In case you missed it, polka dots have dominated fashion as of late, and the playful print has made its way onto our manicures with no signs of slowing down for fall. The dotted design keeps gracing the nails of our fave celeb beauty muses like Sabrina Carpenter, Hailey Bieber, and Dua Lipa.
Polka dot nails are chic and surprisingly simple to DIY—all you really need is two polishes and a dotting tool (like a bobby pin). But, there’s more to this manicure than basic dots. Think negative space French mani tips, contrasting color pairings, or designing each nail completely different.
Whether you’re booking a salon appointment or trying it at home, I found all the polka dot inspo you’ll ever need.
Classic Polka Dot Nails
Okay, you really can’t go wrong with classic polka dots. Choose your favorite light base coat and dab on your darker color of choice. Or opt for some polka dot press-ons from our fave brands like Quickies and Chillhouse.
Multi-Color Polka Dot Nails
If you want something a little more funky, try opting for colorful polka dots. You can use any color combo, and even add some accent nails. There’s really no wrong way to execute this colorful mani.
Reverse Polka Dot Nails
This is probably my favorite iteration of polka dots nails. Choose your two fave contrasting colors, and use one as the base coat on one hand, and switch it for the other! It’s so simple, yet elevates the manicure immensely.
French Polka Dot Nails
I’m completely obsessed with Dua Lipa’s dotted take on French nails. You can even add some specks over the entire nail, or keep it within the tip. You decide!
Mix ‘n Match Polka Dot Nails
If you want your nails to look elevated and intricate with a design as easy as dots, try making every nail different! The elaborate design looks like it took hours, but it’s basically the same as a classic polka dot look.
Glazed Polka Dot Nails
Metallic Polka Dot Nails
Yes, you can even use tiny crystals or rhinestones in lieu of dotting on small circles with polish. It’s super chic, and requires less drying time!
Micro Polka Dot Nails
These teeny tiny dots are so cute and dainty. You might need to use the back of a pin for these, but we think the precision is so worth the final manicure. Minimal yet elevated.
Aura Polka Dot Nails
Combining polka dots and aura nails is an unfailing design combo.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
