These Indie Nail Trends Are Giving “That Girl” Status

1. Confetti Nails

If you ask us, glitter never goes out of style and neither does this glitter confetti look. There are hundreds of ways to achieve the confetti nail, and the best part is you can totally DIY at home. Some feature bright tipped nails or decals but mostly, these are pieces of confetti and clear coat. And you don’t have to be going to a party to sport them.

2. Gummy Candy Nails

These nails look so yummy, you almost want to eat them (anyone else craving a peach jelly ring right now?) This specific look blends confetti nails, charms, and 3D gel structures. “3D nail art can come in the form of attaching gems, charms, or other small trinkets,” says Doan. “But you also see them in the form of a structure gel where the artist will freehand these shapes. The best way to ask for this style is to bring in a reference photo. Each artist will have a different perspective of this, so photos help.”

3. Mix and Match Nails

This is a more subtle version of indie nails if you prefer a pared-down approach. You can choose certain fingers to match or mirror each other with designs to still achieve that bespoke look. You might even decide you want to stick to a color scheme and work within it. Again, there are no rules to this approach to nail art. Try picking two color complements and a few icons for your manicurist to play around with. 

4. Swirl Nails

Doan tells us her favorite design elements to include in indie manicures are swirls. “Even enthusiasts can attempt without a need of perfecting,” she says. Swirls are a great way to play with negative space in your indie nail manicure. If you want to take things a step further, swirls pair well with stickers or decals. You’ll notice a couple gold nail decals in the design above, almost acting like a focal point on each finger.

5. Bubble Nails

If we had to guess what a mermaid would have for a manicure, it would probably look a lot like these tiny multi-colored 3D bubbles. The iridescence makes these nails look clean and chic especially when you choose pastel colors. Try playing around with the sizes and shapes of these bubbles to make each nail unique. Perhaps a trendy base coat too!

6. Glass Nails

Doan says these gel nail structures are freehanded by manicurists: “You can do them over a design to create a fishbowl effect or paint/add chromes over the structure gel.” Glass nails remain super shiny and create lots of texture. This set makes the nails look wet, almost like they’re dripping. We love the subtle blue zebra print and baby pink nail polish.

7. Art Class Nails

These nails remind us of perfectly imperfect scrapbooks and glitter glue. Plus, how cute is the smiley face charm? There’s beauty in these looking a bit uneven and not so polished. We’ve been seeing chunky acrylic rings and hair clips trending, and these nails are the perfect pair. Nailing the charm on this design might be tough. Best to check out a craft store, and bring your goods to your manicurist. 

8. Velvet Shimmer Nails

These nails are probably the most mesmerizing to include in your indie manicure. To catch how beautifully they shimmer, see this video. “At an Asian salon, you’ll need to show a picture, and say you want cat-eye gel,” says Doan. “The way the effect works is a gemstone technique.” Because of how the cat-eye gel polish is carefully applied, these nails end up looking like ombré crushed velvet. They look amazing paired with bubble nails or confetti nails.

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