Nail designs 2025 – The most beautiful trends

The year 2025 will showcase exciting, creative, and surprisingly wearable nail trends. Whether you do your own nails or regularly visit a nail salon, these 2025 nail designs are guaranteed to keep you on trend. We'll show you the most sought-after looks, colors, and techniques for modern nails with a wow factor.

1. Glazed Donut Nails – still trending

What began in 2023 will continue into 2025: Glazed nails with a chrome-gloss finish remain extremely popular – especially in milky white , champagne , rosé , or with a delicate holographic shimmer . Ideal for a clean, elegant look.

Instructions: Glazed Donut Nails

What you need:

• primer

• Sheer nude or milky-rosé gel/varnish

• Chrome Powder (e.g. Pearl or Holo)

• Applicator (e.g. eyeshadow sponge)

• Sealant (without a sticky layer or cleanser)

Here's how:

1. Preparing nails:
   File nails, buff them to a matte finish, push back cuticles and apply a base coat – allow to harden thoroughly.

2. Color application:
   Apply one or two thin layers of a sheer rose or milky nude shade . Allow to set.

3. Apply Chrome Powder:
   Use a non-sticky top gel or cure the top coat, then rub in the Chrome Powder with the applicator – buff gently for a mirror-like shine.

4. Seal:
   Finally, apply a layer of top coat and let it cure thoroughly. This will ensure the glazed look lasts perfectly.

Tip: For the typical “donut glaze” effect, a pearl white chrome powder on a milky nude base is particularly suitable.

2. Color Splash: Colorful statement nails

Bold colors like electric blue , neon pink , or lime green will make a bold statement in 2025. Multicolor looks , where each nail is a different color, will be especially popular – often combined with a matte finish .

Instructions: Colour Splash Nails

What you need:

• primer

• Several colored nail polishes or UV gels in bright colors (e.g., pink, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange)

• brush or applicator

• Sealant (glossy or matte – depending on the desired finish)

Here's how:

1. Preparation:
   Prepare nails as usual: file, buff, push back cuticles and degrease.

2. Apply primer:
   Protects the natural nail and ensures better durability – cure thoroughly.

3. Select colors:
   Choose 5-10 bold colors – depending on the look, you can distribute them differently on each hand or mirror them.

4. Paint your nails:
   Paint each nail a different color – ensure even coverage. You may need to apply two coats, curing between coats.

5. Finish:
   Seal – glossy for a bold pop look or matte for a trendy statement.

Tip: For an extra kick, you can also combine neon colors or color blocking with stickers!

3. Cat Eye 2.0 – now with movement

Cat-eye nails are getting a real upgrade in 2025: Thanks to new 3D magnetic gels , designs can be created that visibly change when the hand is turned. Galaxy effects with a black or dark blue base are particularly trendy.

Instructions: Cat Eye 2.0 Nails

What you need:

• Cat Eye Gel (magnetic) – preferably in dark shades such as black, blue or purple

• Magnetic wand (Cat Eye Magnet)

• primer

• Optional: black colored gel as a base

• Sealant (glossy)

Here's how:

1. Preparation:
   Prepare nails, file, buff and prime – allow to cure thoroughly.

2. Apply a dark base (optional):
   For greater depth, use a black color gel as a base – allow to cure.

3. Apply Cat Eye Gel:
   Apply a medium layer of Cat Eye Gel evenly – do not let it harden!

4. Apply magnet:
   Hold the magnet close to the nail for approximately 5–10 seconds (without making contact) to create the typical light reflection or 3D effect. Depending on the position, a different effect will result (diagonal, curved, halo, etc.).

5. Curing:
   Allow the desired look to set briefly, then cure completely under the UV/LED lamp.

6. Apply top coat:
   Seal with a top coat for brilliant shine – and your Cat Eye 2.0 look is complete!

Tip: The darker the background, the more intense the magnetic effect. You can also keep the magnet moving to create dynamic effects (“Galaxy Look”).

4. 3D nail art & texture effects

From laced nails and pearl embellishments to embossed patterns : 3D nail designs are taking over salons. Those who prefer a more subtle look can opt for soft embossing , i.e., raised patterns in a gel look, tone-on-tone.

Instructions: 3D nail art & texture effects

What you need:

• Builder gel or special 3D gel (e.g. Sculpture Gel)

• Nail art brush or spot swirl

• Color gel or varnish as a base

• Optional: Pearls, rhinestones , 3D stencils, modeling gel

• Top coat (glossy or matte)

Here's how:

1. Design the surface:
   Prepare nails and paint with your desired base color . Allow to cure thoroughly.

2. Building structures:
   Using thick gel or 3D gel, draw fine patterns, lines or motifs directly onto the nail – e.g. waves, laces, flowers or lacing.

3. Curing:
   Cure each 3D element individually to prevent smudging. Use UV/LED according to the gel instructions.

4. Decorate (optional):
   You can insert mini pearls, rhinestones or foils into the still-wet gel – this creates an even greater 3D effect.

5. Seal:
   For raised patterns, it may be advisable to work without a top coat to preserve the effect – otherwise, carefully seal only around the structure.

Tip: Embossed designs (tone-on-tone, e.g. in white or nude) are ideal for beginners – subtle, but impressive!

5. Frozen Nails – cool pastel effects

Icy designs with glitter , pastel white , frost finish , and transparent gels make nails look frozen – an elegant trend, especially for winter looks. Combined with silver flakes or sugar dust, they're simply gorgeous!

Instructions: Frozen Nails

What you need:

• Base Coat

• Colored gel or nail polish in ice blue, milky white or silver

• Glitter or flakes (e.g., snowflake glitter, holo-dust)

• Optional: Snow effect powder or sugar effect gel

• Top coat – preferably with a high-gloss finish

Here's how:

1. Preparation:
   Prepare nails: file, buff, push back cuticles and degrease.

2. Apply base color:
   Choose an icy shade – for example, frosty light blue, pearly white, or delicate silver. Apply 1–2 thin coats and allow to cure.

3. Incorporate effects:
   After hardening:

   • Sprinkle on fine glitter or flakes , or work them in selectively with a brush.

   • For 3D frost effects: work snow effect powder into moist gel or paint on sugar gel.

4. Seal:
   Seal everything with a glossy top coat . For a strong 3D effect, apply a second coat if necessary.

Tip: The look is particularly beautiful when combined with transparent areas and small, subtle snowflake motifs.

6. Clean Girl Nails – well-groomed & minimalist

The counter-trend to eye-catching nail art: natural, lightly tinted nails with nude colors , subtle shine , and a perfect almond shape . Clean Girl Nails embody self-care and understatement at its finest.

Tutorial: Clean Girl Nails

What you need:

• Fine file & buffer

• cuticle oil

• Base Coat

• Sheer nude or rosé polish (e.g. milky pink, soft beige)

• Glossy Top Coat

Here's how:

1. Preparation:
   File nails into a natural oval or almond shape. Gently push back the cuticles and buff the nail surface to a soft, smooth finish .

2. Care:
   Treat your cuticles with a little nail oil – for extra shine and a healthy nail bed. Allow the oil to absorb completely before applying nail polish or remove it.

3. Apply base coat:
   Protects the natural nail and ensures better durability. Cures.

4. Color:
   Apply 1-2 thin layers of sheer nude or rosé . Important: Not opaque! The look should remain delicate and translucent. Set.

5. Top Coat:
   Finally, apply a layer of glossy top coat for the typical "glass skin" effect on the nails. Cure.

Tip: Less is more – this look thrives on well-groomed hands and understated elegance . Perfect for everyday wear, the office, or date night.

7. Geometry & Negative Space

2025 is also the year for clean lines: triangles, rectangles, or minimalist arches on a transparent base create a modern, artistic nail design. Especially stylish in black and white or gold and nude combinations.

Instructions: Geometry & Negative Space Nails

What you need:

• Base Coat

• Nude or transparent gel/polish base

• Nail art brush or thin brush

• Paint (e.g., black, white, gold)

• Possibly nail art tape or stencils

• Top Coat

Here's how:

1. Preparing nails:
   File nails, push back cuticles, buff the surface and clean thoroughly.

2. Base coat & substrate:
   Apply a base coat and cure. Then apply a layer of nude or transparent polish – cure thoroughly.

3. Cover design with masking tape (optional):
   For particularly precise lines, use nail art tape or mask off the desired areas that should remain "negative".

4. Designing geometric shapes:
   Use a fine brush to paint lines, triangles, semicircles or rectangles – contrasts in black, white or metallic look particularly beautiful.

5. Correct & harden:
   Correct small imperfections with a thin brush. Allow to cure in between.

6. Apply top coat:
   Don't forget to seal it! A glossy or matte top coat protects the design and ensures a perfect finish.

Tip: Less is more! Negative space thrives on contrast – deliberately leave empty areas.

Conclusion: 2025 is creative, sophisticated, and self-confident.

Whether minimalist chic or a creative work of art – nail designs in 2025 offer the perfect inspiration for every style. Those who dare can combine different techniques – for example, glazed chrome with 3D elements or cat eye with color effects .

Whether you want to do it yourself or provide your nail designer with ideas – in 2025 there are no limits to your creativity!