35 Stunning Swirl Nail Designs to Take Your Manicure to the Next Level
Main Image – @nailgalnat/instagram
It’s official, abstract nail art is taking centre stage in 2024.
Geometric nail designs have been replaced by colourful, whimsical swirl nails and they are all over my social media feed! Not that I’m complaining – I love a swirl nail – especially when it involves lots of colour and nail art.
These artistic creations have taken the manicure world by storm recently, adding colour and texture to fingertips *everywhere*, including celebs like Lily Allen, Chlöe Bailey, and Millie Bobby Brown.
So, if you haven’t already bookmarked or taken a screenshot of your fave swirl mani to take to your next appointment with your nail tech, don’t worry, we’ve put together 35 of THE best swirl nail designs so you don’t have to go scrolling Insta and TikTok.
You’re welcome!
1. Nude nails with thin white swirls
We are starting the roundup off with a really understated but classy look that will take you from office to bar without being too OTT.
This one is easy to create at home with a glossy nude base, a white nail varnish and a thin nail brush like this one from Nails Inc – it includes a dotting too, too!
Image – @nonadoesnails/instagram
2. Multicoloured swirl gel nails with pink and yellow double French tips
These gel nails have a LOT going on, and we love them!
With a nude pink base, pink French tips, yellow French tips, and swirls of pink, red, yellow, purple, orange and silver, this mani will go with *literally* any outfit.
Image – @dais_does_nails/instagram
3. Shades of blue swirl nails with silver accents
With so many shades of blue to choose from, I’m a bit obsessed with this short set from @nonadoesnails featuring various hues and silver glitter.
Nona used a contour base and build from @bio_sculpture_official, @the_gelbottle_inc in the shades Bolt, Boutique and Sealight for the swirls, and @bio_sculpture_official glitter in the shade Chevon.
Image – @nonadoesnails/instagram
4. Black and white swirl nails with neon accents
Brighten up black and white with some neon swirly lines! These are giving real summer vibes for me.
If you want your nail tech to recreate this mani, ask for monochrome swirls with a hint of rainbow neon.
Image – @by_ezana/instagram
5. Shades of green swirl nails with hearts
The perfect nails for fall, incorporating shades of green and swirly hearts.
Take a screenshot of these ones to your nail tech to get the look!
Image – @jark.nails/instagram
6. Milky nude base with black swirls
We love a milky nude base! The perfect canvas for some cool nail art, this set with black swirls looks seriously amazing and would fit right in at the office.
Essie’s Gel Couture 138 Pre-Show Jitters Milky Nude Pink Colour Nail Polish is the perfect shade to recreate this base.
Image – @nailgalnat/instagram
7. Light purple nails with yellow, blue, and pastel swirls
Perfect for spring and summer, this is giving us a whole lot of groovy chick vibes.
You can create this look with a couple of pastel polishes. Just add your base (in this case, light purple) and wait for it to dry.
Then, use a thin nail brush or even the sharper end of a cuticle pusher to add swirl lines in another colour. Wait for this to dry before adding more swirls in various colours, repeating as many as you like!
Image – @gloss.surrey/instagram
8. Nude nails with primary green swirls
This long and square-shaped set was created using the viral shade Bottega from The Gel Bottle that’s been seen all over Instagram.
Swatched straight off the runway, loads of nail techs and clients have been obsessed with this iconic emerald green that only has a limited quantity available to buy.
Image – @gloss.surrey/instagram
9. Nude nails with red, white, and silver swirls
The *perfect* set for Christmas, this swirly mani reminds me of candy canes and tinsel.
Etsy has thousands of red swirl nails that are perfect for any occasion.
Image – @by_ezana/instagram
10. Blush pink nails with white, baby pink, and red swirls
One of the best things about swirl nails is that they look great even on short talons, and this pink, white and red set proves it!
A super feminine set that would fit right in on Valentine’s, pink is always a good idea.
Image – @dais_does_nails/instagram
11. Pastel dream swirls with blue, yellow, purple, and green shades
The pastel set of dreams!
With so many shades used on this mani, you might need to screenshot the image for your nail tech. Or, if you’re not a salon guy or gal, this pastel press-on set from Etsy is super similar.
Image – @nailgalnat/instagram
12. Short square milky nails with royal blue swirls
What did I say about swirls looking amazing on short nails?!
Using just two colours – a milky base like the one above from Essie and a royal blue – you can recreate this look at home using a thin nail brush or the end of a cuticle pusher.
Image – @dais_does_nails/instagram
13. Natural nails with orange, pink glitter, and yellow 70s swirls
These nails are sooo 70s coded!
Etsy has an AMAZING selection of orange swirl press on nails, so you can get this look at home!
Image – @the_gelologist/instagram
14. French tip swirl nails with cute nail stickers
These @lightslacquer pastel shades from their @carebears collection are an absolute DREAM!
@naileditbychelsey also used their Care Bears sticker sets which are quick and easy to create amazing nail art like the mani below. Obsessed.
Image – @naileditbychelsey/instagram
15. Orange and pink swirl French tip nails with grey
We can *literally* envisage these nails on the beach with a cocktail in hand!
Take a screenshot of these to your nail tech before your next hooliday!
Image – @nailgalnat/instagram
16. Swirl French tip nails with gold chrome details
How gorgeous do these nails look paired with gold jewellery?!
In. Love.
Image – @nailgalnat/instagram
17. Nude almond nails with slime green swirls
Almond nails always look classy in my opinion, and this slime green (yep, slime, not lime!) set with nude is as classy as they come.
This Race Against Slime nail polish from KB Shimmer is the perfect shade to recreate this mani.
Image – @skipthefilteruk/instagram
18. Lilac square nails with hot pink swirls
I’m a little bit in love with this Barbiecore mani, perfect for summer and festivals.
If you’re not great with a nail brush, these swirl nail decals from Etsy will be your best friend – coming in loads of different colours, the perfect mani couldn’t be easier.
Image – @jark.nails/instagram
19. Shades of blue and green swirl nails with tiny evil eye details
Another super cute short set!
You only need a few colours to recreate this mani from @nailgalnat and some evil eye nail stickers like this amazing set from I Love My Polish.
Image – @nailgalnat/instagram
20. Matte multicoloured rainbow French tip swirl nails
If you’re more of a matte mani lover, we’ve got you with this beautiful set from @naileditbychelsey that will *literally* brighten up any day.
Want to make any mani matte? Sally Hansen’s Bit Matte Top Coat will give you an extreme matte finish over any nail polish.
Image – @naileditbychelsey/instagram
21. Pink glitter nails with swirl feature nails
This pink glitter set with baby pink swirls is perfect for partying!
Created using BIAB (Build in a Bottle gel), sometimes only one nail needs to be painted with a design.
Image – @gloss.surrey/instagram
22. Short square turquoise swirl nails
How perfect would this mani look on the beach with a cocktail in hand?!
All you need to recreate these nails is 2 shades of blue (or colours of your choice), and a thin nail brush like this one from Nails Inc to create the swirl lines.
Image – @freshsetlancaster/instagram
23. Nude nails with gold swirls and black French tips
This set combines a few of the nail trends that are big in 2024: Swirls, French tips, and twinkle stars. And the glitter really give this mani a bit of glam.
Creating twinkle stars is actually easier than it looks! Just add a dot of polish using a dotting tool or the sharp end of a wooden cuticle pusher, then pull out 4 points to create the star shape.
Image – @by_ezana/instagram
24. Light blue swirl long French tip nails
Long nails mean more room for nail art! The nude base on this set looks amazing combined with two shades of blue and some white accents.
If you’ve got super long nails similar to the ones below, use these swirl nail decals on the tips of your talons to recreate a similar look.
Image – @kouturenails/instagram
25. Nude nails with bright lemon-yellow swirls
I’ve bookmarked this one for my next nail appointment, the perfect lemonade mani for spring!
This set was created using BIAB gel, but this polish from Essie in the shade Sunshine Be Mine is a great option if you want to try and DIY at home.
Image – @gloss.surrey/instagram
26. Clear nails with lavender, baby pink and green swirls
Who knew neon green and lavender would be such a stunning combo?!
@gloss.surrey used The Gel Bottle in the shades Serena, Pink Ribbon, and Madam to create this gorgeous mani.
Image – @gloss.surrey/instagram
27. Royal blue and light blue swirl nails
Using two different shades on a swirl design looks SO good, like this royal blue and light blue set.
If you’re handy with a nail brush, you can easily create this look at home and all you need is 2 nail varnishes!
Image – @jark.nails/instagram
28. Simple nude and barely there pink swirls
The most understated swirl nails of the bunch! These super thin pink swirls are barely noticeable but they look so chic.
Perfect for wearing in the office or to compliment any outfit, this set is so delicate you might need to take a screenshot to your nail tech to recreate it.
Image – @by_ezana/instagram
29. Chrome nails with 3D silver swirls
Oh chrome, how I love you. This mani is so on trend right now, combining chrome, 3D art, silver, swirls, AND an extraterrestrial feel.
If you want to give chrome nails a try, take a look at our tutorial at the end of this chrome nail roundup!
Image – @dais_does_nails/instagram
30. Funky multicoloured swirl acrylic nails
The grooviest swirl mani from @kouturenails, this set gives serious tropical holiday vibes. And if you don’t have any holiday planned this year, this set will get you in the mood for enjoying the sun wherever you are!
To get this look, ask your nail tech for long square-shaped nails, a nude base, and bright pastel swirls on the tips.
Image – @kouturenails/instagram
31. Ocean blues and greens milky swirl nails
I am in love with this colour combination and the shapes really remind me of a peacock tail.
This is a really fun one to try at home with a few shades and a thin nail brush but, if you don’t feel confident enough to DIY, Etsy has tonnes of press-on options here.
Image – @jark.nails/instagram
32. Multicoloured swirl nails with a nude base
These nails are perfect for making a colourful statement without being *too* out there.
Ask your nail tech for a nude base and colourful half swirls to get this cute look.
Image – @jark.nails/instagram
33. Black and hot pink swirl nails
Combining black and pink doesn’t have to be garish or gothic, this classy mani is the perfect balance of bright pink, nude, black, and swirls on almond-shaped nails.
If you want to give this set a go at home, ORLY has the most *perfect* shades of pink polishes that will suit any skin tone.
Image – @dais_does_nails/instagram
34. Matte nails with swirls, stars and dots
A modern take on the swirl trend, @nailgalnat has gone all out with this mani and combined pastels, nude, black, swirls, dots and twinkle stars.
This design looks particularly good on longer nails, take a screenshot to your nail tech!
Image – @nailgalnat/instagram
35. Christmas elf green swirl nails with glitter
I see swirl nails EVERYWHERE around the holidays, probably due to the way they look so cute when made into candy canes! Adding glitter really ups the ante on a swirly mani, and greens, reds, golds, and silver are the perfect polishes.
If you want to recreate the elf look this Christmas, this sticker sheet from Oh My Deer is so cute – now all you need to add is some glitter swirls!
Image – @nailsbytammy___/instagram
The takeaway
With endless customisation options, the limit is endless with the swirl nails trend!
Whether you opt for subtle pastel swirls or bold and vibrant patterns, gels or acrylics, there’s a swirl mani for us all.
Get Glowing!
