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Home » Lifestyle » Fashion + Beauty

23 Nail Designs That Perfectly Sum Up 2020

By Ashley Hubbard | December 17, 2020 | Updated on June 2, 2021 | Leave a Comment
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2020 Nails - Covid nails

As we wind down the year, we thought it would be a good time to look back at some nail designs that pretty much captured the spirit of 2020. And, no, they’re not all images of the Titanic.

2020 Nails

Because, let’s be honest. This year has been a dumpster fire. And, not even one you could roast marshmallows on! Since many nail salons were closed for most of the year, many of us resorted to DIY manicures and nail art as a relatively inexpensive attempt at self care. Sure beats crying into our pillow for the 300th time.

Here’s to some of the best 2020 nail art we’ve seen and to getting a proper manicure in 2021.

Nail Designs That’ll Make You Go “Yup, That Was 2020.”

1. Everything’s Fine Nails

If we had a dollar for every time we’ve shared the “This is Fine” meme this year while watching the world burn, we’d be able to stock our liquor cabinet. Oh wait, we already did that.

2020 Nails - Everything is fine nails
Photo credit: @naileditby_cam

 

2. Election Nails

Oh, wow. The Election. The fact that it’s still kind of going says it all.

2020 Nails - Voting Nails
Photo credit: @kimkimnails

 

3. Quarantine Nails

The last thing we need is another conspiracy theory, but isn’t it just a little too convenient that “quarantine” has exactly 10 letters?

2020 Nails - Quarantine Nails
Photo credit: @tina.fossheim

 

4. Middle Finger Nails

Honestly, for this year, sometimes two middle fingers just isn’t enough. Make it an even dozen with this straightforward nail design.

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A post shared by Sarah Kane (@topknotnails)

 

5. Covid-19 Nails

Grab a nail pen and recreate this caution tape nail design for the perfect “I just sneezed in a crowded grocery store” vibe.

2020 Nails - Covid nails
Photo credit: @mbluxurynails

 

6. Social Distancing Nails

These introvert-approved nails are easy to achieve by painting each one a different neon color and writing your passive aggressive message across them.

2020 Nails - Social Distance Nails
Photo credit: @brooke_beautyretreat

 

7. Healthcare Heroes Nails

These hand-painted nails are a very talented tribute to some of the real MVPs of the pandemic. And, appropriately enough, you’ll need surgical precision to recreate the itty bitty stethoscope and photorealistic PPE.

2020 Nails - Doctors and nurses thankyou covid nails
Photo credit: @anubhooti

 

8. 2020 Essentials Manicure

These nails work perfectly as a reminder to wear a mask, keep your distance, and don’t drink bleach. We suggest some nail brushes to make life easy. We all deserve easy.

2020 Nails - Covid Nails
Photo credit: @gelhiigh

 

9. F**k ICE nails

We don’t understand why this is even a conversation, but we’re fully behind this hyper-relevant design.

2020 Nails - Fuck Ice Nails
Photo credit: @topknotnails

 

10. Animal Crossing Nails

These Animal Crossing inspired nails are an ode to one of the few bright spots in 2020. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about breaking a nail while digging for fossils on your virtual island! 

2020 Nails - Animal Crossing Nails
Photo credit: @topknotnails

 

11. Black Lives Matter Nails

We’re loving the strong messages on these BLM-inspired nails, because there’s no need for subtlety when you’re showing solidarity.

2020 Nails - Black Lives Matter Nails
Photo credit: @thenailtrapla

 

12. Days of the Week Nail Art

Is it Thursday? Monday? If you’re anything like us, this weather forecast nail design will be the closest you’ve come to looking at an actual calendar since March.

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A post shared by 🎥 Nail Art Videos | Marta 🇵🇱 (@galanea_marta)

 

13. Toilet Paper Nails

Rock this toilet paper design when you’re at Costco stocking up for the apocalypse… for the second time this year. 

2020 Nails - Toilet Paper Nails
Photo credit: @nailpromagazine

 

14. RBG Nails

Just when we thought this year couldn’t get any worse we lost feminist icon and all-around amazing human being, Ruth Bader Ginsberg. These nails are a great tribute to her. Give your nails a black base coat, paint a gold strip at the bottom using some nail tape, and draw on her collar using a brush.

2020 Nails - Women's rights
Photo credit: @nailwitchkaren

 

15. WTF Manicure

Still walking around in a confused daze like John Travolta in Pulp Fiction? These nails are perfect for you. And, they’re so simple that you can quickly get back to wondering WT actual F is happening.

2020 Nails - WTF Nails
Photo credit: @lady_jimenezq

 

16. Pop Art Lockdown Nails

These colorful Lichtenstein-inspired nails make us feel slightly better about the whole year. Or maybe that’s the two shots of tequila we just drank.

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A post shared by Thalia Erodotou (@thaliabeautystudio)

 

17. The Next Mona Lisa Nails

This panoramic rendering of our whole 2020 aesthetic is a literal work of art. We’d hang it in a museum if it weren’t attached to the end of somebody’s arm.

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A post shared by Karenna ✨ (@crappy_nails)

 

18. Emotional Rollercoaster Manicure

These super-simple designs capture the ups and downs of 2020. Express yourself with minimal effort.

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A post shared by NAILS BY HEATHER (@nailsbyheathere)

 

19. Alien Nails

Remember earlier this year when the government pretty much confirmed aliens are real? And everyone’s collective response was :shrug:?

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A post shared by ✨Nail Tenshi, Annie 😈✨ (@tengoku_nails)

 

20. Croissant Nails

We mustn’t forget the bread-baking phase of quarantine. This bakery-fresh nail design is the perfect way to flex on everyone who still hasn’t managed to find yeast at the grocery store. Use a stamping plate to save time on the design, so you have more time to sing lullabies to your sourdough starter. (Also, you might be in the wrong aisle.)

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A post shared by KADS Nail Art (@kadsnailart)

 

21. Tiger King Nails

We’re still not sure what we did to deserve Tiger King. And we’re still not sure if we mean that in a negative or positive way. It’s all very confusing.

2020 Nails - Tiger King
Photo credit: @getnailedbyellie

 

22. Stay Home Nails

Do you remember the beginning of quarantine when we thought this was all gonna be over in two weeks? That’s the vibe we get from these nails. They feel so full of hope. It’s adorable.

2020 Nails - Stay at home theme
Photo credit: @art_nailveau

 

23. Favorite Quarantine Things Nail Art

Pizza, Netflix, and a weighted blanket. These are a few of our quarantine things.

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A post shared by Katie 🐧 (@_nailart.penguin)

 

  • Author
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Ashley Hubbard
Ashley Hubbard
Ashley Hubbard is a freelance writer and creator. As a Let's Eat Cake contributor, she covers all things related to Starbucks, nails, entertainment news, pop culture trends, and more. Additionally, she regularly writes interview-based celebrity stories for Coping with Cancer magazine and has written for other publications, including Roadtrippers, Greatist, and Healthline. She has also been featured by Impact Travel Alliance as a creative who is transforming travel, and by Matador Network as a vegan travel blogger you should be following on Instagram. 

Ashley is a Nashville unicorn (born, raised, and based), queer, vegan, and dedicated to leaving a positive impact through her life, work, and her website, Wild Hearted. 

When she's not writing, she's traveling, reading a book, trying not to kill her houseplants, worshiping her dog, or having an existential crisis. Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter, and LinkedIn
Ashley Hubbard
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links from Amazon and other sites that we collect a share of sales from.
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