We all know how it goes: April showers bring May flowers. But that shouldn’t end because it turns summer. In fact, I think florals—on your dresses, in your hair, and yup, on your nails—look the best when the weather heats up. Instead of the peonies and tulips of the spring, though, look toward hibiscuses, zinnias, lilies, and fuchsias. They’re bright and poppy, but won’t actually die in a few days like the ones sitting in a vase in your apartment.
My feed suddenly feels inundated with floral nail ideas now that we’re firmly into the warm weather, from kitschy doodles to bold 3D appliqués to airbrushed blooms. No matter what your nail art vibe is—simple designs or all-the-way maximalist—there’s something for you to try this season. Keep scrolling for a bunch of options to screenshot before your next nail appointment. Can’t wait to stream petal on repeat with these nails on, tbh.
3D Floral Nails
A 3D flower instantly makes this sunny yellow mani look tropical.
Y2K Floral Nails
These are the nail embodiment of my middle school bedroom, and for that, I am obsessed. The airbrush floral design on each finger takes me right back to getting a manicure with my mom.
Tropical Floral Nails
Listening to Zara Larsson on repeat? Same. Might as well get “Midnight Sun” nails too then.
Hibiscus Nails
These demure, lil hibiscus flowers instantly transport you to Hawaii, no matter where your actual summer vacation takes you.
Retro Floral Nails
These vintage-inspired flowers look so darling, especially with a matte top coat.
Rhinestone Floral Nails
Everyone say, “thank you, Dua Lipa, for this nail inspo.” But seriously, try a sparkly floral nail with this French mani with rhinestone flowers.
Spritz Season Nails
Just go ahead and skip spring and go straight to spritz season. Before my first limoncello of the season, maybe I’ll put it on my nails.
Groovy Floral Nails
The addition of royal blue and brown make this floral nail design a bit unexpected against all the other summery shades.
Puffy Petals
I wanna take a nap on one of these pillowy, 3D nail designs, complete with a mix of neon and primary colors that feel so summer-coded.
Farmer’s Market Nails
As if I needed any other excuse to spend my entire paycheck on the farmer’s market every Saturday, these nails—featuring a mix of flowers, strawberries, and yup, fish—just convinced me.
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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing nail stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
