Claudia WilliamsYou don’t need to visit the salon in order to have gorgeous natural nails. Neutral shades are becoming more and more popular these days with colors that are more delicate, cream and translucent. There are a variety of benefits to wearing neutral polishes. Since neutral polish tends to fade into your skin tone, they actually show fewer chips, scratches or dings. This allows you to stretch your manicure a little further than if you wear bolder and brighter colors.
Neutral nails go perfectly with any outfit. Whether you have a special event to attend or a regular day at work, you don’t have to worry about switching out your manicure to fit your outfit. If you want to add fun nail art like rhinestones, cute designs or accents, a neutral shade is the perfect canvas creating a chic finish look.
49+ Best Natural Nail Ideas Anyone Can Do From Home
Painting your nails from home can be so much fun, not to mention easy on your bank account, am I right? It’s a fun way to add a dash of color to your look and keep you looking (and feeling) well-groomed. I love that you can also incorporate fun trendy designs that express your own unique style. Not only do you get to save money doing your own nails from home, but also you save so much time! So even if you aren’t a huge fan of bright colors on your nails, just know that there are literally thousands of shades out there that will best fit your style and personality!
When choosing the perfect natural shade, follow these tips: If you have a lighter skin tone, go for a pinkish nude polish and try to avoid beige or burgundy nails. If you have medium-toned skin, try to go for a beige or nude with a pink undertone. Darker skin tones should try neutral shades in pastels or pinks. Luckily, pinks tend to work for every skin tone. Do a little experimenting to determine your perfect natural nail colors. Nude, natural nails are always in style no matter what the season, which is why I’m sharing 50 must-try designs that are perfect for those who are opting for more subtle, yet sophisticated designs.
1. French Manicure with Highbrow Highlights
Elevate a basic French manicure with almond tips and gold nail accents. You don’t have to do a lot to make this classic nail design your own. These ultra-fine gold lines will have you feeling like a goddess. The combination of shiny and matte nail details makes this look even more alluring. Just slap on a few of your favorite rings, and you should be good as gold.
2. Short Nude Nails with Shimmer and Snowflakes
This shimmery yet short mani is a seasonal delight. A gentle dusting of pearly white glitter helps to accentuate the beauty of the nude base coat. Fine-lined snowflake overlays have us dreaming of hot cocoa and ski slopes. Winter is the perfect season to ditch the bold colors and long acrylics.
3. Almost Nude Nails with Silver-Crusted Cuticles
Show off those naturally healthy nail beds with this gorgeous reverse French mani. Mid-sized almond nails are the perfect backdrop for milky nude polish and rose gold cuticle accents. This shimmery look is an excellent option for the upcoming holiday season.
4. Sophisticated Nude Nails with Golden Cuticles
Check out the soft satin finish on these nude nails. The almond-shaped foundations are subtle yet sophisticated. The cuticles are overlaid with strips of decadent gold dots. The subtle embellishments give the nail beds a healthy appearance. This French tip manicure alternative will help you refresh your nail game this holiday season.
5. Polka Dots for the Holly Days
This office-friendly holiday nail design features nude base coats, tiny white polka dots, and holly berry accents. The seasonal elements come together perfectly. We love that this cropped mani allows us to rock lots of embellishments without having to fret over nail breakage. After all, you’re going to need your fingers for all those upcoming present wrapping and cookie decorating sessions. This is a great alternative to stiletto nails.
6. A Flattering Nude Nail Polish Shade
A soft peach neutral nail polish instantly gives off that fancy, sophisticated look without even trying too hard. It’s such a practical color to always have on hand because you can wear virtually anything and your natural nails will complete the look. This is the perfect shade for any event, season or holiday no matter how casual or formal the occasion.
7. The World-Renowned French Tip Manicure
Everyone loves a simple feminine and elegant French manicure. This beautiful look was inspired by the upper-class French ladies of Paris back in the 1930s who wanted a natural and clean look. It’s such a sophisticated style that can be achieved with a translucent pink or beige base color and white for the tips. The French manicure is the paradigm of glamorous nails.
8. Embellished & Chic Natural Nail Art DIY
This dazzling and super cool nail art trend is a must-try! There are a variety of ways to add a luxurious look to your nails, but these embellished jewels are the perfect nail accessory, not to mention completely stunning. To achieve this look, first paint your nails a natural color and then top it off by adding embellished gems with nail glue and a nail art strip/sticker. You can find these embellishments and nail stickers at just about any retailer near you, so this look is very easily achievable right from home!
9. A High-Shine Gel Finish Manicure at Home
When wanting to achieve that high-shine gel manicure from home, look for a polish that features 7 amazing products all in one: a base coat, strengthener, color, gel-like finish (without the use of a lamp), shine, top coat, and protection. This particular natural nail design features a French tip using a pearl-like color coat for a gorgeous and glamorous look.
10. Simple Accent Nail with Studded Detailing
When clear polish just isn’t cutting it, add a little nail art to your nude nail polish. These studded rhinestones designed for nail art will add dimension and texture to your nails. The general rule of thumb here when wanting to still maintain a natural nail look is to use these embellishments on one accent finger.
11. The It-Girl Color For All Seasons
A clean white nail polish looks fresh and airy in the summer months and classy during the winter months. White nails are perfect for all occasions whether for work or a night out on the town. So many celebrities have been spotted on the red carpet this year wearing a fresh coat of white lacquer making it a staple for year-round wear.
12. Textured Nail Art in Your Favorite Patterns
Take your manicure to the next dimension with some added texture this season. Not only do you get to play with the texture on your natural nails, but also you get to style your nails in your favorite shapes and patterns. This nude blush polish is the perfect color to add in the textured rose design.
13. Go Nude with a Basic Base Coat
Applying a base nail strengthener has so many advantages. It’s a perfect product for weak nails as it prevents breakage while also delivering nutrients to help your nails grow. For increased results, apply a base nail strengthener a few times a week and with every new manicure as a base coat. What I love the most is that this simple base coat can be worn alone for a more natural nail idea or underneath your favorite polish.
14. Easy Ombré Nail Trends Everyone Loves
This white and pink ombré natural nail idea is easier to achieve than one may think. It’s such a classic, new take on the traditional French manicure. To get this look from home, simply paint your nails a soft pink and let dry. Place a small amount of white nail polish onto a makeup sponge and simply blot it on the tips for that ombré finish.
15. Flirty & Feminine For All Skin Tones
Provide endless wear and longevity with this gel nail polish. The soft mix between gray and white makes it the perfect pick for anyone looking for feminine, natural nails. The benefits of using gel polish are the longevity it provides, the added protection, the fact that it is quick to dry and the look and feel of natural nails since it’s applied in thin layers, allowing the nails to easily bend and flex.
16. Keeping It Natural with Pale Pinks
While bright polishes are currently on trend, there’s something about a light pink polish that keeps us coming back all year long. This pale pink color is so clean, timeless and the closest thing you’ll get to natural nails. There are literally hundreds of soft pinks on the market in a variety of shades, so finding the perfect one for your skin tone won’t be difficult.
17. A Minimalist French Tip For Any Occasion
This minimalist approach to the French manicure is known as the thin line French manicure. It is such an effortless, yet elegant manicure that can be worn casually for everyday activities or glammed up for a wedding or special event. Achieve this look easily with a coat of nude polish and swiping a thin brush to the tips.
18. Modern Meets Feminine with This Natural Nail Idea
If you’re looking for a manicure that’s always in style, try a nude nail polish. A nude manicure looks crisp, elegant, feminine and well-groomed and the fact that if they chip it’s barely noticeable is a huge plus. The key to picking out the perfect neutral shade is to go a shade lighter than your skin tone. This will help brighten up your hands as well.
19. A Sheer, Low Maintenance Manicure
What could possibly be better than having a simple, low maintenance manicure? You truly have the best of both worlds if you’re wanting natural nails but still crave that polished feel, which is why this sheer polish is a precious commodity. This high-gloss finish of this translucent manicure provides flawless coverage and outstanding durability.
20. The Perfect Shade of Nude
Finding the perfect neutral nail polish for your skin tone can be a daunting task; however, there is a perfect nude out there for everyone. A natural beige shade like the one pictured is great for those with slight yellow undertones. An opaque, light pink shade is perfect for medium-toned skin and a khaki or olive nude is the perfect natural polish for medium to dark complexions.
21. A Floral Accent Nail to Add Contrast
Spice up your next manicure with a beautiful floral accent nail with added embellishments. This taupe, French tip blend manicure is so classic and sophisticated. Pairing it with a white floral design on the ring finger with simple gold studs adds such a unique look to this creative natural nail art design.
22. The Clear Nails Trend is the Next Big Thing
The look of transparent nails are totally awesome and on trend this year. Even though they may seem pretty basic, they really do enhance your natural nails giving them such a sophisticated and elegant look. This is a natural nail art design that will never go out of style, which is why everyone can and should try this popular trend.
23. Classic Almond Natural Nail Design
These barely there, neutral nails are the epitome of stylish, trendy and chic. Bright colored manicures aren’t for everyone, and sometimes you just want your nails to look polished but still natural. This beautiful almond nail shape is becoming more and more popular. It also looks great on both short and long nails, so it’s a total win overall!
24. A Subtle, Yet Sophisticated Nail Design
This all-natural nail idea is subtle and low key, but also classy and sophisticated. It gives off a sort of frosted shine, which is perfect for virtually any occasion and can easily be achieved right from home. The key to nailing this look is to find a super soft, pale pink or cream and leave the coats to a minimum.
25. Bare Necessities With a Clear Coat
A clear coat acts as a protectant and sealer for your nails. It creates a tight bond to your nail and provides a smooth finish. This is such a simple natural nail idea that shows off your clean, well-shaped nails for a well-manicured look with just one little bottle. This is a perfect style for anyone who is always on-the-go.
26. A Fresh New Take on Tips
Almond nails are all the craze right now and feature a slender look on the sides with a narrow peak on the tips, resembling the shape of an almond. Adding French tips to your on-trend nail shape kicks it up a notch. This fresh new take on your nails can be achieved by painting your nails a translucent pink polish, followed by white for the tips and finished with a basic top coat for added protection.
27. Make a Statement with Neon Hues
The minimalistic French tips are so classy and professional. The ultra-thin white tips are sleek and subtle, showing off your beautiful natural nails. Having an accent nail with a neon hue tip really adds character and truly showcases your personality. It’s so much fun adding in a pop of color from time to time.
28. Versatility That Works All Year Around
If you’re looking for that perfect shade of polish that you can wear all year around during any season and occasion, you’re looking right at it. This gorgeous taupe is a beautiful shade that looks great on nearly every skin tone. You absolutely cannot go wrong with this natural nail look.
29. A Soft Cinnamon Nude For Natural Nails
This light beige, cinnamon nail polish provides a touch of color while still looking natural. It provides the perfect amount of coverage and is very flattering for a medium to olive skin tone. This color also helps your skin appear softer and your hands look younger since it isn’t sheer, nor too dark.
30. Meet the American French Manicure
The American manicure is a more polished take on the French manicure. It features a more subtle tip that is fainter than the typical bright white tip of a French manicure. The ends aren’t as noticeable and the entire nail is painted with a light color overlay. The inverted flare nail shape pictured gives off a more edgy vibe for this rather elegant natural nail art design.
31. Half-Moon Natural Nail Art
Half-moon manicures have been around for many years and they’re spotted all over catwalks at fashion week around the world. You can achieve this runway-ready nail art design by using nail strips that you can find at the beauty store and cutting them in half to make the appearance of a half moon. For this look, use a white polish for the half-moon accent and a light pink for the base color.
32. A Soft Sandy Beige Polish
You absolutely cannot go wrong with a light taupe, pale pink or beige natural nail designs. They are all such timeless color options for your nails that never go out of style and are perfect for any occasion. This beige is such an easy go-to color choice that will also match any outfit, so if you find yourself crunched for time, grab this color and be on your way.
33. DIY Your Own French Manicure
Luckily, with all of the new nail products on the market, it has become so easy to rock a salon-worthy manicure right from home. They have convenient French Manicure kits available at most large retailers, or you can just grab a sheer pink and white polish. After you trim, shape and buff your nails, paint on your thin layer of sheer polish and let dry. Add a second coat and then paint on your white tips. Use nail guides if you want the perfect tip and then apply a top coat to finish off your super cute natural nails.
34. A Professional Gel Manicure Right at Home
Applying a gel nail polish is a much safer alternative than wearing acrylics. This beige/gray gel polish gives your natural nails a nice salon-quality gloss with its long-lasting formula and shine. It’s the perfect shade to complement nearly any outfit and looks great for any occasion. Removing your gel polish is as easy as filing off the top coat, soaking your nail in acetone, wrap them in foil for a few minutes and then gently peel back the gel. Use cuticle oil or even coconut oil to moisturize your skin and nails afterward.
35. One Nail to Rule Them All
Accent nails have been around for decades, but have recently made a comeback. Accent nails are a great way to showcase your creativity, without overdoing it since it only involves one or two nails. Some of these natural nail designs can be pretty complicated, but this basic nail art inspiration can be created using a neutral polish and a nail art strip.
36. Natural Nail Designs with Minimal Effort
Embrace your nails natural beauty with this barely-there gel polish. This gel color features a polished look without putting in too much effort. Not only is it a pretty nude color, but also it makes a good impression on others since the color isn’t bright and over the top.
37. A French Manicure with Endless Possibilities
There are hundreds upon hundreds of French tip manicure possibilities. This is such a versatile style that is loved by many. While most French manicures have a clear or light pink base, you can certainly spice it up a bit with a pretty beige or neutral polish and still maintain that effortless and elegant look.
38. The Highly Requested Easy Ombré Nail Design
When it comes to natural nail designs, some people like to wear weird and tacky designs, while others want to keep it natural and minimal. The best thing about ombre nails is that you can completely customize them to your personal style. A popular trend right now is this baby pink base that transitions to white tips which is super cute and chic.
39. 50 Shades of Pink for Natural Nails
There really aren’t many other nail colors that compare to the range of shades than that of a pretty pink. This dusty rose nail polish provides a cool, subtle look that is flattering and fail-proof. It can literally go with any outfit for any occasion and you are sure to get tons of compliments with this natural nail idea.
40. A Playful Sparkle All Year Long
Some of the best natural nail designs feature a touch of glitter. There’s just something about a splash of sparkle that is cute and playful. These almond-shaped nails featuring a blush pink with a little dash of silver sparkle on the tips is creative and can be worn all year long.
41. A Beautiful DIY Wedding Manicure
A lot goes into finding the best manicure for your big day. I know how busy a bride is with all of the planning that goes into a wedding, so choosing a stunning manicure shouldn’t bring additional stress or worries. This gorgeous shade of white nail polish is so elegant against the rose gold tips. It’s also an easy manicure you can do from home instead of spending time and money at the salon.
42. A Glamorous Twist with Rose Gold Tips
Whether it’s summer or winter, you cannot go wrong with a simple and classy manicure like this French tip. These transparent natural nails feature a thin rose gold tip that looks great whether your nails are short or long. Wear them for any occasion and make a statement with this glamorous twist!
43. A Chic White Minimalist Mani
Negative space and simple manicures are on the rise this year. This minimalist manicure inspires you to keep things effortless. There’s just something about this blank slate that screams sophisticated style. The pearl white polish paired with an ultra-thin white tip gives these natural nails a feminine, yet low-key profile.
44. Trendy Mirrored Metallic Nails That Will Rock Your World
Flaunt these awesome metallic nails with confidence as you spice up your manicure with this space-age effect. This manicure features a silver mirrored ombré look with a neutral base that’s artistic and very creative. This ballerina nail shape is also totally on-trend and really helps to enhance the silver shine.
45. Abstract Artsy Accent Nails that Pop
If you’re not quite ready to go full on floral, adding a few accent nails with a floral design is a step up from your basic manicure. This beautiful natural nail art idea is classic featuring an ombré beige to white base color with two nails accented with a dark and basic abstract floral design. To achieve this look, you can use nail art stamps or freehand the artsy design.
46. Au Naturale In-Home Manicure
Constantly keeping up with the polish on your nails isn’t always the healthiest. This all-natural manicure focuses on strengthening your nails and gives them a breather from polish. First, remove your old polish. Next, soak your nails in warm water mixed with a dash of gentle soap and coconut oil. This will help moisturize and soften your nails and cuticles. Cut, shape and file your nails to your desired length and then use cuticle oil around your nail beds. Add a hydrating base coat when finished if you want a little added gloss.
47. Stand Out with a Polished White Manicure
White nail polish stands out without taking too much away from your outfit. It makes the perfect statement shade that keeps your manicure looking and feeling fresh and refined. Celebrities are rocking this bold style on the red carpet this year, letting us all know that it’s okay to wear white after Labor Day.
48. Subtly, Yet Breathtaking Accent Nail Art
This beautiful natural nail art design features a dark green fern on a sleek and polished white base. This easy manicure is both time-saving and artistic providing a little bit of flair without overdoing it. Applying an accent nail to the ring finger is usually the go-to choice when it comes to placement, but you could apply this look to any finger you wish.
49. A Stunning & Sophisticated Platinum Look
These pearly whites and I’m not talking about your teeth… are the perfect natural nail design matching virtually every outfit and fitting any occasion. The simplicity of this white manicure is stunning and sophisticated. This luxury platinum white look is so dazzling and the squared oval shape is easy to maintain. You simply cannot go wrong with this style!
50. Bling the Ring Finger w/ Embellishments
Adding glitter or other embellishments enhance your nail art design to give it added dimension, not to mention embellishments are currently all the rage at the moment. This ultra-curved French manicure is stunning with a sleek line of rhinestones featured on the ring finger. This manicure is such an eye-catcher and is simply stunning!
51. Universally Flattering Natural Nail Art
This pale peach nail color is so stylish and gives your nails a healthy look. It’s slightly understated since you can barely notice it, but that’s why it has become so popular. Some people don’t like wearing bold and bright colors, yet they still want a classic and natural color on their nails. This is the best option for achieving that natural nail look.
52. A French Twist with Added Dimension
If you’re looking for a simple and trendy manicure idea that adds a bit of sparkle to your nails, this is it! A little bling on your ring finger really adds dimension and a twist to your classic French manicure. This look can easily be achieved from home with a little white polish, clear coat and studded nail art design dimensions.
53. A Dusty Pink Polish the Royals Love
This dusty pink shade is so timeless and keeps us coming back for more. It’s a clean and sophisticated look that even the Royals are clinging to. It has a sheer, yet shimmery look to it and would be the perfect color for a bridal manicure or special occasion where you don’t want to take too much away from your outfit.
54. Fresh & Trendy Eye-Catching Accents
Wanting to kick your basic manicure up a notch? Try adding a subtle, yet eye-catching accent design to one nail. This look is elegant with the baby pink nail polish and trendy with a touch of gold accented on the ring finger. This triangle geometric accent is a great look for shorter nails since you’re not leaving too much negative space on the nail itself.
55. Get a Mauve On It
Mauve is a pale shade of purple that has a hint of lilac to it. It’s a beautiful color that is sophisticated, unique and a go-to for a natural manicure. It works great worn as a full manicure like this one, or with accents as it pairs well with almost any color.
49+ Trending Designs for Natural Nails in 2018
While having super cute nail art designs can make you feel more beautiful, it’s also good to consider the overall health of your nails. Applying moisturizer daily is key to keeping your hands and nails hydrated. Coconut oil works wonders for moisturizing your skin and also is great when caring for your cuticles. Avoid any harsh nail polishes when possible and the same goes for removers. Try finding an acetone-free remover which is less harsh on your nails. Lastly, a well-balanced diet is important to maintaining healthy nails. Eating foods high in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B, zinc, iron, and calcium are all really great for your skin and nails. I hope you enjoyed these simple natural nail art designs that you can do right from home. Feel free to leave me a comment below sharing your favorite styles and designs!
