6 Maximalist Nail Designs For Your Next Manicure

So far, the style trends of the 2020s have been driven by a sense of minimalism. Subtle aesthetics like the quiet-luxury trend have infiltrated everything from our accessories to our outfits, but as we approach the middle of the decade, bolder styles are beginning to take over. Maximalist denim has been having a moment since 2023, label-free handbags have been replaced by novelty statement bags, and similarly over-the-top looks are dominating nail salons around the globe. 

To find out what kinds of eye-catching looks we're seeing in nail art right now, we chatted with Suzie from Nail Career Education. "Everything is BIG right now," she tells us exclusively. "Nails are not going to be left behind." While there's no limit on how wild the current manicure trends can get, Suzie, who often posts helpful content for nail techs on TikTok, confirms that the underlying theme tying them all together is 3D art that literally pops off the nail. The larger-than-life nail movement has been driven by celebrities like Saweetie and Cardi B popularizing extra-long, extravagant styles that fans are falling in love with. Practical or not, these extreme looks are here to stay. 

Obviously, few people are walking around with real diamonds on their nails, but stick-on diamantés will give your maximalist manicure the desired bejeweled effect. Suzie from Nail Career Education tells Glam exclusively that the diamond look is a recurring theme when it comes to maximalist styles. "3D art is definitely what these long talons demand," she says. While a single diamanté on each nail can perk up a minimalist manicure, going all out with bling on every finger will take the look into stunning Saweetie territory. 

As Suzie from Nail Career Education puts it in our exclusive chat, "chunky bows" are everywhere. Bows have been popular for a while now, popping up in the balletcore fashion aesthetic that ruled the last couple of years. You can keep the feminine theme going with pink bows combined with dainty pearls and neutral bases, as the 3D effect is what makes the look maximalist. Otherwise, you can give your "chunky bows" a different tone by playing around with your color palette. Black bows are a great fit for a spooky-season gothic vibe! 

As Miley Cyrus famously sings, it's officially time to "buy [yourself] flowers." Suzie from Nail Career Education tells Glam exclusively that florals are appearing everywhere as part of the current maximalist nail trends, but not in the way we're used to. We've seen 2D flower art before, but 3D flowers are fast becoming the new normal.

Whether you prefer one feature nail graced by 3D florals or you want to load up all your nails with this intricate artwork, anything goes when maximalism reigns supreme.

For those who feel that 3D nail art isn't extra enough, you can take it to the next step with chains and jewels that don't just pop off the nail, but dangle off, too. "Clearly not practical!" Suzie from Nail Career Education acknowledges in our exclusive conversation. "But that's just the point. It's a STATEMENT!" We can't confirm that these nails suit typing, cooking, or gardening, but they'll certainly catch the attention of any room. 

The happy medium between dangling chains and 3D nail art is pierced jewels, which Suzie from Nail Career Education says we should watch out for. She shares exclusively with Glam that this edgy style is one to adopt if your goal is to keep up with the maximalist trend. The idea isn't entirely new, either, with pierced nails being a major '90s manicure trend. You can combine this look with a neutral base to let the jewels speak for themselves, or you can pair your hardware with interesting color combos, like a marbled French manicure. 

As Suzie from Nail Care Education shares in our exclusive chat, we've yet to see celebrities bring together their super-long talons with the cat-eye effect, but she hopes that this otherworldly look will be huge. Put simply, cat-eye nails have a reflective, metallic line striped across them, kind of like a constricted cat's eye. When you combine them with metallic colors and a ton of chrome powder, you get a holographic, futuristic aesthetic that's guaranteed to make a statement. You heard it here first: Going for the cat-eye look is your chance to be a trend-setter.