60 Stunning Ombre Nail Ideas to Try in 2023

Image – @antzela__del/Instagram

Unlike loads of other nail trends, ombre nails are classic and timeless. You can use any colours you want, add glitters, shimmers or nail art, keep it minimalist with monochrome, or even use a different colour on each nail if that’s more your style.

Mix it up by painting your ombre from side to side rather than top to bottom for a new take on the trend.

Although ombre nails aren’t anything new, they still reign supreme for their versatility and elegance. So we have put together a list of the 60 best ombre nails that you need to try in 2023.

 

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What are ombre nails?

For those of you who must have been living under a rock for the past year or so, ombre nails have been seen all over Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and on the hands of celebs like Kylie Jenner, Dua Lipa and Lizzo.

Just like ombre hair, ombre nails are a type of manicure where a colour gradient is used and a lighter colour seamlessly blends into a darker one. You can literally customise these how you want, using bold hues, muted tones, glitters and matt polishes.

Ombre nails can be done with generally any enhancement type (gel, gel polish, traditional lacquer or dip acrylics), so you won’t need to sacrifice on your fave type of manicure to get the look.

(And if any of your nail fun goes awry we’ve got you covered with our super quick guide on how to remove nail glue from skin).

 

How much do ombre nails cost?

The price of acrylic nails varies widely between nail technicians. The typical cost for a mid-range acrylic manicure ranges from $45 to $65 for a standard set and can be slightly more expensive for an ombre set.

In the UK, ombre nails will cost around £40 for a full set of acrylics with gel colour, with the price increasing if you want nail art included.

 

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60 ombre nail design ideas

You can wear ombre nails all year round. Gay pride? Use the colourful pride flag. Christmas? Go for green, red and white. Summer festivals? Go bold and bright.

No matter what nail shape you prefer (because let’s face it, ombre looks great on any shape), take a look at the 60 best looks to get your imagination going before you book that nail appointment.

 

1. French Ombre Nails

We are starting off simple with the French ombre. Like French manicures, French ombre primarily keeps to neutral colours of pink, white, and nudes.

The end result? A stunning modern take on a real classic, perfect for day-to-day wear.

For more stunning French tip design ideas check out our pick of the best here.

 

2. French Ombre Nails with Glitter

Want to elevate your Frenchies? Glitter is the perfect way to do this without going too overboard, particularly because you can add understated shimmers or go all out and pack on the sparkles.

 

3. Hot Pink Ombre Nails

Pink ombre nails are sooo customisable! You can use the lightest of pinks to create a more muted and pretty take on the trend, or go all out there with the brightest bottles you can find. This leads us on to the Baby Boomer ombre…

 

4. Baby Boomer Ombre Nails

These are slightly different to the French ombre, fading the pink into a white colour rather than a more subtle nude.

You may have heard this style being referred to as the ‘French fade’. This nail design has the same white tips as a French manicure but with a more gradual transition from pink to white.

 

5. Nude Ombre Nails

We are pretty confident that the nude ombre will never go out of style! It doesn’t matter what season it is, or what event you are going to, these muted hues will look great with any outfit.

 

6. Peach Ombre Nails

Peach ombre nails are the sweetest of all! These tones are perfect for any nail shape and are the ultimate way to create a chic yet modern look.

You can go for a really natural take on these, or add some bolder peachy tones.  And for more peachy nail designs, check out our guide to 2023’s 60 best nails designs.

 

7. Lavender Ombre Nails

Slightly bolder than the French ombre is a lavender design, created using lilac and nude shades.

These can be made to look slightly gothic by using a coffin-shaped nail or light and feminine with an almond shape. Either way, these shades are perfect for spring and summer.

 

8. White Ombre Nails

White ombre nails will match literally any outfit, bringing a touch of glamour and simplicity. Loads of people add a really light pink or nude hue, but these purely white ombre nails look so chic.

For how often you should get a manicure to keep your nails looking glossy and polished, take a look at our guide here.

 

9. Rose Gold Ombre Nails

Rose gold is such a classic, and it looks great on all skin tones. We recommend keeping the jewellery on your hands and wrists simple and delicate when using rose gold – let your nails do the glam.

 

10. Gold Ombre Nails

A bolder take on the rose gold ombre, gold is great for the cooler seasons and a particular favourite at Christmastime. You can go subtle with gold on just one statement nail or make go all out with bright gold hues on coffin-shaped nails.

 

11. Beige Ombre Nails

There are plenty of ways you can wear this tone, with some people opting to pair it with white and some going for a black gradient (trust us, this looks fab).

We love these beige ombre nails that fade into pretty purple. Channel your inner ‘clean girl’ with this one.

 

12. Silver Ombre Nails

Another good one for the Christmas or winter season is the silver ombre. This can be done using glitters and sparkles, but chrome finishes give this look a really modern and cool edge.

 

13. Grey Ombre Nails

Forget the notion that grey is ‘blah’, because it actually makes the perfect base for lots of stunning variations on the ombre nail trend.

Grey ombre can be completely monochrome incorporating different shades, or it can be paired with almost any other colour to create an especially popping nail.

 

14. Short Ombre Nails

Ombre works on all shapes and nail lengths, so you can still wear this trend if you don’t wear like wearing false tips or haven’t been blessed with long and strong talons!

 

15. Yellow Ombre Nails

There are tons of different ways to wear ombre nails, with yellow being a playful and youthful take on the trend. And you don’t be fooled into thinking you have to wear a bold and brilliant yellow, start off with a muted lemony shade – perfect for Easter.

 

16. Cloud Ombre Nails

A really dreamy look. We love these cloud ombre nails, made with the loveliest pink, purple, blue and white hues.

There are loads of variations of this one out there, whether you cover your whole nail in clouds or just the tips like the ones below.

 

17. Blue and White Ombre Nails

Obviously, different shades of blue can be used but we are loving these light blue and white ombre nails. They will look really chic in the winter, but how great would these look on the beach next to the sparkling sea?!

 

18. Light Blue Ombre Nails

These icy blue ombre nails are perfect for wintertime, think après ski with a drink in hand after hitting the slopes. “True Blue baby I love you…”

 

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19. Blue Ombre Nails

Blue is another shade that works well with practically any other colour. Try blue and nude for a classic look, blue and black for a more gothic feel, or blue glitter for a playful and youthful look.

 

20. Royal Blue Ombre Nails

These vivid nails will get you noticed – especially if you opt for a long set. Royal blue looks especially good, when faded out from black, and adding some chrome really makes them pop.

 

21. Teal Ombre Nails

A refreshing teal tone looks great with pinks, purples, white and nude.

 

22. Green Ombre Nails

Ok, so you really can tailor this look for any mood, outfit or occasion. Halloween? Go for slime green and black. Work event? Sage green looks really chic and classic with nude tones. Summer holiday? Try a green with a hint of teal that fades from white. Sorted!

 

23. Brown Ombre Nails

The colour of warmth and comfort. Brown is quite an autumnal colour, but it’s also a great neutral shade that goes well with loads of colour combinations. If you are wanting something with a touch of sparkle, add a touch of gold, silver or rose gold to your brown ombre nails.

 

24. Mocha Brown Ombre Nails

Mocha looks good on all skin tones, and you can also opt for lighter or darker hues depending on your preference. Mocha brown ombre nails are timeless and understated, so they can be paired with basically any outfit and for any type of event.

 

25. Deep Red Ombre Nails

Typically worn in autumn and winter, deep red ombre nails can be bold or understated. They also look particularly good with gold accents like gems and nail art.

 

26. Maroon Ombre Nails

Maroon nail designs with glitter look amazing. In fact, glossy burgundy hues are perfect to make your nails look visually longer. If glitter and sparkles aren’t really your style, maroon looks great with a matte finish.

 

27. Red and White Ombre Nails

Another great one for Christmas! Channel candy canes (you go Glen Coco) and Santa’s suit with these classic red and white ombre nails, they’re also fab for Valentine’s!

 

28. Red and Black Ombre Nails

Red and black are both pretty striking, pair them together and you’ve got the perfect design for any event. Go for a more burgundy tone and pair with some gold crowns either on the tips or on the lunula (that little white semicircle near the cuticle).

 

29. Black Ombre Nails

Black ombre nails are bold, moody and fun, and they really show off a perfectly put-together manicure. We absolutely love a long, almond-shaped nail with a nude base that fades into black at the tips – so classy.

 

30. Two-Tone Ombre Nails

Whether you go for an accent nail or go all-out and get the full set, two-tone ombre nail designs give you a sharp contrast look in your colourway. This style limits you to two tones, but you might be surprised at how creative you (or your nail technician) can get!

 

31. Ombre Nails with Diamonds

Dazzle them all with some diamonds. With so many different shapes, styles and colours you can add diamonds to ombre nails either on the tips, on the lunula, around the corners or even cover the entirety of a few of your nails to really make a statement.

 

32. Glitter Ombre Nails

These can be done in so many different ways and adding a bit of glitter is a great option to jazz up your manicure. You can opt for chunky silver or gold glitters, toned-down shimmers and sparkles or even add some diamonds or gems on there, too. Everyone needs a bit of glitter sometimes, right?

 

33. Sparkle Ombre Nails

A splash of sparkle is a surefire way to add a bit of glam to your ombre manicure.

 

34. Glitter Pink Ombre Nails

We have seen some pretty garish pinks on our search for the best ombre nails – but it doesn’t have to be that way! There are so many pink tones like baby pink, coral, bubblegum pink, and fuchsia pink, so we bet there is one for everyone.

 

35. Hot Pink Ombre Nails

Ok, so we have looked at nudes and muted pinks, but who says ombre nails need to be subtle?! Hot pink looks great on all skin tones, and our favourite combinations are bright orange, white and tonal pinks that seamlessly transition into hot pink.

 

36. Glitter Purple Ombre Nails

Perfect for any season, glitter purple ombre nails also look great in every tone of purple, like this set that resemble the constellations at night.

 

37. Sunset Ombre Nails

While Ibiza may not be on the cards for you at the moment, you can channel the stunning colours of a sunset with these ombre nails. Use colours like pink, purple, orange, yellow and red to create this look.

 

38. Rainbow Ombre Nails

These rainbow ombre nails are so versatile and fun. You can use pastel shades for a more muted look or go all-out with bright and bold. We have seen tons of people wearing variations of this style for events like pride, you can even add glitter for a real pop.

 

39. Unicorn Ombre Nails

The unicorn obsession is still here, and it looks like it’s going to stick around for a while longer. These mystical creatures have been the inspiration for many ombre nails, and people love to add some glitter and shimmer to complete the magical look.

 

40. Paint Art Ombre Nails

There are a crazy amount of super-talented nail artists who can paint basically anything onto your nails using a tiny brush and a magnifying glass. We love these silver ombre nails with dreamy moon and cloud paint art.

 

41. Airbrush Effect Ombre Nails

Airbrushed nails are done using a spray-paint effect to give a look similar to ombre or graffiti, and they were all the rage in the 80s and 90s. This look can be created using an airbrush machine and special gels.

 

42. Ombre Nails with Stripes

Adding stripes to your ombre nails will give them another element – You can go for horizontal or vertical, or a little more interesting with chevrons, geometric shapes and angles that create a design on top of your ombre.

 

43. Ombre Nails with Nail Art

Aahh nail art. For many of us, this brings up memories of stickers and shapes on our small and child-sized hands – particularly if you grew up during the 90s! Bring your ombre manicure to life with some cool and fun nail art like this groovy set.

 

44. Vertical Ombre Nails

If you love ombre nails, ask your nail tech to do a VERTICAL ombre. It is sooo much easier to blend, and we think it’s a great take on the trend.

 

45. Ombre Almond Nails

Almond-shaped nails tend to suit everyone and give a really elegant look. If you have short palms and short fingers, it’s best to opt for rounded oval and almond shapes. For longer palms and fingers, consider dramatic stiletto or coffin (or ballerina) shaped styles.

 

46. Ombre Stiletto Nails

Done right, stiletto nails can look really chic, particularly in nude ombre shades. This shape is typically long and comes to a knife-like point at the tip.

 

47. Coffin Ombre Nails

Coffin nails (also called ballerina nails) are essentially the stiletto nail, but with a square rather than a pointy tip. They are long, tapered and filed flat at the tip.

 

48. Wedding Ombre Nails

There are tons of super-stunning wedding ombre nail designs, personalised with dainty gems, slight sparkles, painted flowers, and crystals.

Bridal ombre is perfect for a classy look that you can tailor to match the most important dress you will likely ever wear – your wedding dress.

 

Spring Ombre Nails

49. Milky Ombre Nails

True to its name, the milky ombre is between an opaque and a sheer white hue, with a translucent and creamy finish.

These are pretty similar to the ‘glazed doughnut nails’ that were trending not so long ago after being seen on Hailey Bieber, but with a ‘milkier’ finish rather than a translucent one.

 

50. Matte Pastel Ombre Nails

It’s not very surprising that these are also called an ‘ice cream fade’, with the use of swirly, creamy-coloured polishes. These look really great with spring and summer outfits and are perfect for the upcoming warmer weather. IMO, they look particularly good on a shorter, natural nail.

 

51. Tie-Dye Ombre

That’s right, tie-dye isn’t just for those old t-shirts and jumpers (god do I love tie-dye), but it also looks really cool on nails. Similar to a marble effect, colours are swirled out and into each other like on this set below.

 

Summer ombre nails

52. Tropical Ombre Nails

The range of summery designs is vast and limitless, but these tropical ombre nails will really get you in the mood for that cocktail on the beach – and look great with your bikinis!

And for expert tips on getting sunless glow at the same time as pretty nails, take a look at our guide on how to get a spray tan without ruining your mani.

 

53. Two-Tone Summer Ombre Nails

Channel the warm, sunny beaches and cool ocean with some glittery pink and blue ombre nails, make a splash with mirrored chrome that mimics the pool, take it up a notch with some bright and tropical sunset colours, or add some floral nail art for that summer feel.

 

54. Neon Ombre Nails

These will really make an impact at those summer festivals, and neon ombre nails look great short or long, matte or shiny, vertical or horizontal!

 

Fall Ombre Nails

55. Halloween Ombre Nails

For the spooky season, try out some Halloween-inspired ombre nails. Think dark oranges, black, browns and burgundy, and cool nail art like bats, spiders and pumpkins.

 

56. Pumpkin Spiced Ombre Nails

With Autumn comes the thousands of Instagram posts about pumpkin-spiced lattes returning to Starbucks. Match your coffee with your claws and opt for shades of orange and yellow for a seriously sweet pumpkin pie-inspired nail look.

 

57. Black and Orange Ombre Nails

We don’t think anything says Halloween quite like the combination of black and orange. This striking colour combo will also last you right through the autumn season, mimicking the orange leaves falling off the trees.

 

Christmas Ombre Nails

58. Snowflake Ombre Nails

In our opinion, snowflake nail art looks amazing with cool blue, white or silver ombre nails. Channel your inner Elsa and Anna with these chilled Christmas ombre nails.

 

59. Christmas Tree Ombre Nails

You can go really abstract with this, or feature just a hint of Christmas. One idea is to use green and red ombre on all of your nails and top the accent nail off with a squiggle of glittery polish so it looks like a Christmas tree. Cute, eh?

 

60. Christmas Glitter Ombre Nails

Nothing says Christmas like glitter! Use a sprinkling of silver or gold glitter on white ombre nails for a snow-coloured manicure, or use bold and glittery colours like bright reds, greens and golds.

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The Takeaway

Whether you prefer long or short nails, glitter or matte finishes, anyone and everyone can rock the ombre nail trend this year!