IDK about you, but I'm honestly so over painting my nails the same colors again and again. No shade to my go-to neutrals and pastels but I need to mix it up. Thankfully, a new nail trend has come to the rescue and it's lowkey taking over my IG feed right now: butterfly nails, which, yup, are just as cute as they sound.
Butterfly French tips? Butterflies on sheer polish? The options are basically endless. Plus, they're perfect for finishing off the summer, not to mention a great back-to-school nail idea. And because I care, I found 25 of the prettiest butterfly nail designs on the internet so you can upgrade your manicure, like, immediately. And if you’re like me and can’t fathom having the skills to actually paint a butterfly on your fingernail, DW, 'cause this list includes everything from cute gold butterfly stickers to really pretty press-ons too.
1. Pastel Butterfly Nails
Butterflies and pastels clearly go very well together. This butterfly nail idea is giving me ‘60s retro vibes, which I love, but it’s also super lowkey and not too bright if you like a softer-toned manicure.
2. Bright-Blue Butterflies
How cute are these bright-blue butterfly nails? Butterflies are a great way to add some color and art to a neutral base.
3. Pink and Yellow Butterfly Nails
The cool thing about butterfly nails is that basically every single pic is hella impressive, thanks to the very detailed nature of butterflies. I mean, how pretty are these intricate bbs? In this case, I’d recommend taking this design to a nail artist near you.
4. Gold and Marble Butterfly Nails
IMO, marble is one of the coolest trends in nail art right now and it’s a sure-fire way to get that “upscale mani” vibe. But there’s a catch when it comes to lighter colors like these butterfly nails: Your cuticles are on full display. Once you leave the salon, your main priority (aside from, like, food, water, and being happy) should be keeping them moisturized with cuticle oil.
5. Butterflies and Clouds
I can’t get over how ~dreamy~ this butterfly nail idea is. These pastel clouds are such a cute way to add another illustration to your nails without overwhelming them. And even though they look super challenging, with some small nail brushes and a nail polish palette, recreating this will be much easier than it looks.
6. Baby-Pink Butterfly Nails
Kylie Jenner’s nails are always my #manicuregoals, and this butterfly-gem combo is no exception. BTW, this butterfly nail design could very easily be recreated on shorter, rounder nails too, if long nails aren’t your thing.
7. Alternating Red Butterflies
These little red butterflies are so unique, showing only the sides of a butterfly instead of both sets of wings. Plus, if you just don’t have the time to paint all ten of your nails, putting your design on alternating nails is a really cute addition to a neutral mani.
8. Square Butterfly Nails
The best thing about butterfly nails? They look really pretty on any nail shape. Seriously, give me a nail shape and I’ll convince you that you need to add some butterflies. These square-shaped nails are more than enough proof. BTW, you can get this set either with extensions (like acrylics or polygels) or natural nails.
9. Neutral Butterfly Nails
If you like to keep your nails very much under the radar (I get it, you’re an introvert), that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a cute butterfly nail design too. Adding the subtle white butterflies to a neutral color is a great nail hack for dressing up your mani without going over the top.
10. Multi-Colored Butterfly Nails
You don’t have to stick to one or two colors for butterfly nails. Just like butterflies in the wild, you can paint in all different colors and just have some fun with it. They’re also a great way to add some flare to short nails.
11. Peach-Ombré Butterfly Nails
This manicure combines two great nail trends: ombré nails and butterfly nails. Even though I tend to lean minimalist with my nail art, these two styles look freaking great together. Pro tip: To get that ombré effect, use an eyeshadow sponge applicator to help blend the two nail polishes.
12. Orange Butterfly Tips
Did you ever dream that butterfly nails could take the form of French tips? Me either, until this v impressive manicure graced my feed. Choose your butterfly base color (like the orange in this pic) and then have your black and white polishes nearby for the details.
13. Blue Butterflies
It’s the simplicity in this butterfly nail idea for me. Painting the butterflies a solid color without too many inner details gives it a really soft feel. These nails look amazing with that shiny finish, so make sure you have a glossy topcoat on hand. And even if you get them done at the salon, swipe on a fresh topcoat layer several days later when they start to look dull for a renewed finish.
14. Minimalist Butterfly Nails
I’m here for these baby butterflies on just one finger. These butterfly nails are really chill and you can easily make it happen with a couple of butterfly stickers on top of a sheer neutral polish.
15. Blue Butterfly Tips
The best thing about butterflies as French tips is how versatile they are. You can do the same butterfly nail design over and over with different colors, finishes (like matte or shiny), and placement and it'll look great every single time.
16. Subtle Gold Butterflies
If you’re bored of the same coat of neutral you always use but you can’t be bothered to paint intricate designs, this butterfly nail idea is a good option. You can easily recreate this really pretty set with some cute gold butterfly stickers and a sheer neutral base coat.
17. Butterflies With French Tips
You definitely don’t need to have butterflies on every finger to get a cute manicure. Exhibit A: this butterfly nail idea, with black and white tips that contrast really well with the blue butterfly. Just make sure you have a glossy topcoat on standby to get that shine.
18. Ballerina Butterfly Nails
Was I right about butterfly nails working with literally every nail shape, or was I right? The black butterfly stamps take these ballerina nails to an entirely new level. And while the neutral and white nail polishes are classic, you can easily change up the color of either the tips or the butterflies to get a new look.
19. Butterfly Press-Ons
If you’re not down to paint butterflies yourself (lol, same) but still would rather paint your nails at home, press-on nails are your answer. Get yourself a cute butterfly set like these ones, add a drop of nail glue to each finger, and you’ve got a salon-worthy butterfly manicure.
20. Gold Butterfly Nail Stickers
Incorporating multiple nail art designs into one manicure is bold and hard to pull off, but this butterfly manicure makes it happen. The four colors—transparent marble, white, neutral pink, and gold butterfly nail stickers—pull it all together in such a pretty way.
21. Butterfly Nail Stencils
A butterfly stencil will work on top of any nail color or design. You’ll need all your regular nail polishes and tools, plus a nail stamping kit that will create the crisp butterfly outline. I recommend sticking to one or two nails on each hand to let the butterflies stand out.
22. Glittery Butterfly Nails
All you need to create this glittery butterfly nail design is a neutral base color, glitter, and butterfly stickers. It’s a super quick and easy way to glam up your nails without investing your whole day.
23. Lavender Butterflies
How sweet are these simple lavender butterflies? This butterfly nail design is so unique, and I love how each butterfly is placed at a different spot on the nail. You really want a design this cute to last as long as possible, so I suggest going with a gel nail polish to avoid premature chipping.
24. Watercolor Butterfly Nails
ICYMI, watercolor is legit everywhere—watercolor tattoos, nails, you name it. This pretty butterfly nail idea is honestly so impressive and will definitely make your manicure stand out. And when you work with sheer neutral colors like this, it makes grow-out much less noticeable.
25. Realistic Butterfly Nails
These ultra-realistic butterfly nails are not for the faint of heart (or anyone who has thin patience), so you might wanna screenshot this and save it for your next appointment with your trusty manicurist. The red and black combo looks really cool, but you can definitely mix it up and choose your two favorite nail polish colors for this design.
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This article originally appeared on Cosmopolitan.com. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.
