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Gia Yetikyel
- Business Insider spoke to three nail artists about which trends are in and out this spring.
- French tips will always be in style, but don't be afraid to add some flair.
- Duck nails are making a comeback over a decade after their heyday, but acrylics are out.
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Spring is a season of change, so it's natural to want to switch up your nail design.
But manicures can cost anywhere from $20 to $150 depending on the materials and design, and getting intricate nail art can take hours.
To find out how to avoid wasting time and money on a dated look, we spoke with three nail artists about which trends are in and out this spring.
Here's what they said.
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Don’t be afraid of charms.
According to Essence Franche, a salon manager and nail technician in Chicago, "junk nails" are in. She explained that the trend involves placing little charm accessories all over the set.
Whether you're experienced or new to using charms, they're an easy way to have fun with a manicure.
Teresa "Tere" Rodriguez, a Chicago-based artist and licensed nail tech specializing in gel extensions and structured manicures, told Business Insider they've had to stock plenty of Helly Kitty charms, bows, rhinestones, stars, and hearts in their collection lately.
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French tips are always in style.
According to Francher, French tips will never go out of style, whether you go for the classic look or decide to modify it.
You can experiment with different designs or colors to spice up the look. For example, Francher noticed an uptick in lilac and mint-green sets in April.
Nancy Lin, an experienced NYC-based nail tech who's co-opening a new Flushing, Queens, salon called Prep and Prime, told BI that adding a simple design or three-dimensional flowers can also upgrade the classic manicure.
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Against all odds, duck nails are back.
When you think of duck nails, think of the manicure Snooki often had on MTV's "Jersey Shore" circa 2011.
The once-divisive duck-nail trend has recently grown popular again. Instead of a clean, square nail shape, duck nails splay out to the sides and get wider toward the tip of the nail, almost giving it a fanned effect.
"It's a really edgy type of style. But it's also been done with a classic French to make it look more thoughtful," Francher said. "I feel like the duck is very versatile, you can do a lot."
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Textured designs are in.
Rodriguez said a number of their clients have been requesting hibiscus flowers on their nails lately. But that's just one example of texture entering spring nail trends.
"You can make anything with texture," the nail artist told BI.
They highlighted blobs, squiggles, flowers, and bufferflies as popular 3D elements.
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On the other hand, silver chrome is on its way out.
Beyoncé's chrome nails made headlines in 2023, but the trend peaked in popularity last fall and winter.
According to Fancher, it might be time to put a pause on the silver chrome.
"I feel like the girls were getting it because Beyoncé was in town, and now the girls are not feeling the silver chrome no more," she told BI.
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The coquette fad is fading.
Rodriguez said they've been doing coquette-themed nails almost every day since winter, but the trend started rapidly slowing down in April.
The aesthetic highlights feminine, romantic, and playful elements, like pearls, bows, and pink.
With an oversaturation of the coquette trend in fashion — from handbags to hairstyles — it seems like people might be over it.
"Coquette is still in a little bit, but not as much as before," Lin said. "I feel like people have been doing this a lot so not everyone wants to get it done anymore."
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Acrylic is no longer the go-to.
Acrylic nails had their time in the sun, but in the past few years, the focus has shifted to healthy nails.
Natural nails and Gel-X manicures are a cleaner alternative for long-term nail care.
"Gel doesn't ruin your nails like acrylic does," Francher said.
But the nail artist also noted that how you remove a nail set — whether it's acrylic or gel — has a bigger impact on overall nail health. Using proper removers and equipment or getting them taken off professionally is the way to go.
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Opt out of white pedicures this season.
According to Fancher, solid white pedicures are out this spring. Instead, opt for bright colors or an elegant design.
"If you're not getting a French tip, just don't do it," she said, referring to white pedicures.
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