It’s never too early to start thinking about prom! While prom dresses might be your main focus, it’s important not to forget the little details that will make your look stand out. The right nails round out an outfit, making everything feel more polished and look cohesive. Whether you like a simple nude look or want to take it to the next level with glitter and nail art, there’s a nail look that’s right for you. Here, we’re highlighting 24 gorgeous ideas for prom nails to help you get inspired.
Pink Prom Nails
Classic pink nails look lovely with any dress color!
Pink Rhinestone French Manicure
French manicures are a classic choice for any occasion, but if you’re looking for something a little more creative, try this pink rhinestone french manicure! Baby pink tips and scattered rhinestones take the French manicure to the next level and add sparkle and shine that will make you feel extra-glamorous.
Pink Gradient Nails
Love an ombré look? Then you’ll adore these pink gradient nails. Featuring bubblegum pink polish at the tips that fades into a sheer nude, these nails are soft-glam dream come true!
Dried Flower Nails
Looking for extra creative ideas for prom nails? You won’t need to bother with a corsage when your nails are already adorned with gorgeous dried flowers! Choose your favorite dainty flowers like Forget Me Nots or Baby’s Breath and apply them with your favorite white or clear nail glue. Once the dried flowers have been applied just add a glossy top coat to keep them in place.
Velvet Nails
Soft, supple, and shimmery, velvet is a classic choice for prom that will make you feel like a million bucks. To add some texture to a sleek satin prom dress, try a velvet manicure using magnetic gel polish to mimic the multi-dimensional surface of velvet fabric.
Pink and Green Nails
This pink and green look is perfect for spring. It’s playful and quirky, leaning into brighter colors for warmer weather. The bright swirls are a fun little statement that adds a touch of whimsy to your prom outfit.
Floral Nails
Featuring rich cranberry tones, floral nail art has never looked so sophisticated. Painted on a nude base to make the negative space pop, these nails would pair beautifully with a sleek burgundy or red prom dress (bonus points if it’s got ruffles, cutouts, strappy details, or a sexy high slit).
Bright Marbled Nails
Bright pink, coral, and ivory mix together to create a tropical, summery nail look. Marbled nails might look complicated, but they’re actually quite easy to do at home! You just need a dotting tool to drag through polish on a palette to get gorgeous marbling. Once you’ve made a marble swirl, you’ll gently transfer it with a nail art brush. There’s no one right way to do it, and each nail will be unique.
Silver Prom Nails
Shimmery silver is a great nail polish choice if you’re leaning into the mermaidcore trend or wearing a prom dress with cool tones. It’s also a stunning choice if you’re wearing a black prom dress.
Silver Half-Moon Nails
This silver half-moon nail design looks like a regular solid-color manicure until you get up close. Silver all over except for a half-moon of negative space at the nail bed helps to lengthen the look of the nail and add tons of shimmer and shine.
Silver Chrome French Tip Nails
Stunning silver nail tips turn this chrome French tip manicure into a bold, dramatic statement. Silver and sparkle are having something of a renaissance this prom season, and this dazzling look brings the drama with very little effort. All you need is some metallic silver polish and some matching rhinestones. Sparkle on!
Gold Prom Nails
Whether you go for gold glitter or a shiny gold metallic polish, glamorous gold is always a good choice for prom nails.
Bow Nails
This precious manicure is perfect for a balletcore prom outfit. Delicate gold bows elevate a chic French tip manicure to an even softer, daintier look. This manicure looks great with minimalist gold rings on your fingers, or you can forego hand jewelry entirely– the sweet little bows will stand out all on their own!
Gold Glitter Gradient Tips
Opulent and dramatic, gold glitter gradient nails are way easier to do than they look. Simply apply a generous layer of gold glitter polish to your tips, then use a thin nail tool to drag the glitter upwards towards your cuticle to create a gradient look.
Metallic Magenta and Gold Nails
This nail look combines sparkly gold glitter with metallic magenta for a glittery, glam look. Use a dotting tool to add starbursts for your own personal fireworks show.
White & Gold Geometric Manicure
Take inspiration from the art deco era with this white and gold geometric manicure. Inverted triangles of white and metallic gold polish meet in the middle of this nail look, almost mimicking a half-moon french manicure.
Minimalist Gold Foil Manicure
The star of this minimalist gold foil manicure is, you guessed it, the gold foil! So shiny it looks like gold leaf, the gold foil is a great substitute for glitter, and can be applied sparingly to create a subtle hint of glam shine.
Neutral Prom Nails
Neutral nail polish is elegant and sophisticated, and pairs well with any dress. It’s also very easy to customize to your liking!
Metallic Laurel Leaf Nails
Sprigs of gold laurel leaf make this nail look feel like it should be worn by a Grecian Goddess–which could be the inspiration for your prom look! If you love subtle contrast and mixing textures, this look is for you since it combines matte nude polish with metallic gold.
Vanilla Chrome Nails
We have got to stop using vanilla as a synonym for boring, and these nails are a perfect example of why! The creamy vanilla color is the perfect neutral accompaniment to your prom dress, and the little dots of chrome in the center of the flowers is just the right amount of bling.
Chocolate Glazed Nails
These chocolatey French tips are good enough to eat! Crisp stripes of neutral tones and a pearlescent polish create a delicious look that you can get at home. This is best done with gel polish and a striping brush; the narrow tip will help you achieve the perfect stripes.
Subtle Leopard Print Nails
Depending on your style, leopard print can feel overwhelming when there’s too much of it, which is why we love these modern subtle leopard print nails. Cutting across the nail on a bias, leopard print tips add a touch of sass without turning you into a walking zoo.
Pearl Accented Nails
Clean and elegant, pearl accent nails are a great way to elevate your favorite nude polish–and get in on this year’s pearlcore trend. Just glue a few small pearls to the border of your nail and you’ve got a sophisticated manicure fit for prom, or a wedding!
Pastel Prom Nails
These soft manis will look gorgeous with your dress!
Baby Blue Floral Nails
Love classic florals, but want something a bit more subtle? Go with this delicate baby blue floral nail design that feels like the essence of spring. If you love nude nails, this look is also a great option to take you a little outside of your comfort zone.
Rainbow Nail Tips
Put on a happy face with soft pastel rainbows on the ends of your nails! This cheerful mani can be customized to match the hues of your prom dress. These rainbow nails are perfect if you want a prom dress with a print, since you can match it to as many colors in the dress as you like. It’s also perfect for a monochrome dress, since you can pick complementary colors.
Green Flower Nail Art
Soft green flowers are perfect for a cottagecore prom look. They’re dainty, elegant, and easy to do; you make the petals and centers with a simple dotting tool. They’re a great way to add extra flair to your favorite neutral or translucent polish.
Blueberry Milk French Tips
Two shades of blue make this French tip manicure is a charming tonal design that’s bright and breezy. You’ll need a jelly polish and an opaque polish in complementary shades of blue. The key to this mani is nail prep; you want your nails to be completely smooth.
Pastel Polka Dots
Polka dots are always in, but to make them more prom-appropriate, we’re making them pastel! Simple but oh-so-fun, these pastel polka dot nails feel like a celebration all on their own!
Mismatched Flower Nails
Flower nails are perfect for prom–they’re like a bouquet you can carry well past the big night! This look takes inspiration from the Loving You Dusty Purple Floral Print Long Sleeve Wrap Maxi Dress–try the print on just one or two naked nails, aka: blank canvases, and mix and match with your favorite solid colors on the others!
Floral French Tips
This playful manicure takes the idea of a French tip and really lets it, well, bloom. Instead of a thin stripe, bright flowers sprout from the tips of your nails. You can choose your favorite colors and make your garden as tall you like.
Pastel Euphoria Nails
Who says you have to decide on one nail color? This manicure uses a different color for each finger, creating a pastel rainbow effect that’s unified by the tiny shining rhinestone at the base of each nail. Be sure to use a nail art brush instead of the basic brush that comes with the polish; it’s much easier to get the clean, graphic lines that way!
Which prom nails are you wearing for the big night? Show us on Instagram @lulus using #lovelulus! Still shopping for your perfect look? Shop affordable prom dresses in our Prom Shop!
This post was originally published in March 2022.
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