge. Ultimately, the goal is to create a scene reminiscent of sunny afternoons gazing up at the skies above, so when it comes to your specific cloud designs and decorations, the sky really is the limit.

If you've fallen as head over heels for the actor's turquoise blue mani as we have, then prepare to take some notes. The "Think Like A Man" star went for a deep turquoise polish underneath the brilliant white clouds, so reach for similar polishes to copy the look. You can even take it up a notch by adding stars and sparkles to accompany the clouds. Additionally, medium-length nails will work best here to help you capture the ultra-chic result.

Don't sweat it if you're in love with the idea of sky nails but lean toward lighter polishes. Blue sky-inspired nails look just as playful with a pale blue base. You can even play around with sheer polishes and several swipes of glitter. Adding a sparkly finish and barely-there clouds are sure to make your nails pop.

You can transform practically any manicure into an adorable short nail design, including Gabrielle Union-Wade's sky nails. When painting short nails, deciding on the right color is arguably the most important step. Go for a dark teal or turquoise, which will help the white cloud decorations stand out.

This minimalist sky manicure is one of the cutest French-tip nail designs you'll be obsessed with this summer. French tips are always a safe bet for those who prefer more subtle manis but still want to participate in all the latest trends. To combine a classic French look with sky nails, opt for a nude base and focus on adding fluffy cloud details at the tips. Add a sheer or ombré effect to keep it light and airy.

There's something magical about witnessing the sky change colors as the sun falls beyond the horizon. This summer, pay tribute to the pink-tinged hues of a summer evening with a sunset-inspired manicure. For this look, swap turquoise or teal hues for a softer shade, such as periwinkle blue. As one of the hottest trends for summer 2024 fashion, this muted blue is set to be one of the most highly anticipated shades.