If you’re judging by the calendar, August is the tail end of summer. But if the (relentless, unending) heatwave is anything to go by, bright, joyful manicures aren’t going away anytime soon. In the wise words of Zara Larsson’s Midnight Sun, summer isn’t over yet.
As always at this time of year, we’ve had nail trends galore. But for 2026, a wave of clean, minimalistic designs has joined forces with the usual slew of bright, joyful colours – from sheer, neutral petal nails and soft ballet blush to milky pearly whites. Each is as low-maintenance as the last, so ideas for both flattering and practical August nails (read: they’re bound to attract compliments, not break the bank) are in no short supply.
Even better, many of our favourite trending manicures are easily recreated at home. With the likes of Anne Hathaway, Victoria Beckham, Cat Deeley and Hailey Bieber to thank for inspiration, ahead, find eight of the best August nail trends to bookmark now...
Petal nails
If Victoria Beckham originally kicked off the petal nail trend (cheers, Posh!), Vogue Williams made sure it’s here to stay this summer. Clean rounded almond shapes, which (funnily enough) emulate tiny flower petals, meet sheer, neutral washes of colour. The result? A sophisticated but understated set that’s destined for manicure minimalists who prefer to elevate their natural nails.
Careful, precise nail prep is essential for this one, so make (gentle) use of a cuticle pusher, nail file and hydrating cuticle oil to keep your petal nails looking healthy as ever.
essie Marshmallow
OPI Bubble Bath
Lychee nails
When Anne Hathaway speaks, we listen, obvs, but her nails did all the talking when she debuted the glossiest, juiciest lychee-inspired shade this July. For the month ahead, we’re bookmarking variations of these delicate, watercolour-esque hues of pink over white.
Lychee nails pair beautifully with a super high-shine, jelly-like topcoat and mid-length oval shapes. Work in layers when painting on your polish at home; one layer will offer a near-translucent hint of the hue, while two will create a slightly more opaque finish.
Kure Bazaar Fuji
Ballet blush
Hands up if you're sensing a theme here! ‘Ballet blush’ – a softly diffused, barely-there baby pink – has quickly emerged as one of the most universally flattering colours among the neutral nail movement. Tess Daly and Hannah Waddingham are just a few of the A-listers that have co-signed ballet blush nails – and for good reason.
Not only is this delicate shade the perfect way to embrace colour for summer without committing to brighter and bolder ones, it’s as strategic as it is flattering. Since blushed pinks look so similar to the natural nail, they’re pros at concealing regrowth and stretching time between salon trips. Sold? Us too.
Manucurist Active Blur
Nailberry Elegance
Pearly glaze
In case you missed it, chrome has had a seriously elegant update this summer. Glazed, metallic finishes are made instantly chicer and more eye-catching when an iridescent, pearly shimmer is added; see Amanda Holden for proof.
Pearly glaze nails (thankfully) look far more intricate than they are, so they're just as easily DIY'ed as any other trend. Look to milky white, creamy beige and crisp ivory polishes with a pearlescent glaze already swirled in. No one will be any the wiser...
essie Pearly White Shimmer
H&M Electric Pearl
Golden hour
Golden hour nails might just be the nail trend of all nail trends for August. As the name suggests, these are beautiful sunset-inspired gradients, often featuring warm oranges, deep pinks, glowy yellows and rich crimsons.
Think of it as aura nails, upgraded. At home, tiny nail sponges will be your saviour; simply dot each colour directly onto the nail before dabbing a sponge across the nail to seamlessly blend each hue together.
Dior Vernis Sunset
Sephora Collection Doll Pink
Manucurist Nail Art Sponges
Tomato red
One of the most unexpected celeb crossovers — when Cat Deeley and Kylie Jenner were spotted in matching nail colours— gave us the tomato red trend. The joyfully vibrant shade feels more seasonally appropriate than burgundy and more unique than berry, but as classic and refined as our staple reds.
Finish with a durable, chip-resistant top coat for a longer-lasting manicure, and a sheen that catches the light.
Chanel Le Vernis Incendiaire
& Other Stories Bright Tomato
Sorbet nails
Summer is the season for dreamy, playful hues but equally for over-indulging in ice cream. Combine the two and you get sorbet nails, which feel like the cool older sister of the jelly nail trend of yesteryear.
As for colours, the choice is entirely yours. Although you could draw inspiration from @nailperfectionbynatalie's pick-n-mix collage of pastel pinks, minty blues and pale lemon yellows.
Manucurist Glacé
essie Cactus Jelly
Cobalt blue
Hailey Bieber has officially put cobalt blue on our moodboards for our next nail appointment. But if you're looking to lean into the colour a little more cautiously, you can rarely go wrong with a French tip.
With a steady hand and an ultra-fine striping tool, recreating a French manicure is fairly manageable. But if you're short on time (or just incredibly uncoordinated, like me) Mylee's genius stamping tool does the heavy lifting for you. Swipe a small amount of your cobalt polish of choice into the centre, dip the edge of your fingertip into the silicone, et voilà!
Rimmel Danny Boy Blue
Mylee Santorini Rooftop
Mylee Stamp it Out Nail Stamper
Beauty Assistant Urmi works across Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, Red and Prima.
She fell into the world of beauty following a Masters in Magazine Journalism, and has been knee-deep in maximalist makeup, seasonal nail trends, and skincare myth-busting ever since. Both in and outside the office, she is best recognised by her signature red hair and elaborate set of acrylics.
