Summer Ombre Nails Inspiration and Ideas

When people start creating their own ombre nail looks at home, they usually start out with traditional nail polish. This is how I started, and through lots of trial and error, I figured out what works best for me! First, check out the list of tools you’ll need:

• a clear topcoat
• at least 2 differen nail polish colors
• liquid latex
• wedge makeup sponges

Here’s the simplest way to get an ombre nail look with these tools:

1. Apply liquid latex all around your nail and let dry completely.
2. Apply a base color (I suggest the lighter of the colors you’re using). This makes creating the ombre effect much easier. If you’re using 2 lighter colors, you could also go with a white basecoat.
3. Apply each color to the end of a makeup sponge. Don’t soak the sponge- you should still be able to see the texture of the sponge beneath the polish.
4. Dab the sponge onto your nail. It’s important to only dab a few times, and then let the polish completely dry. Repeat steps 2-4 around 4 times to build up the color.
5. After you’ve applied about 4 layers of ombre, you should have a good blend between both colors. Apply your clear topcoat. You’ll be amazed at how smooth and seamless the look is.
6. Remove the liquid latex and admire your work!

That’s the basic way of creating an ombre look with nail polish. You can also do this with gel, but you have to cure between each sponge application.

I find that using nail pigment powders on top of gel gives a much better end result (but it’s messy to apply!). You can find kits on Amazon but for some reason most of the kits have repeating colors. I prefer going with small stores, like Magpie Beauty. Here’s how it’s done with powders:

You can also create your ombre nail ideas with polygel or acrylic! I love watching Instagram videos of how it’s done. Here’s a great example using colored acrylic:

Organization Criteria

When looking at summer ombre nail ideas, I wanted to start with the classic horizontal ombre fade design.  We’ll look at Neons and Pastels for the summer season. Anyone can pull off these colors during the summer, and they look great by the pool or beach. Or wear them when you head to a summer festival or the farmers market!

Next, I’ll share with you my favorite Vertical Ombre Looks, focusing on strict design criteria of 2 colors per nail. After that, enjoy a free-for-all with Ombre Plus everything else, from diamonds and glitter to nail art, glass nails, and more!

My Picks for the Best Summer Ombre Nail Ideas

Neons and Pastels

Neon Pink and Purple Stiletto Nails

There’s no better time than the summer season to rock the brightest colors! When you’re looking for the best summer ombre nail ideas, don’t think you have to go with 1 light and 1 dark color. This pink and purple combo works so well is because they went with an orchid purple, which is warm like the pink shade used. But I think as long as it’s blended properly, any pink and purple will look great.

Short Neon Pink and Orange Ombre

A great way to try a bright ombre nail for the first time is to keep it short. Another bold neon set, this time they used orange with the pink. I also think it’s better to go with a glossy finish instead of matte for this kind of summer look.

Long Square Neon Combo

I don’t think there are many other times of the year when this color combo is trendier! Neon yellow and green look great on this long square set. Notice how the bright tones complement the golden summery tan of the wearer.

Matte Baby Blue Ombre Nails

Pastels aren’t just for springtime! What better way to accent a beachy vacation than with a baby blue ombre nail set? This ombre features nude fading into the palest of pastel blues. I love the matte top finish with the longer square nails, giving more of any edgy look.

Short Almond with a Cotton Candy Combo

This is an ideal ombre look for summer. Enjoy a sweet pastel color pairing in the coolest pinks and purples! This was done on top of the natural nail, too. If you create this look at home, I recommend using a white builder gel underneath to reinforce your nail. This is one by Madam Glam is one of my favorites. And while it’s a little sheer, the white color will make the pastels really stand out.

Nude and Lavender Ombre

I have to admit that pastels aren’t really my favorite colors and I rarely go with them. But I fell in love with this nude and powdery purple ombre look, and I wear it every summer! It’s a pairing that goes well with both pale and dark skin tones.

Nude and Neon Red on a Tapered Square Nail

If you want to stay elegant but still go with the trends, try a nude ombre on a tapered square shape! This set spotlights neon red, which looks best in the summer sun. I have a little tip for how to pull off those really bright colors while not overdoing it, keep the brighter shade to the upper half of the nailbed. Start the fade at the apex, or the highest point of the nail. If you start lower, it might overpower the nude shade.

Beachy Orange and Turquoise with Iridescent Glitter

While not exactly pastel, these colors are softer summer colors that remind me so much of a mermaid on a tropical beach! And pairing complementary shades of orange and turquoise like that are so calming. I especially love the iridescent flake nails alternating with the ombre nails, but with the same color story!

Nude and Subtle Pink Ombre

Another really hot trend for summer is a flushed pink tone that fades to nude. It might remind you of rosy or sun kissed cheeks that come with warmer, sunnier days! I’d say that the key to this look is to think of the color of blush you might have in your makeup bag, instead of a typical pastel pink.

Purple Glitter “Reverse Ombre” with White

I absolutely adore this new trend that’s popping up! You create it by starting with glitter at the cuticle, and then layering a sheer builder gel, polygel, or acrylic over top. This set combines milky white and a super bright purple for a fresh summer look.

Vertical Ombre Looks

Matte Pastel Vertical Ombre on Long Coffins

Hit all the right notes with matte pastel ombre nails, but vertical! I find that if you’re afraid it’ll end up looking to cutesy, longer nails mature the color combo. Notice also that vertical is a great way to stay true to the ombre nail trend while still using more than 2 colors.

Matte Neon Pink and Orange on Long Coffins

This is a similar ombre idea to the previous one, but with neon colors. Also, the goal with this set was to have 2 shades fading together. The secret, though, was to use a transition shade between the orange and pink! Notice how the middle nail has a deeper orange shade, which makes the fade from pink or orange feel softer.

Short Ballerina Nails with Glitter Vertical Ombre

Rock a juicy vertical ombre in shades of orange with a dip powder set! I find that dip powder is a great way to get more depth out of glitter, because of the layering process. I like that they used the vertical ombre style, but stuck with the same color combo for each nail.

Vertical Ombre with Water Decals

Most people choose their nail color and then the design afterwards. But this set reminds me of all the times I chose my nail color around a nail design that I fell in love with! How gorgeous are these colorful butterflies? They look like water decals, which are an easy way to add elaborate designs to your DIY manicure.

Subtle Peach and Pink Vertical Ombre

Peach is kind of an honorary pastel of the summer. I love this warm, pink and peach look that uses a very gentle ombre fade between the 2 colors on the ring finger. The whole look is finished off with a short almond shape for a very feminine summery set!

Rainbow in Pastels with Glitter

With June being Pride Month, you might be looking for a classy way to wear all the colors of the rainbow! A vertical ombre lets you transition between 2 shades per nail, meaning you can wear up to 6 colors on each hand. And I think that the short square looks very clean and tailored, which I love with all the fun colors.

Neon Rainbow with Stiletto Accents and Diamonds

You can also go over the top with your vertical ombre rainbow nails! This one has it all with neon shades, gloss, diamonds, and multiple nail shapes! It also appears that several transition colors were used, which I love. It just helps make bolder ombre fades feel less jolting and more high quality.

Vertical Blue and Glitter Ombre

While ombre is technically 2 colors fading together, I adore the trend of fading a glitter with a nail color. You can do this all kinds of ways, but here they layered the glitter on top of color. Glitter ombres are a great way to enjoy glitter nails in a new way. I think the blue tone and colors in the glitter are perfect for a summer spent by the pool!

Ombre Plus

Pink and Nude with Diamonds

An ombre design can be simple enough to use as a canvas for blingy nail art. Go all out and enjoy neon pink and the biggest diamonds! You can also do this look with a matte topcoat, but I find that a regular glossy topcoat works as a kind of shrink wrap to keep diamonds on longer. Apply your topcoat as close as you can around the rhinestones, but don’t go over them.

2-Toned Nude and Neon Ombre

Just like ombre, 2-toned looks are huge trends right now. To do 2-toned, choose different colors for each hand! It’s a refreshing way to bring more colors into your summer ombre nail look without just adding an accent nail. I like that the artist used the brightest neon colors together here.

Ombre French

For a really different take on a classic look, go with ombre instead of white for your French tips! It’s unexpected, and a great way to dip your toes into the trend if you don’t want to commit to a full set of ombre nails. I love this design because you can still have a color blend while still having sharp, clean lines.

Vertical Ombre with Nail Art

You can also play up your ombre with chunky stiletto nails and hand-drawn nail art! I love the way the vertical ombre on this set is accented by the point of the nail shape. And it’s also a great example of how you can have a gradient nail set while still using the ombre technique.

Neon Ombre with Line Accents

Add interest to a nude to neon ombre by adding 3D linework! The fun part here is that the same color used for the fade was used to make the lines. Because the line is solid, it shows up as deeper tone, but fades into the solid tip of the nail! It’ll catch anyone’s eye while still being a class nude ombre style.

Negative Space Ombre on Nude with Linework

Another edgy way to use the ombre technique is on half the nail. To get this detailed look, I would start with a nude acrylic base. Create the ombre, and then section with lines. It takes a little work, but the whole look is a showstopper!

Full Glitter Ombre

A great way to create a fun ombre look at home is with glitter! Simply use a builder gel and layer glitter to get an effect that’s not super difficult to create. You don’t have to be a nail artist to come up with beautiful looks for summer.

Pink and Nude Ombre with Encapsulated Glitter

Encapsulated glitter on clear to nude nails is another trendy look that works for summer. This set also has pastel pink to nude ombre! The clear glitter style is gorgeous but takes some skill to create. It’s a little bit of work, but the final effect is worth it!

Cotton Candy Almond Nails with Diamonds

You can be super sweet and still have all the bling! Play up your summery pastel ombre with fairytale inspired rhinestones. Notice that this set has a transition shade between the turquoise and lavender. And I love that this set has a glitter topcoat, too.

FAQs about Ombre Nails

Question: Can you Create Ombre Nails with 3 Colors?

Answer: There’s no right or wrong way to create ombre nails! Most people think of 2 colors, but 3 is a great way to create an artistic look. More than 3 colors and I don’t think it’ll be recognized as an ombre nail design. However, ombre is the technique of fading colors together, it’s not actually about the final look. That’s where you make the final choice.

Question: Are Gradient Nails and Ombre Nails the Same Thing?

Answer: They’re different. Gradient nails are a fun trend where you paint each nail on the hand a slightly different shade of the same color. Ombre nails feature at least 2 colors fading horizontally into each other in the middle. But you could also do a vertical ombre design where you slowly transition into different colors on each individual nail so it’s similar to gradient!

Question: How do you do Ombre with Gel Polish?

Answer: You can do ombre with gel the same way you do ombre with nail lacquer, but gel has to be cured between each application. There’s another technique for gel where you fade the colors together using a nail brush, or you can apply nail pigments to gel that still has the sticky layer.

Question: Are Baby Boomer Nails the Same as Ombre Nails?

Answer: Yes, they are! The ombre technique is used to create Baby Boomer nails, also called French Fade nails. It’s a great way to try out ombre look if you need simpler, low-key nails.

Question: Can you do an Accent Nail With Ombre Nails?

Answer: You can do all kinds of accent nails with ombre nail looks! You can make just the accent nail be ombre, or you can do an ombre set with a different accent nail. I’ve also seen ombre nail ideas where you make the accent nail also be ombre, but with completely different colors!

Final Thoughts on Trendy Summer Ombre Nail Ideas

I find myself doing ombre nails more in the summer than any other time of the year! It’s a great time to play up nudes with bold neon and sweet pastels. All the best summer ombre nail ideas offer great ways to include lots of color while staying true to your style.

If you want to try the look for yourself at home, I suggest starting with nail lacquer and a makeup sponge. If you like the effect, don’t be afraid to try other types of nail products. Branch out and do a vertical ombre or add in some fun nail art!

For more inspiration on how to get variety with the biggest nail trends, check out my other articles. Find out all the different ways you can rock short coffin nails, or how to have fun even with simple nail looks!

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