Inspired by longer days and gorgeous sunsets, summer nail trends feature vibrant shades and lots of experimentation. In fact, #SummerNails—which has 235.5K posts on TikTok—is making the rounds, with BeautyTok obsessing over corals, warm yellows and oranges and shimmery pinks.

Jan Arnold, CND co-founder, took time to chat with Happi about the latest nail trends for summer.

Happi: Is there an underrated or unexpected summer nail color that you’re excited about?

Arnold: From CND’s Gleam and Glow collection, my two favorites are Magenta Sky which is a sheer, vibrant red-magenta and Meadow Glow which is a fully opaque bright green cream. They are super fun on their own, but they also complement each other well in so many different designs. I especially like Meadow Glow on toes, with a veil of Night Brilliance over the top.  When light hits it, there is a lovely flash of pink that beams from the nails.

Happi: What do you think are driving nail trends right now?

Arnold: Summer emerges from the lethargy of winter, gradually gaining momentum until it blossoms into summer’s vibrant energy. This transition is reflected in our color palettes, evolving from cool and distant winter hues to playful pastels in spring, and finally to the highly charged and dynamic shades of summer.

As we embrace this shift, bold, iridescent tones remain a prevailing trend, now infused with the dynamism of jellies and creams. These captivating shades inspire boundless creativity, encouraging experimentation through layering and embellishment, evoking the spirit of summer love.

Happi: Are there any designs, nail lengths and shapes, or colors that you are loving?

Arnold: One of my favorite designs of the season is called Red Jade. Renowned artist Vivian Xue showcases her creativity with this unique technique using CND Shellac. She combines shades Ig-Night-Ed and Sunrise Energy from the collection with core colors Fedora, Black Pool, plus PlexiGel Oatmilk.

With a light touch, Vivian lightly blends the colors on a palette before applying them to the nails in two layers, resulting in a mesmerizing mottling effect reminiscent of jade stone. To add a touch of excitement, she embellishes a nail on each hand with a silver foil dragon.

Happi: What’s new from CND for Summer 2024?

Arnold: Introducing another stunning design from CND’s Gleam & Glow collection: Brilliant Burst. Renowned nail artist Tom Truong crafted this dynamic look using CND Shellac, ingeniously layering Ig-nighted red-orange jelly over Catching Light’s bright yellow cream for a bespoke hue. A matte top coat added the perfect backdrop for the vibrant hand painted petals to come.

With meticulous detail, Tom applied brilliant petals in Catching Light yellow cream and Meadow Green cream using a fine brush, finishing with a high shine using No-Wipe+ Top Coat. Each nail was elegantly wrapped with a delicate metallic line reminiscent of copper wire.

Happi: Anything else we need to know about nail trends for summer?

Arnold: Additionally, I’d like to highlight an extraordinary avant-garde exploration of summer hues, exemplified by this exquisite stained glass window sculpture! Renowned artist Mino Vo crafted the framework using copper, and expertly infusing the grid with a palette of jellies and creams, resulting in a mesmerizing multidimensional masterpiece. The interplay of these enchanting colors lends an unparalleled luminosity to the piece.