25 of the Coolest Mismatched Manis to Show Off Your Creative Side

Main Image – @thehangedit/Instagram

If you’re into nail art, you will have seen that mismatched manicures are *everywhere* this year.

From bright and colourful hearts and stars to monochrome manis, gems and glitter to smiley faces, the world really is your oyster with this creative trend – and anything goes.

And the celebs have been getting in on the movement, with the likes of Hailey Bieber, Keke Palmer, and Kylie Jenner sporting the look.

So, I’ve saved 25 of the best mismatched (also called mix-and-match) manicures to get your creative juices flowing.

 

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25 Mismatched Manicures

 

1. Mismatched celestial nude pink manicure with moon and sun

Celestial designs are all over my feed lately, and they lend themselves SO well to a mismatched manicure. Whether you add moons, stars, suns, or your zodiac constellation, create a set that is out of this world.

 

 

2. Orange and pink mismatched abstract manicure with monochrome designs

Bright orange, mustard, and hot pink are the perfect colours to compliment a bold manicure with monochrome nail art. This intricate set has a psychedelic theme with eyes, flowers, and snakes, but the abstract circles add a touch of modernism.

 

3. Bright rainbow mismatched mani

Cute rainbows, bold graphics, groovy prints, and bright colours will be the mani of the moment this spring. These vivid shades look amazing on shorter nails and this set incorporates everything from smiley faces to stars.

 

4. Luxe mismatched nails with purple, gold, orange, and glitter

These luxe neutral tones bring a sense of calm and class to a mismatched mani, especially on neat short nails.

 

5. Baby pink mismatched manicure with bows and glitter

Pink manicures are still swirling around social media and elsewhere online, with tonnes of variations like this mismatched set with cute bows, silver and glitter. Perfect for Valentine’s or a sweet mani for any season.

 

6. Gold and brown mismatched mani with gems and 3D details

This is one of the most opulent manicures in the roundup, combining trends like 3D art, airbrushing, chrome, and gold leaf. Who said brown is boring?!

 

7. Mismatched nails with green, orange, and pink

We did a roundup of the best checkered nails at the end of 2023, and this trend is still firmly on the radar. 

 

8. Purple marble mismatched nails with rhinestones and glitter

Ahh marble nails, almost as classic as the French tip. This manicure is super glamorous, especially on a set of long coffin-shaped nails, and the iridescent rhinestones really complete this look.

 

9. Pink and red French tips with flowers and hearts

You can’t beat a traditional French tip, but this red and pink set with hearts, flowers and swirls is a real contender! With an almond shape and tiny stars to top it off, this manicure is the epitome of cute and cheerful.

 

10. Royal blue mismatched manicure with yellow details

This manicure is giving me serious Mykonos vibes with the royal blue shade white accents on the design. @gloss.surrey has mixed it up with a touch of yellow and a nude base.

 

11. Bright mismatched manicure with smiley faces, hearts, bows, and clouds

Bright mismatched nails always make a statement, but I’m loving this mid-length set with so many cool designs. This is a really fun set that looks amazing with bright jewellery circa the 2000s.

 

12. Light pink mismatched aura manicure with silver details

Mismatched manicures don’t have to be bold and bright, and this light pink aura set proves it. Combining hearts, stars, dots and lines, the silver really sets off the chrome finish on these nails.

 

13. Neon orange mismatched manicure with checkered print

But if you do like a bold and bright mani, orange could be the way to go! Using two shades of the colour, gold leaf, and checkered feature nails, this set is perfectly mismatched.

 

14. Red and silver mismatched manicure with hearts, bows, and swirls

If you’re still firmly on the hearts and bows trend, this glossy mani is for you! Mixing stars, bows, swirls, hearts, silver, and nude, this is a super grown-up and classy set that’s perfect for a romantic getaway.

 

15. Opulent chrome mismatched nails with stars and gems

I’m a bit obsessed with this set! Pure opulence with chrome, French tips, aura design, gems, and stars, the colours in this manicure scream indulgence and remind me of precious jewels and crystals. Seriously beautiful.

 

16. Matte magenta mismatched manicure with abstract lines and dots

If you’re more of a matte mani lover, we got you. Even though magenta is the base for each of these nails, the thin white line designs are seriously modern and give a real artsy feel.

 

17. Bright frangipani short mismatched nails with 3D details

Who doesn’t love mismatched nails AND 3D details?!

 

18. Red, black, and gold oriental mismatched manicure

These red, black, and gold oriental nails are a mesmerising fusion of culture and style, and they just exude elegance. The gold birds and fish design is some of the most intricate (and beautiful) nail art I’ve seen and the red circle details are just perfect.

 

19. Short mismatched manicure with smiley faces and groovy prints

This is such a fun manicure! Perfect for a winter pick-me-up or a spring statement, the colours of this set combined with the designs are cute and happy – not to mention they’re SO on trend with the flowers and smiley faces. Perfect.

 

20. Sheer pink and red jelly mismatched Valentine’s manicure

The cutest nails for Valentine’s (or any time of the year, really), we are loving the imagination with this mismatched set. The jelly pink base is a great combo with hearts, flowers, and all of the colours that are synonymous with this romantic day.

 

21. Nude mismatched Easter manicure with white details and bunny ears

The chicest Easter manicure around, this minimalist set with a matte nude base and cute bunny ears is seriously cute and will still look great with office wear. Add some dainty gold jewellery to really compliment these nails.

 

22. Mismatched Matisse print manicure with bold colours

Don’t these nails really remind you of Matisse? Or, perhaps the old lava lamp you used to have on your bedside table (or still do!). Combining a bold abstract print with bright primary colours will definitely get your fingertips noticed.

 

23. Mismatched monochrome Halloween manicure with spiders and webs

The perfect mismatched Halloween mani DOES exist! I’ve seen plenty of orange and red mismatched Halloween nails but this mani complete with stiletto-shaped talons, spider webs, creepy crawlies, and black cats really is something different.

 

24. Fall mismatched manicure with gold stars and croc print

The colours and hues in this mani make it an amazing option for fall, especially with the added gold accents. Incorporating multiple trends of the moment, including swirls, aura, and croc print, you can’t go wrong with this set.

 

25. Pink glitter Christmas mismatched manicure with stripes

With red, green and gold manicures seen everywhere during the holiday season, mix it up with some pink glitter! in-keeping with the Christmas theme and combining candy stripes, Santa hats, and presents, this mani will fit right in without being *too* obvious.

 

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The takeaway

As far as creative nails go, mismatched manis are the perfect way to show some fun and personality on your fingertips without being too ‘out there’.

From complicated designs to bold colours, neutral hues to silver details, there’s a mismatched mani to suit us all – and if you’re spoilt for choice, let your nail tech go wild and choose the designs for you!

It doesn’t get more fun and creative!