The simplest manicure: 560 photo ideas for 2024

You’ve come to the right spot if you want to switch up your manicure routine without getting too fancy! Simple manicures are frequently simpler to maintain and can look just as fashionable and striking as more complex ones. There’s never been a better moment to experiment with simple, modern nail styles that complement any kind of lifestyle than now that the new year is here.

This post contains 560 amazing 2024 photo inspirations that highlight the elegance of minimalism. These designs demonstrate that less really can be more, with everything from traditional nude hues to subtle patterns. These suggestions provide a variety of options to fit any taste, whether you prefer understated elegance or prefer to keep things simple.

Why not choose something straightforward? Simple designs are frequently more adaptable and can go from day to night or from the office to an evening out with ease. They’re also typically easier to maintain and quicker to complete, which makes them ideal for hectic schedules. Discover your next best simple manicure look by browsing through these gorgeous pictures if you’re ready to up your nail game without making a big deal out of it.

Style	Description
Classic French	A timeless look with natural pink or nude base and white tips.
Pastel Hues	Soft, light colors like baby blue, pink, or lavender for a gentle, fresh feel.
Minimalist	Simple designs with clean lines or small dots for a chic, understated look.
One-Color Elegance	Choosing a single shade for all nails, which can be glossy or matte.
Nude Nails	Neutral shades that blend with your natural nail color for a clean appearance.
Simple Stripes	Thin lines in contrasting colors for a modern and stylish design.
Negative Space	Designs that leave parts of the natural nail exposed for a trendy look.
Soft Ombre	Gradient effect blending two or more colors smoothly for a subtle transition.
Dot Patterns	Small dots in various arrangements for a fun and easy design.
Accent Nails	One or two nails in a different color or design to add a pop to a simple manicure.

TOP 15 options for the simplest manicure

A wide range of nail decorations are used in modern nail art. Every woman has to decide for herself what to choose. We’ll discuss the most approachable forms of basic manicures for novices.

With rhinestones

A minimalistic manicure featuring rhinestones is perfect for an everyday ensemble. For an evening look, a lot more stones is more appropriate.

Guidelines for application:

• It is recommended to choose round glass rhinestones – convex with small edges;
• Everyday look – rhinestones are attached to the tip of the nail, decorate the hole. For an evening event – the nail is decorated more densely;
• Rhinestones are applied to the top without a sticky layer with a wax pencil. All operations are done quickly so that the stones do not slide off the nail;
• Fix with a non-sticky top. Processing is carried out carefully, without touching the stones. Curate under a lamp.

Crucial: the rhinestones will fade if the composition gets on their surface during the final processing.

With stickers

For novices, the easiest option is a sticker manicure. You can easily alter your appearance with low-cost décor by selecting pictures that complement your outfit, the event’s theme, or your own mood.

Both long and short nails look good with stickers. Although they are simple to apply, the manicure only lasts a few days.

How to use stickers to create a basic manicure:

• Choose one of the types – water, adhesive, transfer, thermal stickers. The most convenient are adhesive, thermal. There are photo stickers, volumetric pictures with a 3D effect;
• If acrylic is used as a base, you need to work quickly. The elements instantly stick to the base, you can no longer move them.

The sticker’s edges are tucked under the nail plate. Dry in a lamplight environment.

With a picture

An uncommon choice for nail art is a manicure with a picture on it. Since it is impossible to produce two identical images, no two simple manicures are alike. Any type of varnish, gel or simple, works well for the picture’s base.

To draw, you’ll need:

• Colored varnish, acrylic paint. Heavily pigmented or regular acrylic for painting are suitable. The shade of the varnish should differ by a couple of tones from the color of the base;
• Tools – thin brushes, dots, needles, toothpicks;
• Stencils. If you are not confident in your artistic abilities, it is better to use a ready-made contour.

Simple matte monochrome

Simple matte manicures are visually straightforward but incredibly striking. The biggest trend of the past few years is velvet coating.

There are two methods for creating matte simple monochrome:

• Glossy varnish. It will be enough to apply it to the nail, and then, while the composition is not dry, hold your hand over water vapor;
• Special matte coating, which will allow you to create a matte structure on varnish of absolutely any manufacturer.

Take Care! If the steam is too hot, you risk receiving severe burns. It only takes two minutes to thoroughly steam each plate by rotating the hand.

Any nail length looks fantastic with matte design, but it draws attention to any flaws, such as scratches, unevenness, and longitudinal stripes. As a result, you must prepare your nails for a simple velvet manicure before beginning.

Black and white

Wearing black and white together is a timeless fashion choice. This combination is considered to be quite bold yet universal in manicures. Trends in popularity:

• Lettering — inscriptions and individual letters will make the image interesting and unique. It can be done with a sticker or a drawing. It does not matter what surface the letters will be applied to — black or white. Any combination is relevant;
• A nail art option with a completely black matte coating was in the lead at fashion shows. And only on some fingers were accents applied — a drawing, rhinestones, other decorations. They allow you to rid the image of gloom and monotony;
• Geometry — an ideal option for black and white nail art. It can be done with foil or tape.

Experts advise sticking to varnishes made by the same manufacturer to prevent inconsistent layer drying times and textures.

With polka dots

Polka dot nail art is the most straightforward interpretation of a basic manicure. Since anyone can draw tiny peas on the nail plate, even a novice can complete the task at home with homemade tools. Colors are not limited; your creativity is the only limitation.

What you’ll require:

• Dots – specially designed for dotted patterns, comes in different diameters. If you don"t have one or the size is not suitable, the tool can be successfully replaced with a toothpick. Use its sharp tip to draw the smallest peas, but for larger ones you will have to use nippers to break off part of the wooden stick;
• Several types of varnish depending on the design idea;
• Fixer.

Important: Avoid applying pressure when applying dots to avoid deforming and spreading the varnish, which would ruin the entire idea.

Simple striped manicure

A novice can master the striped manicure. Striped nail art complements all clothing styles and looks amazing throughout the year.

Without the need for extra professional tools and accessories, it can be completed. Simple manicure graphics conceal flaws in the nails.

What you require:

• elastic self-leveling base coat, any gel polish of your favorite shade;
• acrylic for drawing;
• stencil foil strips with an adhesive base;
• matte or glossy top.

It is advised to select an application pattern online in advance or to sketch it on paper by hand. The foil is stretched to the edges of the nail after being applied to its center.

If something goes wrong and the strip is not where you expected it to be, don’t delete everything. You might look better with an abstract manicure today.

Simple two-color abstract manicure

Any image or style will look good with abstraction. both long and short nails seem fantastic.

Everything in abstraction is constrained only by your creativity. A minimal collection of gel polishes, acrylic paint, stickers, and foil strips is required. Use whatever you have on hand, such as brushes, cotton swabs, and toothpicks, to apply the design.

Applying an abstract design to every nail at once is not a good idea. Using one or two fingers on each hand is preferable.

Nude manicure

A subtle and versatile manicure style is the nude. However, this does not imply that there are just one or two choices. Numerous attractive nudist designs can be found online; just pick your favorites and practice them at home.

Whether or not you have a UV lamp will determine the materials you choose. If so, you can create a gel one; otherwise, ordinary varnish in the desired color will work.

It is necessary to prepare the nail plate carefully because flaws in the naked design cannot be overlooked. It’s not required to paint the entire nail one color; you can choose from the following alternatives:

• Nude French;
• Design with highlighting the holes – white or contrasting shade of varnish, rhinestones;
• With a matte finish;
• With inscriptions or drawings.

Recommendation: avoid going overboard with the decoration. The goal of this type of manicure is to be as basic and neutral as possible.

Simple manicure and kamifubuki

Not too long ago, thin-layer confetti became popular as a new kind of decoration. Kamifubuki have several benefits, including no snagging, easy application to nails, and low cost. The most crucial thing to remember is that even a novice can handle thin round plates.

How to fill out an application

1. Apply and then fix the base under the lamp;
2. Coat the nails with colored varnish in two layers, polymerize;
3. Apply the top. It does not need to be dried;
4. Create a pattern using sequins. They are attached so that the decor is buried in the top;
5. Dry, cover with another layer of top, then polymerize under the lamp.

It is not advised for beginners to attach kamifubuki to the nail’s side. Pre-bend the sequins in the desired direction if you can’t get them any other way.

With holes

If you’re sick of stickers and drawings, a straightforward lunar manicure is a fantastic idea. Reverse French is another name for it. The nail’s lunulae, which are highlighted and situated next to the cuticle, are a design element. Fascinating fact: highlighting has the ability to be the most unique in addition to replicating the natural outlines.

How to fill out an application

1. For a simple manicure with holes, it is recommended to use gel polish – it does not flow, it is easier to work with;
2. Choose two shades of varnish – similar in tone or contrasting;
3. After applying the base, highlight the hole with the selected color – with a brush, using a special stencil. It is very important to carefully draw the border;
4. Paint the rest of the nail with a second color;
5. Apply the top and polymerize.

An easy moon manicure is prepared. Play around with the hues, hole shapes, and decor combos.

With tapes

Foil-based adhesive tapes are an affordable, stylish, and long-lasting accent for a basic at-home manicure. The material varies in terms of size, color, and coating type (matte or glossy).

How to affix the tape:

1. Any varnish will do as a base – it is applied in two layers, allowed to dry;
2. Separate the tape from the base and stick it to the nail according to the intended pattern;
3. Trim the edges if necessary;
4. Apply top coat, dry.

The tape works well as a stencil or decoration. In the latter instance, stripes are used to create a pattern, and then a second layer of gel—ideally in a contrasting color—is applied on top. The tape is taken off once it has dried, revealing a two-color design.

In the style of "minimalism"

All of this is achieved with a straightforward "minimalism" manicure: beauty and adaptability. There isn’t a lot of rubbing, stones, kamifubuki, or décor. Decorating one or two fingers on the hand is advised.

Negative space is a relatively modern design that is a great illustration of minimalism. One characteristic that sets this nail art apart is the "bare" section of the nail that is only painted with colorless varnish; the rest of the nail is embellished.

Additional minimalist options include:

• French;
• Monochrome matte design;
• Monochrome with one finger highlighted with a sticker, etc.

Delicate white manicure

The color white is no longer a must-have for a wedding ensemble. White nails appear bold, polished, and fresh. It works well as the foundation for a straightforward manicure because it complements all hues and looks amazing with pictures, rhinestones, and drawings set against it. Applying white gel compositions is advised because they lie nicely on the plate and do not flow.

Simple manicure ideas on a white background:

• Milk nails;
• Graphics;
• Bright pictures;
• Matte;
• Newspaper;
• Marble effect;
• Lettering, etc.

Bright red

Every shade of red is a necessary component of the basic manicure trends for every season. They complement nearly every style of décor, including rubbing, foil, ribbons, rhinestones, sequins, and pictures, and are therefore regarded as universal. Especially nice-looking is the velvet coating.

Design alternatives

• Red French;
• Ombre;
• With holes;
• Negative space;
• Red and black nail art.

Searching for simple yet fashionable nail art ideas for 2024? We have 560 new and easy-to-understand photo ideas in this post to help you maintain gorgeous nails without any effort. Whether you’re going for traditional styles or cutting-edge twists, these simple designs make it simple to achieve a professional look at home. Prepare to flaunt your amazing manicure by finding the ideal manicure to fit your style!

What kind of manicure to do at different times of the year

We swap out our shoes and clothes for the new season. Changes in nail art also occur in terms of color, texture, and décor. Summer fashion is out of style when it comes to winter attire.

In the summer

Summer is a season of vivid hues, frequent image changes, and audacious choices. Applying a vivid shade of gel polish to your nails is a straightforward alternative. The warm season is when electric blue hues seem most natural.

It’s advised to take a summertime break from your nails. Apply gel compositions as infrequently as possible. Remember to use cuticle oil and nourishing compositions so as not to overdry the plate.

You can wear any jewelry in the summer without worrying about "overdoing it." Themes for drawings and pictures: fruits, flowers, insects, plants, and the sea.

In the fall

The colors outside the window have changed, and the days with sunshine are growing fewer. Other colors are used in a basic fall manicure, such as orange (like rowan berries), chocolate, and burgundy tones.

It complements hues like velvet coating, leaf patterns, and glossy stripes well.

Fascinating fact: the "drop" design becomes appropriate during the wet season. A glossy rubber top can be used to create raindrops. It maintains its shape well and does not flow. Using a cotton swab, apply transparent peas in small dots. a toothpick.

In winter

Winter: glaring sun, snow, and frost. Nail art reflects all of this. Snowflakes take the place of leaf patterns as New Year’s themes. Silver, a chilly pastel, replaces the base’s warm tones. The only colors that never go out of style are red and black.

Consider these intriguing ideas for embellishing basic winter nail art:

• marble;
• bright rubbing on individual nails;
• knitted effect;
• glitter and stones.

In spring

Again, verdant trees, streams, and sunlight. When nature awakens, women want to be like it. Sequins pop out in an explosion of color, along with illustrations and stickers of springtime flowers. Compared to summer, spring design is a little more understated.

Manicure that suits everything

There are nail design options that are universal and safe to do at home. They will fit into any event or image. You also need to take the nail plate’s length and shape into account.

For short nails

Unquestionably, the new season is trending toward short length. Selecting the appropriate design is crucial to prevent the wearer of the decor from appearing shorter than they actually are.

Real art for brief periods:

• pastel shades;
• classic French;
• combination of matte and glossy textures on different fingers;
• geometric patterns – longitudinal;
• decoration – a minimum amount is recommended.

Steer clear of extremely dark hues, overabundance of decorations, and highlighting the plate’s edge.

For long

Many women still wear long lengths even though they are becoming less popular. Real masterpieces are best created on a long plate.

Qualities:

• long sharp nails themselves are a decoration. An abundance of stones and other decor can make the image vulgar. It is necessary to observe the measure;
• it is not recommended to paint sharp nails in dark shades;
• the best types of design are pastel monochrome, matte texture, French, moon art.

For square

Square plates work well for most women and can accommodate a range of finger shapes. People with short fingers are an exception. They appear visually disproportionate with the rectangular plate.

Design alternatives

• simple monochrome manicure – all shades;
• matte coating;
• French;
• any decor.

For almond-shaped nails

Any finger type can be accommodated by the oval shape. It is adaptable and works with any kind of décor. Almond-shaped nails look great with vibrant patterns and stickers, trendy geometric elements, and traditional nail art options (French, holes, stripes, foil, rubbing).

Looks particularly amazing in this glossy, monochromatic classic French version.

How to make a very simple nail design

Let’s take a step-by-step look at the possibility of using stickers (sliders) to create a straightforward manicure. What you’ll require:

• base, varnish and top;
• cotton pads;
• file;
• manicure scissors;
• small bowl of water;
• brush with artificial bristles.

Now let’s get going:

1. Apply the base, dry. Then paint the nail with the chosen shade of varnish in two layers. In our case, this is a bright white color, on it the chosen design will look most impressive. You should not bother about making sure that the varnish lies evenly without bald spots. After application, the picture will hide all the flaws. The layer of varnish should dry well. Wait for natural drying or use a special composition for quick drying.

1. Cut out the picture

You just need to touch the image with your finger to choose the size. It may deviate by 1-2 mm from the nail plate’s dimensions. Eliminating such excess is simple.

1. Our slider has a paper base

You must wet it in order to separate the layers; place it with the paper down on a damp cotton pad. Putting it in a bowl of water is an additional choice.

1. The layers are not separated at once. Take the whole slider with two fingers – thumb and index. Bring it to the selected nail. Then use the thumb to move the film pattern to the lunula, and the index – the base to the edge of the nail. Sometimes it is recommended to use tweezers for separation. It will help to separate the layers, but it is difficult to apply the film to the plate with it – wrinkles and folds are formed. It is extremely difficult to straighten them out.

1. Fold the edge of the sticker under the nail, File off the excess with a file. Fold the remains of the film again under the edge of the nail to avoid snagging and damaging the picture in the future.

1. Apply the top coat. Pay special attention to the end part of the plate to “seal” the slider”. If you used gel polish, the final stage is polymerization under a UV lamp.

Advice: Don’t process the fingers on one hand until you’ve finished with it. By doing this, the chance of smudging and destroying the wet design will be reduced.

Initially, it is advised to design one or two hand fingers in a way that makes them more useful for manipulating the slider. You can design with both hands as soon as you get the hang of it.

The quest for the ideal manicure doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. With 560 picture suggestions for 2024, there’s a chic and straightforward choice for every person. These suggestions make it simple to keep up with the newest trends in nail art, whether you’re searching for something traditional or a little more fashionable.

These images provide ideas for any style and situation, from understated layouts to stylish yet carefree ensembles. Even if nail art is not your thing, there are many simple nail art designs that don’t need costly equipment or expert training.

So why not investigate these concepts for a moment and choose the one that resonates with you? A clean, minimalist manicure can do wonders for your appearance and mood. There’s never been a better moment to experiment with your nails with so many options at your disposal.