Everyone’s swapping pale blues for denim-inspired nails this spring. Need proof? It was the top-clicked trend in our April nail colors story—so yeah, you’re into it. And we get why: It’s neither too bright nor too muted, but still has an eye-catching, laid-back vibe. Sound familiar? It should. Faded denim nails channel the same cool, effortless energy as your favorite pair of jeans.
We’re seeing denim-inspired manis pop up all over our social feeds lately, so we rounded up some of our favorite looks. (Finally, a nail trend that isn't named after a food or a drink!) We curated the blue nail polishes—and found the perfect set of press-ons for a denim French— you’ll need to recreate the look at home, should the creative juices get to flowing.
A reliable medium wash
These denim French press-ons
A distressed, sun-bleached wash
This studded denim-inspired look
This ombré light to dark wash mani
This polka dot dark wash-light wash pattern
This retro tri-color wave pattern
Polishes for DIY denim nail art
These denim nail art looks are achieved using a spectrum of cool, muted blue hues that resemble denim washes, ranging from a faded light to a vintage medium to a dark indigo.
Essie’s Ripple Reflect is closest to my go-to pair. Londontown’s Hot Spring is a brighter, spring-ready light wash hue, and Cirque Colors’s Sheer Jelly Polish in Morningtide is like a Y2K faded wash. For a subtle shimmery twist, try ILNP’s Low Rise or Sally Hansen’s Distressed Denim.
Anvita Reddy (she/her) is a Commerce Editor at Hearst Magazines. She contributes commerce content across Hearst’s portfolio, including Elle, Harper's Baazar, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Cosmopolitan, House Beautiful, and more. She has over four years of experience in the commerce space, including writing detailed first-person product reviews, trend and best-of round-ups, deals and sales coverage, and more. Previously, she was an assistant editor for PS Shopping, covering beauty, home and kitchen, fashion, tech, travel, wellness, and lifestyle. In her free time, you can find her catching up on everything from reality TV to reruns of classic sitcoms, testing out viral beauty products, sharpening her cooking skills, working out, or traveling.
