Celebrations

27 Eye Catching Birthday Nail Ideas to Celebrate You in 2024

by: Alexandria Taylor

Published on Jul 25th 2024

Celebrate your special day with birthday nail ideas that make you feel beautiful. No matter what you’re doing for your birthday, it’s always fun to treat yourself. Whether you’re going out to dinner with your family or having a party with your friends, stylish nails can complete an outfit.

What nails should you get for your birthday? Many people like going all out for birthday nails and choose unique art to mark the special occasion.

If you’re looking for birthday nail ideas, there are a lot of nail art designs to consider. The average standard nail art prices can range from $20 to $40 or average deluxe nail art prices can cost between $30 and $50, according to Maniology.

However, prices vary depending on the nail artist as well as the design itself. You can work with a nail artist to create the perfect design for your birthday. Here are 27 birthday nail ideas to get inspired by.

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Simple Birthday Nail Ideas

1. Minimalist Dots

If you’re looking for simple birthday nail ideas, consider minimalist dots. Paint the nails with a neutral or nude base color. Then, use a black or coordinating color to add dots to the design. One simple dot can make a big impact or you can opt for classic polka dots.

2. Metallic Stars

Simple birthday nail ideas can still pack a lot of punch. Show the world you’re a birthday star and paint them on your nails. Use a nude base so the metallic gold, silver or copper will stand out. For the stars, you can use metallic nail polish to draw them or nail stickers for easy application.

3. Iridescent Nails

What is the new style for nails? Iridescent nails have been a popular style at the moment. This design allows them to shimmer with a bit of color underneath.

You can achieve the look with iridescent nail powder rubbed on a painted nail. They will pair well with 19th birthday ideas because it’s fun and youthful.

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4. Two-Toned Nails

If you can decide on one color, opt for two-toned nails. These simple birthday nail ideas will allow you to add some color to your outfit.

Choose two colors and paint one on top and the other on the bottom of the nail. This nail design allows you to get creative with color combinations to choose something completely unique.

5. Asymmetric French Tips

Add a twist to this classic design with this birthday nail idea. Instead of doing a straight or arched French tip, make a diagonal design to create an asymmetric French tip. It’s simple but contemporary and can be done with a variety of colors.

Asymmetric French Tipped Nail Design — *via Canva*

6. Disco Glitter Nails

If you’re looking for nail designs that are the life of the party, disco glitter nails are just that. With this design, you’ll fill your nails with sparkly metallic glitter to make your manicure shine. It’s best to use large glitter to get the disco ball effect.

7. Birth Year Nails

What’s a better way to celebrate a birthday than to shout out your birth year? Paint a solid color background and then paint the birth year across your fingers with one number on each nail. This is also a great birthday nail idea since you don’t require a lot of design elements.

8. Chrome Nails

Another trending birthday nail idea is chrome nails. These shiny nails look like they’re made of metal, which can be a unique design to mark a special day. To achieve this look, you have to use a specialized nail powder to make the nails look metallic. It’s a simple look with a lot of personality.

9. Glossy Nude Nails

Understated nail designs can still be eye-catching and pretty. Elevate a simple nude manicure with a super glossy top coat. This will make the nails look sleek. If you’re looking for 20th birthday ideas that feel simple and sophisticated, glossy nails will fit right in.

Glossy Nude Birthday Nail Idea — *via Canva*

Classy Birthday Nail Ideas

10. Bow Nails

Show that you’re a gift on your birthday with bow nails. This idea is simple and classy. A nude base coat with a simple pink bow painted on it will create a look that is understated and sophisticated. These also work well for short birthday nail ideas since the bow can be small.

11. Gemstone French Tips

French tips will always be classy birthday nails, but if you’re looking to add a contemporary touch, you can add a gemstone for a little sparkle. Create a classic French tip, then add a gemstone in the center for a fun accent.

12. Tortoiseshell Nails

Tortoiseshell is a sophisticated pattern that you can recreate on your nails. Achieve this look by layering various shades of brown.

If you’re looking for birthday nails ideas for medium length, tortoiseshell works well because of the repetitive pattern. These nails will also work with sophisticated and simple 30th birthday party ideas.

13. Sage Green

Classy and contemporary sage green will make for a pretty birthday manicure. The color is a simple way to add a little bit of color that won’t be too bright or overwhelming. If you’re looking for 21st birthday party ideas, sage green will be beautiful in a color scheme.

14. Pastel Tips

This birthday nail idea for 2024 is another way to elevate the French tip. Instead of using the white tip for this manicure, opt for a pastel color instead. Use a nude color for the base then add a pastel pink, blue, green or other pastel to add a little bit of color.

15. Delicate Florals

For a fun and feminine birthday nail idea, opt for delicate florals. Add small flowers to neutral nails for a flirty accent. You can use nail stickers for ease or paint them on with nail polish.

16. Matte Nude Pink

Nude pink will be a classy style that isn’t going away any time soon. But if you’re looking to update the classic birthday nail idea, use a matte top coat instead of a glossy one. This creates a contemporary manicure that has an understated beauty.

17. Gold Accents

A little bit of gold can go a long way. These birthday nail ideas will mark such a special occasion. Use nude polish as the base coat so the gold accent stands out. With the gold, you can use gold flecks or gold polish to make a unique design.

Gold Accent Birthday Nail Idea — *via Canva*

18. Subtle Ombre

Create a subtle ombre for a color birthday nail idea. Use two colors that are similar in tone for this manicure. You’ll use one color on top and the other on the bottom and have them gradually fade into each other. The subtle ombre can look sophisticated in a fun way.

Acrylic Nail Ideas

19. Colorful Wave Nails

With acrylic birthday nail ideas, you can create a longer nail for more intricate designs. With a longer nail, add a fun wave pattern with three to four colors. This design will wiggle across the nail for a playful birthday design.

20. Aura Nails

Aura nails are a popular birthday nail idea that has been trending for the last few months. This uses two colors that gradually fade into each other. It differs from ombre, though, by being in a circular shape.

If you’re looking for birthday decoration ideas, consider matching your nails to the party color scheme to stay on theme.

21. Butterfly Wings

If you’re looking for a feminine design, butterfly wings work well for acrylic birthday nail ideas. The longer length of acrylics allows you to get more detail into the butterfly wings. It’s a simple way to add color and design with a lot of texture.

Butterfly Wing Nail Design — *via Canva*

22. Mix and Match Patterns

Can’t decide on a pattern? That’s no problem. Opt for a mix and match pattern for a fun and classy birthday nail design. With this nail idea, you choose a different design for each nail. This can be a combination of flowers, stripes, checkerboard, clouds or any other motif you can think of.

23. Funfetti Gemstones

Funfetti gemstones are one of the best birthday nail ideas for medium length. The more room you have, the better you’ll be able to pull off this design. Paint the nail a nude color then add small colorful gemstones all over the nails like polka dots.

24. Cherry Nails

A youthful and feminine nail design idea is a cherry print. Paint the nails nude or pink and use red nail polish or nail stickers to add the cherry design. You can add one cherry or make it a print all over. This fun print is one of the most fun 17th birthday ideas.

25. 3D Designs

A nail design that will truly stand out is a 3D design. A nail artist can use acrylic to create three-dimensional flowers, hearts and other designs. They can also attach charms to create a 3D look.

If you are looking for birthday trip ideas to go all out for your special day, you might as well go all out with your nail design too.

3D Design Birthday Nail Idea — *via Canva*

26. Rose Quartz

Make your nails look like a precious gemstone for this birthday nail idea. If you go to a salon for acrylic nails a professional nail artist can make them look like rose quartz. Layer light pink paint and add white veining to look like the stone.

27. Jelly Acrylic

A nail artist can use acrylic and special polish to create a jelly look. With this birthday nail idea, your nails will have some color but look translucent. It’s a more unique way to have a colorful manicure.

If you’ve been looking for birthday nail ideas, get inspired by these cute ideas. Your birthday is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to something beautiful. Whether you adorn nails with lots of gems or opt for a more minimalist design, stunning nails are the perfect birthday accessory. Get inspired by these birthday nail ideas for this birthday and beyond.

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