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Birthday nails come in a variety of colors, styles, and lengths. “My personal philosophy when choosing a birthday nail is to do whatever makes you feel comfortable rather than following a trend,” says the manicurist. Sigourney Nuñez. “But if you need a little inspiration and love astrology, getting a manicure based on your zodiac sign is never a bad idea.” Nail artist and CEO of Nailing Hollywood Mazz Hanna said scrap paper design, charming highlightcute details, and sparkling countless for a fun, party-ready look. Basically, anything goes. You just need to decide what kind of birthday vibe you want to exude on your fingertips. To help you do that, we’ve rounded up over a dozen birthday nail ideas that are party-worthy. Check them out below.
Uneven Shiny Skittle Nails
Hollywood Nail Artist Hang Nguyen Create this eye-catching mix-n-match manicure. With cows, rainbows, evil eyes, smiley faces, and glitter accents, this is a fun, cheesy manicure that taps into the positive energy of your birth month.
Skittle Glitter Nails
Colorful enough for a fun birthday! To recreate this look, choose a multi-colored rhinestone nail polish or start with your chosen rhinestone polish on each nail, then cover with a layer of clear scrap paper.
Neutral Glitter Heart Nails
Love neutral nails? Refresh your standard light brown manicure with a touch of champagne glitter. Create a minimalist heart accent with a fine-edged nail art brush.
3D Glitter Star Nails
We love this glitter manicure. To get this look, start with a pastel jelly base on each nail. Then, apply a layer of glitter or add your own glitter to complete the look. When working with thicker glitter pieces, Hanna recommends using a styling gel as a final step to set them and prevent them from peeling off.
Gold Glitter Leopard Nails
Leopard print is a major trend in 2024. Give your nails a gold base coat and a glittery top coat. To ensure longevity, finish with a thick top coat or styling gel.
Short glitter nails
Can you talk about birthday glitter?! “If you want your birthday nails to really stand out, opt for eye-catching 3D nail art with a little glam,” says Hanna. “Morgan created this look by using smaller stones as a base with large rectangular stones in the middle. To keep the gems from falling off the nail, use a strong nail glue to adhere them or a clear gel. Clear gel is great for any nail art that might fall off.”
Metallic Glitter Ombre Nails
For a more subtle, glamorous effect, consider switching up the shimmer. You can recreate this look with a super-smooth pastel glitter nail polish.
Multicolored Sparkle Flame Nails
Want to go all out with your birthday manicure? Start with a rainbow glitter base, then top it off with a matte gold flame. Just remember: The longer your nails are, the better this nail art will look.
Nebula Nails
Celebrate another lap around the sun with this cosmic nebula manicure. It’s crafted with cat eye nail polish. These polishes use magnets to manipulate the shimmering pigments, creating an instantly eye-catching finish.
Aura Halo Star Pastel Nails
Feeling bright and energetic this birth month? Express that mood on your nails with a multi-colored aura base paired with bright white glitter nail art. You can DIY the glitter with a dotting tool and/or a nail art brush. Start with a large dot of white polish, then drag it out four ways to create dots.
Aura Pink Ombre Heart Nails
Feeling thankful for another year? This halo heart nail is a lovely way to convey the mood. “If you’re into cute looks, your birthday is the perfect time to try out a cute and colorful nail design,” says Hanna, praising this delicate heart nail art by Hollywood Nailing artist Rachel Joseph.
Pink Velvet French Manicure
An easy way to take your French manicure to the next level for your birthday month? With some seriously sparkly tips. “A glittery French manicure is the perfect birthday manicure for anyone who just wants a little glam,” says Hanna.
Purple Glitter Star Nails
It’s your birthday and you’re a star. Show off that energy with a monochrome, dual-finish star manicure. Although this design is finished in purple, it’s a look that’s all about the rainbow.
Radiant 3D Chrome Heart Nails
3D accents instantly elevate any nail look. For your birthday, consider this pastel rainbow stiletto nail with glitter heart nail art. You can DIY this look by starting with a shiny chrome base coat. Then, use a shaping gel to create the heart design.
Silver Chrome Disco Head
Are you ready to dance the night away? Celebrate your big day with disco nails that are perfect for the occasion.
Skittle Nails Sprinkle
Here is another cute nail art idea that is perfect for birthday parties. You can create sprinkle nail art using a nail art brush.
French tip confetti sprinkles
Looking for more sprinkles? A coat of colorful glitter will get you that look.
Colorful glitter nails
Meanwhile, if you want your paper flowers to really pop, try pairing them with a jet black base. Then, finish with a thick coat of clear paint to hold everything in place.
Turquoise Sparkle Zodiac Nails
“Your birthday month is the perfect time to get your zodiac sign manicure,” says Hanna. “You can combine the color of your birthstone with your zodiac-inspired nail art elements for a cohesive look.” If you’re not confident in your DIY abilities, Hanna recommends using nail art stickers, as there are plenty of zodiac sets available.
Butterfly nails
Last but not least, we have butterfly nails. Birthdays are a time for change and butterflies are the perfect motif for such a celebration.
