Trust me when I say nail art isn't just for maximalists. Yes, statement-making chrome manis and vibrant marble nails may be all over your feed, but more natural-looking nail designs are equally cool for 2025. The beauty of minimalist nail art and manicures done with subtle, neutral polishes is that they won't clash with whatever you're wearing, and you won't tire of them as quickly as you would with a bolder design. Also great: Most natural nail designs are shockingly easy to DIY, so you can experiment with different mani ideas without spending a ton of $$ or making a trip to the salon.
Are you sold yet? Great, because I did hours of Pinterest and IG scrolling to bring you this roundup of the 30 best natural nail designs and ideas of 2023. From modern French manicures to pearl-studded accent nails, there's something for everyone on this list.
Micro-French nails
Ultra-thin lines make a classic French mani look way cooler, IMO, especially when paired with short, squared-off nails, says Green. Why? Because of their matching angles and lines. “
We’ve seen a rise in micro-French manis on square nail shapes, because they look much more seamless on square tips,” she says. If you need a little ~guidance~ to DIY a straight line, paint your polish on a silicone manicure sponge, push the tip of your nail into it to get a thin line, then clean up any excess with a nail polish remover pen.
This Neutral Crystal Mani
There’s just something so stylish about nude nails, and this look ups the ante with a gem placed on each tip. This requires essentially no experience, because all you have to do is paint your nails with your favorite neutral polish and then pop a sticky gem on top.
"Airbrushing has been a tool in the nail industry for decades and slowly disappeared," says nail artist Hemi Park. "With aura and cheek nails all over social media, we’ll be reaching for airbrush guns and starting to create flawlessly blended blushing accents on the nails."
Because 2025 will be all about opposing trends (i.e., Tiktok’s “ballerina sleaze” aesthetic), expect a major resurgence in matte nails, especially when they’re combined with chrome elements or embellishments. To DIY, just paint a matte top coat over any of your polishes, then, add adhesive rhinestones for some contrast and visual interest.
