35 of the Cutest Smiley Face Nail Designs to Release Your Inner Child
Main Image – @jessyoungnails/instagram
It’s official. Smiley face nail designs are *huge* in 2024 – and we are so here for it.
The smiley face logo became popular in the 50s and 60s, leading to tens of thousands of variations.
From graphic designer Harvey Ball’s smiley created to boost employee morale at an insurance company, to being plastered all over our walls in the form of Blink 182s album artwork (IYKYK), and gracing the fingertips of Harry Styles – the smiley is a now a classic.
Whether you’re no stranger to getting your nails done at the salon or you prefer to take a night of self-care painting from the comfort of your own couch – there’s a smiley face nail design for you in our carefully created list.
We guarantee these will brighten up your look (and your day)!
1. Black and silver smiley face nails
Image – @jark.nails/instagram
A milky base is the perfect canvas for nail art, and these silver and black smiley faces still keep it classy.
2. Monochrome smiley face nails
Image – @thehangedit/instagram
This set combines a few trends – monochrome, colour blocks, checkered print and smiley faces. Nailed it.
3. Checkered nails with yellow smiley faces
Image – @the_gelologist/instagram
A checkered twist on the classic neon yellow smiley.
4. Pink smiley mani with flowers
Image – @freshsetlancaster/instagram
Pink and white are the perfect pair, IMO.
5. Pink and yellow stiletto nails with smiley faces and swirls
Image – @colourriotnails/instagram
Pink nails look amazing in any shade (yep, I’m a real pink girly ATM), but hot pink and yellow melted smileys are just *perfect*.
6. Brown checkered nails with smiley faces
Image – @thehangedit/instagram
Brown nails are having a bit of a moment lately, add some checkerboard print and smileys and you’ve nailed a multitude of trends!
7. Yellow nails with silly freehand smiley faces
Image – @colourriotnails/instagram
These are really different take on the smiley face trend – silly freehand faces that are really reminding me of the John Lennon logo.
8. Bright colourful swirl nails with flower smiley faces
The brightest set in the bunch, these nails are perfect for spring.
9. Orange and brown smiley face nails
Image – @thehangedit/instagram
A twist on the classic smiley face – anyone remember using these smiley faces on messages before we had emojis?! :]
10. Red and pink mismatched melted smiley face nails
Image – @jark.nails/instagram
Another on trend smiley mani, this time in pink and red with checkerboard print, hearts, flowers, and flames.
11. Bright pink nails with heart smiley faces
Image – @aprilnails.etc/instagram
This mani proves you can turn basically any nail art into smileys!
12. Purple and pink ombre French tip nails with smiley faces
Image – @aprilnails.etc/instagram
Combining ombre, Barbie pink, light purple, and cute smiley faces.
13. Multicoloured smiley faces on nude nails
Image – @skipthefilteruk/instagram
If you love a colourful mani then this one’s for you.
14. Cute frog pattern smiley face nails
Image – @colourriotnails/instagram
The clear base works perfectly on this mani, complete with classic hearts, smiling frogs and gems.
15. Red and pink heart smiley face nail design
Image – @the_gelologist/instagram
The perfect romantic mani for Valentine’s Day.
16. Pink and blue smiley face nail designs
Image – @the_gelologist/instagram
Pinks and purples paired with some nude glitter. So cute.
17. Happy/sad clown smiley nails with glitter
Smiley faces don’t always need to be, well, smiley!
18. Smiley faces and mismatched prints
Image – @sadiejnails/instagram
I am seriously loving the mismatched nail trend that’s all over my feed at the moment, perfect for spring and summer.
19. Silver glitter nails with bay pink smiley faces
Image – @jessyoungnails/instagram
Perfect disco nails.
20. Clear nails with yellow and silver smiley faces
Image – @colourriotnails/instagram
They’re giving 90s Blink 182 vibes.
21. Multicoloured glitter gel nails with smiley faces
Image – @jessyoungnails/instagram
The most perfect smiley faces for spring and summer!
22. Nude almond nails with 90s silver smiley faces
Image – by_ezana/instagram
A nude nail is always a classic, and this tiny silver smiley is a fun addition to a chich mani.
23. Pastel melted smiley face nails
The perfect summer set.
24. Black French tip smiley face nail design
Image – @by_ezana/instagram
I love this take on the French manicure, using Black and adding smiley faces just on the tips.
25. Royal blue and white mismatched nails with smiley faces
Image – @dais_does_nails/instagram
They’re giving Mykonos.
26. Matte ombre multicoloured flower smiley face feature nail
Image – @jessyoungnails/instagram
A matte finish is a great way to update a mani.
27. Short nude nails with lime green smiley face feature nails
Image – @nailsbytammy___/instagram
Prefer to do your nails at home?
Ciate London has got you with these cute and colourful smiley nail stickers that are super easy to use and can be applied to any kind of manicure (£16.00/$18.00 on the Ciate London website).
28. Mismatched nails with 3D sad faces
Image – @jessyoungnails/instagram
3D nails are all over my feed at the moment, and this set is perfect for incorporating the trend.
29. Pink and green smiley face nail design
Image – @freshsetlancaster/instagram
Pink and green is one of my favourite colour combos and looks so cute used on these smiley face nails.
30. Acrylic Halloween smiley face nails
Image – @jark.nails/instagram
Acrylics are a great way to add some length to your nails, making it even easier to go all out on nail art like this neon spooky set!
31. Sky blue nails with daisy smiley face designs
Image – @freshsetlancaster/instagram
A bright and breezy daisy mani with cute smiley faces.
32. Short oval multicoloured pastel smiley face nails
Image – @jessyoungnails/instagram
You don’t need long nails to have amazing nail art!
33. Natural nails with red and orange mismatched designs and smiley faces
Image – @freshsetlancaster/instagram
A mix and match mani isn’t *quite* complete without smiley faces.
34. Chrome smiley face nail design
Image – @blushnailartist/instagram
Chrome is still huge in the world of nails, and we aren’t complaining!
35. Black and silver and square melted smiley face nail design
Image – @jark.nails/instagram
The long square nails leave so much room for art and designs – the perfect canvas for some crazy smiley face prints!
The takeaway
Well, if that doesn’t cheer you up, we don’t know what will!
The smiley face trend is here for 2024 in the form of nail art and designs, t-shirt prints, interior design (yep, I’ve seen this all over my TikTok and it’s *so* cool), phone cases, and keyrings.
The 90s never really goes out of style (in my head, at least), so you’ll definitely nail the trend on this.
Get Glowing!
