It may be silly to think about or say out loud, but certain nail art can make you super happy. There’s no real scientific reasoning behind it, but these decals and designs just put a smile on everyone’s face. No nail art better defines this euphoric feeling than swirl nails.
Aptly named, swirl nails can include any design ranging from colorful, 1970s-inspired psychedelic waves to minimalistic, white spirals. They can even be a bunch of squiggly lines thrown together for an abstract nail look that looks impressive but takes minimal artistic skill. They can be super simple, with one swirl drawn on down the middle against a bare, neutral nail. They can also be mixed and matched with other hot nail trends (e.g. daisy nails and the beloved Barbiecore).
If you’re in a nail art slump (because sometimes you just want more for yourself than a French manicure or sheer glazed donut manicure) and have been dying for your next wave of nail inspiration to hit, consider this your lightbulb moment. Below are 20 swirl nail art ideas that are super easy for you to recreate at home — and they might even convince you to cancel your next salon appointment.
1Metallic Center
Simple and minimal, dress up a cute French manicure by drawing a single metallic swirl down the middle for a dynamic nail look.
2Barbiecore Swirls
Lean into Barbiecore with these neon pink swirls for a bold statement.
3Soft Pastel Swirls
Go for the throw-the-kitchen-sink approach and mix swirl nails with other nail trends. It’s the perfect mix of designs for those who can’t just decide on one.
4Keep It Groovy
Mix bold, 1970s-inspired swirls for a groovy nail look that brings all the psychedelic vibes.
5French Tip Swirls
Instead of a classic white curve along the tip of the nail, opt for a French manicure with multi-colored swirls and a glossy, neutral base.
6Geometric Swirls
Mix geometric shapes and thin swirls for a really pretty nail design that’s uniquely gorgeous.
7Sweet Swirls
Dubbed “Ice Cream Swirlies” by makeup artist Hannah Taylor, these bright light pink and blue pastel swirls on top of classic, square-shaped tips are super fun and sweet.
8Shimmer Swirls
Opt for a bare nail with shimmer as your base to put an unexpected twist on your swirl nail. This pink swirl is especially eye-catching and matches the faint shimmer perfectly.
9White Out
You can’t go wrong with classic white swirls. Mix in a neutral shade to make the design stand out.
10Abstract Swirls
These abstract swrils are mesmerizing and make for a perfect fall nail.
11Burst Of Color
Mix bright colored swirls like neon pink, lime green, pastel orange, and electric yellow on top of a base coat of white nail polish. It’s a great look to savor the last days of summer.
12Strawberry Fields
Here’s another Barbiecore-inspired look for all the pink polish lovers.
13Bare Your Soul
This barely-there neutral nail is so sleek that it will warm all minimalist lovers’ hearts. Simply draw on a thin delicate white swirl against a tan, neutral base for a chic and subtle look.
14Enjoy Your Greens
Paint your nails with an olive green base, then draw on a lighter lime swirl for a fresh take on the monochromatic nail art look.
15Mix & Match
Mix a whole bunch of different trends onto one hand because why not? Along with minimal swirls against a bare nail, go for some popular daisy decals and fun pastel colors on the other nails for a super fun nail look.
16Get Jelly With It
Jelly nails give that nostalgic vibe and it doesn’t take much to really elevate them. Draw a simple white swirl across the middle and it will instantly up the coolness factor.
17Pretty Pastels
These swirls blend into one another to make a maze-like look that’s just mesmerizing. Paint them against a different pastel backgrounds to make them very playful.
18Ocean Blue
Nautical lovers will love these ocean-inspired swirl nails. A combination of mermaid-esque light blue and turquoise swirls is reminiscent of ocean waves.
19Go Matte
Don’t forget that you always have the option of playing with textures. Choose a matte finish and different-colored swirls across your nails for a unique look.
20Purple Reign
Another combo of swirls and French tips, this manicure features different (yet equally gorgeous) shades of purple.
