In the late 2000s and early 2010s, white nail polish was the be-all, end-all hot girl manicure color—especially during the summer. Now, it's trending once more, with people all over TikTok and Instagram flocking to the crisp hue. Bold on its own, classic in French manicures, and perfect as a nail art accent, white nail polish is one of the most versatile manicure shades out there. To prove it, we rounded up over a dozen white nail polish ideas we'd happily recreate this year. Check them out below.
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Solid White Nails
Let's kick things off with a solid white example. Here, you can see how bold the bright, colorless shade can look. The shade used here was Orly's Coconut Milk, which has since been discontinued. A great white to consider in its place is the Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Color ($20) in Amazing Grace.
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Milky White French Stiletto Nails
White nail polish is expected in French manicures. What's not is a monochrome sheer and solid white approach, as seen on this stiletto mani. We love the unique silhouette.
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White Pearlescent Almond Nails
This pearlescent white almond-shaped manicure is perfect in our book. (And very fitting for the Y2K revival.) You can recreate it at home with Death Valley Nails Nail Polish in Moon River ($14).
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Abstract Art White Square Nails
Seeking a manicure that looks fit for a museum? Check out this long, square, bright white manicure with portrait-inspired marble nail art. The dew drop accents take it to the next level.
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Gold Star White Oval Nails
Who doesn't love a gold star (or a few)? This fun white mani was created using essie Nail Polish ($10) in Blanc and Good as Gold.
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Pink Peony White Nails
How romantic is this frosted white manicure? The dimensional pink peonies are so delicate, not to mention surprisingly easy to recreate. You can check out nail artist Aistė Haas's process here.
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Matte White Abstract Nail Art
To recreate the crisp lines of this abstract, negative space nail look, use nail tape and paper hole reinforcement stickers as stencils. Finish with a matte top coat, like the Manucurist Paris Matte Top Coat ($14), and voilà!
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White Negative Space Stripe Nails
Here's another negative space white nail look we love. To create it at home, apply washi tape to bare nails and paint on two coats of white polish. Once dry, remove the tape and finish with a top coat.
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White Coquette Cherry Nails
The coquette trend is still going strong, so this milky aura-inspired nail look with 3D bows is a must. The cherries only add to its allure, considering red is one of the hottest colors of the moment.
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Gold-Accented White French Tips
White and gold always look good together. For this nail look, start with your classic French, then use nail glue to adhere 3D gold accents.
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Milky White Marbled Nails With Black Spots
We love how uniform yet unique this milky white manicure is. Look closely, and you'll notice marbled accents, solid borders, and Dalmatian-inspired black dots.
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White Chrome Double French Mani
For a fun take on the chrome French manicure, start with a glazed donut base and top it off with a double French accent. The Orly Half Moon Guides ($6) will ensure your arches are clean and crisp.
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Milky White and Blue Aura Nails
This milky white and blue aura manicure reminds us of Cinderella. Meanwhile, the rhinestone dewdrop accents bring images of Ariel to mind. Needless to say, it's a unique nail look that's bound to turn heads.
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White Gemstone Nails
Speaking of manicures fit for a princess: Instead of a classic aura center, this frosted mani uses rhinestones surrounded by gold dots for a magical end look.
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White Doodle Nails
Here's another cherry-accented white nail look we love. Even when white polish isn't used all over, you can see how crisp it can make a manicure appear.
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Wavy White Nails
Sometimes, just a few white swirls will do the trick. To recreate this look at home, opt for a gold-flecked base and use a fine-lining nail art brush to create the wavy accents.
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White Butterfly Nails
To embrace the concept of transformation on your nails, consider this pink, white, and black butterfly manicure. It's a bit more involved, so you may want to enlist the help of a pro (or at least someone with a steady hand and notable art skills).
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White Swirl Nails
We love how simple yet stunning this white swirl manicure is. It reminds us of a colorless topographic map.
We've get you ready for your new white nails! The Shampoo Lounge has been attending to an international and Indonesian clientele since 2012 so check out our our website and our TripAdvisor reviews! We can’t wait to have you in.
Article written by Rebecca Norris for Byrdie