30 Pastel Nail Ideas You'll Want to Copy ASAP (2024)

30 Pastel Nail Ideas You'll Want to Copy ASAP (1)

One of the easiest ways to refresh your beauty look is by switching up your mani. Whether you're loyal to glazed donut nails, a maximalist with an affinity for 3D appliqués, or somewhere in between, there's always a new way to change up your nails.

And while we love trends as much as the next person, there's something sweet about sticking to the classics. Case in point: pastel nail polish. While the soft hues are popular for spring and summer months, they can brighten your look no matter the season. Plus, trendy nail art can easily be adapted to fit a pastel color scheme.

Ahead, we've rounded up 30 of our favorite pastel nail art ideas. From simple mono-toned manis and minimalistic nail designs to groovy patterns and ombré tips, there's a look for every aesthetic.

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Arched Diagonals

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You don't need to cover your entire nail in color to achieve a pretty pastel nail look. Here, you can see how diagonal pastel details, negative space, and metallic gold accents create an eye-catching manicure.

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Apricot Groove

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Stay inside the comforts of a color scheme by painting two complimentary semi-circles per nail. The negative space gives this mani a mod flair, while the peach hues make it sunny.

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Pastel Heart Tips

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Keeping pastel purple top of mind, check out these pretty heart-shaped tips. The best way to re-create the look is to use a thin striping brush to trace the heart-shaped arches.

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Pastel Lava Lamp

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Our favorite '90s home accessory gets a beauty makeover with this dreamy look. While it can be replicated with just one shade for a monochrome mani, we love this pastel combination, too.

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Pastel Dream

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Dreamy and fun, we love this hazy pastel blend with tiny crystal appliqués.

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Pastel Tips

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French manicures will never go out of style. Upgrade the timeless look by painting each tip a different pastel shade for a fun, new take.

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Pastel Purple Accents

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Not set on a single design but know what pastel color you want to use? Consider this monochrome nail art idea backset on white polish.

Bright Pastels

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Pastels can be bold. Case in point? This pale-yet-powerful abstract mani.

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Pastel Color Blocks

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Bold, bright, and easy to recreate, we love the pastel color blocking of this manicure.

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Pastel Neon

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While pastel and neon might seem like complete opposites, pastel neon is, in fact, a thing. Just look at this vibrant pale nail look if you don't believe us. Megawatt, no?

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Pastel Minimalism

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You can't go wrong with a thin nail art brush and a little imagination. Recreate this look by painting on minimalistic squiggles and adding a matte topcoat.

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Pastel Melt

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If you can't choose a single color, don't fret. With an ombré technique, you can create a pretty pastel fade between hues.

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Tutti Frutti Nails

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Tutti frutti nails are one of the biggest manicure trends of summer and—you guessed it—you can get the look with pastel polish. Given the intricacy of these multicolored nails, you may want to visit a professional to bring them to life. Of course, if you don't mind perfectly imperfect swirls, a thin striping brush will help you get the look at home.

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Pastel Swirls

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We love this pale purple swirl manicure. Whether you offset it with clear-coated negative space or opt for pale peach in the background, this mani idea is bound to look groovy.

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Pastel Hearts

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Whether you're rocking these pastel rainbow nails for pride or any other time of year, they're guaranteed to give you a reason to look down and smile.

Pastel Dots

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Here's a pastel nail art idea that you can easily recreate yourself. Start with clear polish or a neutral base and use a dotting tool to stipple a different shade of pastel polish onto each nail. Don't forget a layer of top coat to seal your design in.

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Pastel Diagonals

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Another simple at-home nail art idea? Clean diagonal lines. Whether you use the same pastel shade on each nail or transition between five, you're bound to love the end look. Best of all, it's easy: Just section off your nails with striping tape and start painting.

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Pastel Peach Accents

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Pale purple and peach just work together. And with only one intricate nail in this mani, we bet you can bring it to life yourself. Just arm yourself with striping tape and a touch-up brush and you'll be well on your way.

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Abstract Pastel Nails

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These pastel abstract nails remind us of prints from the '80s and '90s—needless to say, we're big fans.

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Pastel Swoops

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We can't get over how dreamy this negative space mani is. With two contrasting colors on each nail, it's one pastel nail art idea that's sure to turn heads.

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Pastel Stiletto Nails

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Here's another pastel neon nail look perfect for summer. With primarily warm shades, it's a hot mani idea worthy of the 'gram.

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Two-Toned Pastel Tips

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Love the idea of diagonal nail art but want to add a little movement? Check out this two-toned wavy manicure idea. Fun, no?

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Wavy Pastel Nails

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Speaking of wavy nails, how funky is this pastel neon nail art idea? It's a summer must, that's for sure.

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Cool-Toned Pastels

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Looking for a more serene pastel manicure? This cool-toned nail art idea will do the trick.

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Pastel Summer Nails

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Of course, if you prefer a little more variety, this hot and cool pastel mani is a fun way to hop on the trend.

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Negative Space Pastel Nails

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Pink, purple, blue, yellow, and green are always pretty—especially in pastel shades. If you agree, try recreating these wavy negative space nails with a fine striping brush.

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Pastel Gradient Nails

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Point blank: These pastel gradient nails are gorgeous. Plus, they'll let you show off loads of color.

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Pastel Aqua Nails

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Robin's egg blue, anyone? With a striping brush or two-sided dotting tool in hand, you'll be able to recreate this mismatched nail art idea with ease.

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Pastel Lavender Nails

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For whatever reason, these nails remind us of the underwater squiggles on SpongeBob. Given pop culture's current love of all things Y2K, it's safe to say this set is pretty on-trend.

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Pastel Leopard Nails

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Who said leopard-print nails have to be in neutrals? We're head over heels for this pastel take.

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