Nude is an elegant, practical, and modest shade. What makes it really versatile is how neutral it is, making it a perfect match for any color or nail art. Because it’s neutral, it also lends itself as a great canvas for nail art and various nail design ideas.
If you’ve been thinking about trying nude nails for your nail manicure but need more information and ideas, this is the perfect article for you.
Keep reading, below we have 20 nude nail designs, we’re positive you’ll find a few that resonate with you.
20 Nude Nail Design Ideas
1. Nude Nails + Gold Glitter Tips
This nude nail design idea is easy to do yourself, all you need is nude polish and glittery gold polish. It’s a beautiful look and it works well for all occasions.
To get bold results use matte nude polish, a neutral shade, as the base. After painting your nails the neutral nude shade, use the glittery gold polish to trace a thin line along the tip of your nails. You can visit a nail artist to add more intricate details. This nude nail design idea is perfect for weddings, a special night out, it’s simply beautiful and elegant.
2. Nude Wet Nails
This nude nail design idea makes your nails look like you just came in from the rain and you have raindrops on your nails. Beautiful, right?
To get this look you need any neutral color you prefer and gel polish. Use a matte base to make the water effect bold. After painting the neutral color, use a fine brush to add a few droplets to give the water droplets effect. You might need some time to master the art of adding the droplets, but the result is phenomenal.
3. Nude Nails + White Dot Art
This elegant nude nail design idea is simple and easy to create. Its beauty is in its simplicity. You can make the nude base a pink tone to give a soft and romantic appeal. All you need on top of the base is one white dot, don’t do too much with the white dots to get the best results.
To add some variation you can play around with the placement of the white dot on each nail, you can go for symmetry or asymmetry depending on the look you’re going for and how you’re feeling, it’s completely up to you.
4. Nude Nails + Yellow Detail
Yellow is a great way to add some oomph to your manicure. It’s a bold color that will draw attention to your hands and guarantee you complements.
Start with a nude undercoat, you can choose any shade you love. Then with the yellow polish, again choose a shade of your liking, paint a stripe across the tip of your nail. You can seal it all in place with a clear topcoat and you’ve just added a touch of energy and liveliness to your nude nail manicure.
5. Nude Nails + Rainbows
The sky doesn’t have to be the only place where you and the people around you can see rainbows. A blend of bright shades will look great on a nude base and inject some fun and life into your manicure.
This nude nail design idea is simple, it’s a multi-colored spectrum over a nude base, giving the colors room to shine.
Related Article: 20 Cute Summer Nails for 2022
6. Nude Nails + Pop Color Details
Feeling nostalgic? You can take it back to the ‘80s with bright and fun color pop details over a nude base. Use bold colors to create straight lines from your cuticles towards the tips of your nail and you’ll make a bold statement. You can alternate shades on different fingers to make things interesting. You can also use small strips of tape to keep the shape of the lines as straight as possible.
7. Nude Nails + Minimalist Art
One of the perks of nude nails is that they make an amazing base for nail art. This nude nail design idea is simple but powerful and you can be flexible with the design. All you need to do is feature a few polka dots in varying shades across your nails. You can use shades like orange or blue, shades that will create a contrast against the nude base.
8. Abstract Doodles
This is another minimalist nude nail design idea. All you need to do is draw squiggles over a nude base and you have something beautiful and abstract. This nude nail design idea gives you the freedom to play with shapes, and you don’t have to think about perfection, it’s abstract, have fun with it.
9. Almond Nude Nails With Nail Art
Pair nude nail polish with the almond nail shape and you get a beautiful and elegant manicure. You might have to get this done at the salon because you might need acrylic for the almond shape or have your nail shaped into the almond shape if it’s strong enough. You can add a gold detail in the form of a strip to make it more interesting.
10. Nude Nails + Jewel Detail
Do you want something luxurious and regal? Something that will make your fingers sparkle and shine. Add colored crystal embellishments to create shapes and patterns of varying designs and sizes across a nude base and you’re sure to get compliments and looks of admiration.
11. Nude Nails + Blue and White Stars
Are you a fan of the night sky and stars? Here is a chance to show your love for the stars through your manicure. For this look you need star stickers in two shades of blue and white. Pretty straightforward but the result is beautiful, you can place the shapes as you see fit. This design looks great on all nail shapes and length.
12. Nude Nails + Asymmetric White Tip
This is a modern iteration of the classic French manicure. The twist is in the shape and bulkiness of the white tip. Use a shade of blue that has a flesh tone and add a bold white stripe, but lift one corner of the end towards the center to get a look that will easily give your fingertips a longer look.
13. Nude Nails + Rose Gold Detail
This nude nail design takes advantage of how beautifully nude and gold work well together. This design involves painting a quarter of your nails with the neutral hue of your choosing and adding a thin strip of gold to the remainder using a strip of gold metallic tape or polish.
14. Nude Camouflage Nail Art
If you’ve got love for the army or you’re actually in the military and you want to do something with your nails that reflect that, this is the perfect nude nail design idea for you. It’s a perfect way to blend beauty with brawn.
This design is a bit tricky, you might need some practice or a visit to a nail artist. The shades that work well to create this look are khaki, pink, or blue.
15. Nude French Manicure
The French manicure is so practical and beautiful that it features on almost any list worth anything. It’s a timeless nail design. For this one, all you need is the classic white strip at the tip of your nails over a nude base. It’s universal, it works perfectly for all occasions, nail length or shape, and styles.
16. Classic Nude Nails
The classic nude nail is simple yet versatile, it is great for days when you’re not sure what to do with your nails. Choose a shade that complements your skin tone and you have something elegant and timeless, something you can wear with any nail length or shape.
17. Different Shades of Nude
This is an upgrade of the classic nude nails. If just one shade seems boring to you and you want to spice things up without introducing any color or nail art, you can try different shades on each nail. You can use different hues of neutral pinks and browns to create a pallette that is easy to detect.
You can use a gradient across your nails or spread the different hues haphazardly, you are completely free to create any look you desire.
18. Nude Abstract Nail Art
Turn your nails into a canvas, paint a few extra shades on top of your nude manicure and you can create abstract art on your nails. Use bold colors to make a statement and make your nails stand out. You can have fun with this and do it yourself at home or visit a salon to have a nail artist paint something professional on your nails.
19. Nude and Black Nail Art
This is a nice iteration of the French manicure, but instead of white at the tips it’s black and nail art is featured on the base of the nail. The contrast of the black against the nude background makes the black art stand out and draws attention to your hands.
20. Nude Base Floral Nail Art
This nude nail design idea is a great way to add a feminine touch and colors to your nude manicure. To get a more organic feeling and make the flowers look beautiful and realistic use a wide range of colors.
You might need to visit a salon and have this done by a nail artist to get the details right and get a stunning result.
Source: Nude Nails ideas