Pop art nails are the new nail trend we’ve been loving lately. It feels like a total rejection of the minimalist, neutral, less-is-more approach that’s taken over in the past few years, so it’s an exciting departure.
Because sometimes, more is more! Not only for manicure art, this applies to whipped cream, Netflix episodes, and puppies. And cash. Yeah we said it.
Plus, matching your nails to your current comic book read is pretty satisfying. The “POW” is literally coming off the page now! Watch it, Batman. We bruise like a peach.
We’ve demystified the process on how to create this look, so you can learn how to DIY these comic book nails yourself. Or, you can bring this inspo to your trusty nail tech and not blame us for all the nail polish spillage on your brand new throw pillows. The chocolate sauce stain was definitely our bad, though.
How To Create Pop Art Nails
One of the best parts about pop art nails is that they can be recreated in any color palette and are fully customizable to your own personal style. We recommend bright, bold colors like hot pink or neon green to mimic the source material. But just like pickle preferences, to each their own.
In addition to your base color, you’ll also need a black polish for the outline, a white polish for highlights, and nail art brushes. We know, it’s already sounding complicated. But the process is easier than it looks!
Directions
- Apply your base coat and one or two coats of your main color. For the main shade, you can either stick with one color for the whole hand, or go full-on Skittles and embrace the rainbow with multiple hues.
- Use a long, thin-tipped brush to lay an outline with your black polish. It’s easiest to create a wide outline, and then fill in the parts closer to your nail after. You can always touch it up with the original color if you mess up.
- Add the white highlights (and, optionally, lowlights in a darker shade of the main coat). If you took an art class in college, this is your time to shine. If you didn’t, simply add the white shade on one side of the black, and the darker shade on the other side. Check out this YouTube tutorial if you’re a visual learner.
Now that you’ve got the technique down, the creative options are limitless! Here are a few cool ideas to get you started.
13 Pop Art Nail Ideas
1. Pastel Pop Art Manicure
We’re getting pretty good and dropping the habit of biting our nails. But this design looks curiously similar to those chocolate covered candies at Easter. Cute, but very tempting…
2.Neutral Toned Pop Art Nails
The comic book nail trend comes in all shapes and sizes, including long, square nails like these. This set uses black as an accent color instead of a deeper shade, so it’s ten percent easier. And we’re still one hundred percent going to the nail salon anyway.
3. Glitter Comic Nails
Who said this trend has to be matte? A purple, glittery take on this manicure features a simple white dot for the highlight approach. We’ll officially be spending the next three to four business days tracking down this nail polish shade. Don’t text.
4. Blue Pop Art Nails
Already tired of sporting snowflakes on your nails for the winter season? This design is a fun set that still gives a nod to the colder temps. In the meantime, who’s going to break it to the nail techs that snow is actually white?
5. Short Rainbow Nails
Good news for biters everywhere: this manicure works on short nails, too! However, biting people is still frowned upon. Hear that, toddler nephew?
6. Pink Ombré Comic Nails
It’s all the best 2022 nail trends in one: Barbiecore, pink ombré, and now pop art, too. Duck nails, you can try again next year.
7. Purple Heart Nails
Will you be our Valentine? Okay, fine. Will you at least hold the camera?
8. Nude Pop Art Nails
So, we might have been a tad preemptive when we declared this trend a departure from neutral. This looks great, but what comic books are you people reading??
9. Rainbow Stiletto Pop Art Nails
This look gives us all the colors, making our indecisive hearts happy. The brownies helped, too.
10. Red Comic Nails
It’s giving Spiderman. It’s giving Wonder Woman. And you know these long coffin nails are giving the most satisfying “click clack” sound.
11. Comic Book French Tips
How to take a trend, and make it even more creative? Here’s a prime example. The pop art nail takeover just got the, “everything can be a French tip” treatment. Not to be confused with the “French dip” treatment. Or as tasty.
12. Mismatch Pop Art Nails
Andy Warhol, when did you become a nail tech?
13. Muted Pop Art Nails
If noir comic books are your jam, then these dark, moody pop art nails are for you. But maybe keep the PB&J sandwiches away from your collection? Some of those are first editions!
When she's not typing away on her laptop, you can find Laura working on her MBA at Boston College, listening to Taylor Swift, or sweating it out at an OrangeTheory class. Follow her on Instagram @LauraKristine21 and LinkedIn.
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