25 best July nail ideas for a fresh, glossy manicure upgrade this summer

July, to me, has always felt like the year is finally exhaling (read: breathing a sigh of relief). June is all admin; I'm talking the frantic booking of holidays, group chats chasing deposits you don't have and the annual discovery of expired SPF. But July? July is all warm shoulders, condensation running down an Aperol glass and the completely irrational desire to become the sort of person who owns a raffia basket bag (though, full disclosure: I had already purchased one by the second heatwave).

Now, as a beauty enthusiast, my brain, naturally, translates all of this into nail ideas. Because if January’s wellness spurt is for sensible neutrals and April’s showers are all about spring florals, then July’s sun, sea and spritz-fuelled spontaneity gives us full permission to be delightfully impractical – much like my entirely unnecessary (but deeply cherished) raffia basket bag.

This is the month for glossy finishes, colours stolen from fruit stalls and beach towels, and designs that feel as joyful as a certain woven accessory finally arriving in the post... OK, I'll stop with the raffia bag mentions...

Ahead, you can find all the July nail inspo you could ever need – from peachy-toned sets to nails inspired by Zara Larson, we've got it all. Happy painting!