37 Butterfly Nail Art Designs To Give Wings to Your Nail Game

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Want nails that are attractive, playful, aesthetic, and trendy? It may sound like a tall order, but it’s totally possible.

The answer is butterfly nail art designs!

A woman's pink nails with butterfly nail art designs.

Butterfly nail art is a fun way to elevate (literally) your nail game. Depending on your mood, you can opt for simple, sweet designs or full, intricate, elegant nail art.

So give butterfly art a try! We’ve combined the best butterfly art manis to help your nail game bloom, sprout wings, and take flight.

Butterfly Nail Art Designs: 37 Ideas

Ready to find your next favorite butterfly mani? Check out our top picks!

Purple Enchantment

A woman's hand adorned with dreamy watercolor-inspired purple butterfly nail set on a nude base
Image courtesy of @paiwaloves

Starting our butterfly nail art designs list is this dreamy watercolor-inspired purple butterfly nail set on a nude base.

Add some speckled glitter in varying colors to dress up this pretty design.

Subtle Blues and Nudes

A woman's nails with blue butterfly nail art designs.
Image courtesy of @paiwaloves

For a unique take on the butterfly aesthetic, keep it minimalist with close-up dainty drawings of navy blue butterflies at different vantage points.

Put some around the nail base, along the sides, or on the tips for dimension.

A Dainty Dance

A woman's nails with white-and-gold set features large-sized white butterflies outlined in gold on a pale pink base
Image courtesy of @paiwaloves

Want an elegant white butterfly nail design?

This white-and-gold set features large-sized white butterflies outlined in gold on a pale pink base.

Blue Peek-a-Boos

A woman's hand with nude set that utilizes butterfly wings as fun French tips peeking out along nail tips
Image courtesy of @paiwaloves

If you’re in the mood for a French tip with a butterfly design, try this nude set that utilizes butterfly wings as fun French tips peeking out along your nail tips. 

Lavender Haze

A woman's butterfly nail design with this lavender set decorated with white clouds, white North stars, gold swirls, and big and bold accent monarch butterflies
Image courtesy of @northernsoulstudio

Amp up the dreamy femininity of the butterfly nail design with this lavender set decorated with white clouds, white North stars, gold swirls, and big and bold accent monarch butterflies.

Fun, Flirty, Feminine

A woman's nails with pink gradient swirls with glitters snaking down from the middle of the cuticles to the tips
Image courtesy of @nails.byabb

Want something unabashedly pink? Take a pale pink base and zhuzh it up with hot pink butterflies outlined in black. 

Then, add pink gradient swirls with glitters snaking down from the middle of the cuticles to the tips. And finally, make it even prettier with pink, glittery French tips.

Rainbow Wings

A woman's nails with rainbow butterflies that bring verve and vitality to a pretty plain base
Image courtesy of @nails.byabb

Why get hung up on one color when you can paint the whole rainbow on your nails?

Take inspiration from this set, featuring rainbow butterflies that bring verve and vitality to a pretty plain base.

Groovy Neon Retro

A woman's hands with pink and orange butterflies on a peach base paired with neon orange and hot pink and elevated with an accent of multicolored shades of pink and purple swirled
Image courtesy of @nails.byabb

Throw it back to the 70s with these summer butterfly nails featuring pink and orange butterflies on a peach base paired with neon orange and hot pink and elevated with an accent of multicolored shades of pink and purple swirled over your accent nail.

Beautiful Minimalism

A woman's nails adorned with pale pink base and decorate it with orange-yellow butterflies for contrast
Image courtesy of @leannehaycock_

For easy butterfly nail art designs that still deliver that oomph, start with a pale pink base and decorate it with orange-yellow butterflies for contrast.

Finish the look with delicate, tiny, white North stars with small rhinestones in the middle.

Blue Accents

A woman's hand showcasing blue butterfly accents on a nude base
Image courtesy of @leannehaycock_

Blue nails with butterfly designs? Yes, please!

This no-fuss set cleverly uses blue butterfly accents on a nude base to break the monotony of the solid blue mani.

Short and Sweet

A woman wearing a purple sweater with .blue, violet, red, and yellow butterflies on a light pink base.
Image courtesy of @leannehaycock_

Who doesn’t love multicolored butterflies? We know we do!

This short nail set features blue, violet, red, and yellow butterflies on a light pink base.

Edgy Wing Tips

A woman's hands with butterfly wing French tips
Image courtesy of @nailsby_avril

Among our list’s most unique butterfly nail design ideas, these butterfly wing French tips are designed to look like V-tips for a sassy take on the classic manicure.

Opulent Ombré

A woman's pink and purple nails adorned with butterfly nail art designs.
Image courtesy of @minea.nails

Feeling fancy?

Try this multicolored set with pink and lavender ombré nails decorated with mini watercolor butterflies, chunky silver glitter, and accent lavender nails with rhinestones at the cuticles.

Simple French

A woman's hands with nude base and pink French tip nails with butterfly nail art accents
Image courtesy of @omayra.nails

For butterfly nail ideas that are pretty easy to achieve, take a nude base and dress it up with pink French tip nails with butterfly nail art accents.

Saturated Stilettos

A woman's hands with short stiletto-shaped encapsulated nails dotted with chunky glitter and painted with bright blue, green, reddish-pink, and yellow-orange butterflies on each nail
Image courtesy of @omayra.nails

Want something sure to gain instant attention?

Take inspiration from this set’s short stiletto-shaped encapsulated nails dotted with chunky glitter and painted with bright blue, green, reddish-pink, and yellow-orange butterflies on each nail.

Encapsulated Frenzy

A woman nails features gold, blue, and gray flowers super-embossed with black-red and black-orange butterflies with black and white 3D stones along the cuticles and the sides
Image courtesy of @omayra.nails

Bold oval butterfly nails?

This encapsulated set features gold, blue, and gray flowers super-embossed with black-red and black-orange butterflies with black and white 3D stones along the cuticles and the sides. 

Frivolous Fun

A woman's nails with acrylic coffin butterfly nails encapsulated accent nails with a red-orange butterfly halved in two nails on a silvery glitter base
Image courtesy of @kikinails_ebeauty

For something that has it all, try these acrylic coffin butterfly nails encapsulated accent nails with a red-orange butterfly halved in two nails on a silvery glitter base. 

Pair these with a gradient base with glittery swirls and orange 3D flowers. Finally, finish the thumbnails with pink and orange V-tips, tiny rhinestones, and a glitter butterfly 3D accent. 

Luxe Elegance 

A woman's nails with beige 3D flowers and rhinestones on a light brown base paired with black butterfly nail art and glitter tips on clear encapsulated nail accents
Image courtesy of @kikinails_ebeauty

What’s the best way to tone down a resplendent set? Ground it on nudes!

This set features beige 3D flowers and rhinestones on a light brown base paired with black butterfly nail art and glitter tips on clear encapsulated nail accents.

Simply Stylish

A girl's hand with violet and yellow butterflies alternating with violet and gold abstract swirls on a nude base dotted with silver foil
Image courtesy of @rachelsbeauty_

If you want statement nails that are sweet and stylish, paint violet and yellow butterflies alternating with violet and gold abstract swirls on a nude base dotted with silver foil.

Snow Angel Blue Bliss

A woman's nails with glittery butterflies in various light colors on a baby blue base decorated with silver diamonds and North Star accents
Image courtesy of @bysarahnailartist

Another of our most beautiful nail art with butterfly designs is this set featuring glittery butterflies in various light colors on a baby blue base decorated with silver diamonds and North Star accents. 

Then, paint over the design with a thin layer of light white-blue for a soft, snowy accent.

Bright Tips 

A woman's hand with blue, hot pink, violet, orange, and yellow-green butterflies on the tips of nude almond nails
Image courtesy of @bysarahnailartist

For a unique take on summer-ready designs, draw blue, hot pink, violet, orange, and yellow-green butterflies on the tips of nude almond nails. 

Gold and Glazed

A woman's nails with gold decal butterfly nail art with chunky glitters drawn on a glazed donut base
Image courtesy of @bysarahnailartist

If you want butterfly designs on nails that you can wear to more formal functions, consider this gold decal butterfly nail art with chunky glitters drawn on a glazed donut base. 

Spring and Sunshine

A woman's hands with yellow set features nude accent nails decorated with brown and yellow butterflies with white and yellow daisies and flecks
Image courtesy of @bysarahnailartist

Nothing says spring more than butterflies and daisy designs!

This yellow set features nude accent nails decorated with brown and yellow butterflies with white and yellow daisies and flecks. 

A Touch of Goth

A woman showcasing butterfly wing nails feature black butterflies accented with silver dots on a smoky black base, paired with black and silver V-tips on nude nails
Image courtesy of @studio_c_k

Edgy French tips?

These butterfly wing nails feature black butterflies accented with silver dots on a smoky black base, paired with black and silver V-tips on nude nails.

Bare Beauty

A woman's hands with blue and red gradient butterflies dancing on a light lilac base
Image courtesy of @studio_c_k

If you prefer stunning but simple butterfly nail art designs, we recommend these blue and red gradient butterflies dancing on a light lilac base.

Pastel Dream

A woman's nails with watercolor butterfly nail art in yellow, blue, mint, and pink painted on various points on a pastel ombré nail base
Image courtesy of @studio_c_k

Love nail designs with butterfly nail art?

This dreamy set features watercolor butterfly nail art in yellow, blue, mint, and pink painted on various points on a pastel ombré nail base.

Minimalist Glam

A woman's hand with black butterflies drawn over a beige ombré base
Image courtesy of @studio_c_k

Something edgy and dainty at the same time?

This sophisticated set features black butterflies drawn over a beige ombré base for a stunning contrast that’s minimalist and glamorous. 

Blue and Beautiful

A woman's showcases blue and black butterflies in various sizes and color intensities, along with tiny flowers strewn as an accent on nude square nails
Image courtesy of @_iwnails

Another short and sweet set, this design showcases blue and black butterflies in various sizes and color intensities, along with tiny flowers strewn as an accent on nude square nails.

Tangerine Treat

A woman showcasing sherbet tangerine and dress it up with black line art butterflies halves on two nails for a unique accent
Image courtesy of @_iwnails

For a butterfly nail design that cuts right to the chase, paint your nails a sweet color like sherbet tangerine and dress it up with black line art butterflies halves on two nails for a unique accent.

Neon Splatters 

A woman's pink and yellow nails adorned with butterfly nail art designs.
Image courtesy of @getfinessedbyjess

What’s the best way to add funky dimension to a nude base?

Speckle it with neon splatters and add butterfly nail art stickers on two accent nails. Instantly fun and fab!

Brown and Gold

A woman's nails with brown and light brown butterflies on a nude base and finish it with half-moon tips
Image courtesy of @getfinessedbyjess

For elegant but cute butterfly nails? Try this gorgeous monochromatic mani.

Paint brown and light brown butterflies on a nude base and finish it with half-moon tips from the same palette. Add a touch of gold on one accent nail for some additional elegance.

Milky Beige and Blue

A woman's nails with milky light beige base and add color to it with blue-black butterflies in various sizes
Image courtesy of @getfinessedbyjess

If you want something quick and simple, take a milky light beige base and add color to it with blue-black butterflies in various sizes.

Finish with a glossy topcoat.

Pinks on Whites

A woman's nails with white set adds color by incorporating pink and black butterflies on nude accent nails
Image courtesy of @acs.viktorianails

Looking for designs that combine white nails with butterflies?

This predominantly white set adds color by incorporating pink and black butterflies on nude accent nails.

Gone Goth

A woman displaying a black butterfly nail art on nude accent nails
Image courtesy of @acs.viktorianails

Black butterfly nails? Absolutely!

Go with black butterfly nail art on nude accent nails to break the monotony of this solid black set.

Mint and Teal

A woman's hands with light teal set with pretty teal butterflies and French tips with a mint set with intricate mint butterflies and French tips against a nude base
Image courtesy of @acs.viktorianails

For something contemporary and chic, alternate a light teal set with pretty teal butterflies and French tips with a mint set with intricate mint butterflies and French tips against a nude base.

Bright and Bold 

A woman with solid yellow base colored nails and ombré monarch butterflies
Image courtesy of @nailcouturelincoln

Break the monotony of a solid yellow base by drawing ombré monarch butterflies on it.

Make it clean and sleek with a round nail shape and a glossy topcoat.

Green Gradient Claws

A woman with green gradient stiletto set with a base that progresses from dark to light, decorated with big violet butterflies with ombré details
Image courtesy of @nailcouturelincoln

For sleek and sexy butterfly nail art ideas that are bold and fun, take inspiration from this green gradient stiletto set with a base that progresses from dark to light, decorated with big violet butterflies with ombré details.

Why Choose Butterfly Nail Art Designs for Your Next Manicure

There are many reasons why butterfly nail art is an excellent idea and why you should incorporate it into your next manicure.

Timelessly Trendy

The resurgence of the Y2K aesthetic has breathed new life into earlier-era staples. Butterflies also featured heavily during this era. Today, this same throwback aesthetic is celebrated by celebrities like Dua Lipa, Hailey Bieber, and Kylie Jenner!

So if you want a manicure that’s a cheeky throwback to the glitz of yesteryears while still staying current and trendy, butterfly nail art designs are the way to go.

Best for Summer and Spring

Butterflies are among the most prominent symbols associated with regrowth, sunshine, and flowers, making them a go-to design for the perfect spring or summer nail designs.

If you’re tired of the same old flower nail art, add butterfly wings to make the manicure more interesting!

Versatile and Flexible

You definitely don’t need to stick to the usual browns, yellows, reds, and whites when creating butterfly nail art. Some designs use a whole gradient, a whole rainbow, or a mix of both.

Additionally, butterfly nail art designs suit all nail shapes and sizes. You’re covered whether you want something simple for your short and square nails or something opulent for your acrylic stilettos and coffins.

Works With Other Nail Trends

Finally, you can be as creative as you want with butterfly nail art designs as they can blend seamlessly with other nail trends. Glazed donut nails, for instance, provide the perfect backdrop for sweet and feminine butterfly nail art.

You can keep it simple and stick to one or two butterflies per nail, add butterfly designs on the whole set, or opt for more is more and mix and match the nail art with other nail trends.

Ways To Create Butterfly Nail Art Designs

When it comes to achieving butterfly nail art on your nails, you can use two main methods.

Hand Painted

First, you can hand paint the design on your nails or have a professional nail tech do it.

Doing this ensures you have complete control over how it will look, and you can customize the design as you see fit.

The only downside to this is that it requires considerable skill to pull it off. So, if you’re doing the process yourself, you’ll need dexterity, skill, and artistry to do it right.

Decals or Stamps

If you are unsure about your skill level or want an easier way to achieve butterfly nail art designs, decals or stamps are the answer.

They come in various sizes and colors, are easy to apply, are widely accessible, and can be used with different types of nail polish.

Quick Tip

To use stickers and stamps, you typically only need to apply a base coat, proceed with your nail color of choice, clean your polish, wait for it to dry, and then apply the sticker or stamp.

Add a sealer (if necessary), and finish with a top coat.

FAQs

Can You Do Butterfly Nail Art With Regular Polish?

Yes, it’s possible to achieve butterfly nail art with regular nail polish with the right skill. However, it might not yield as good an outcome as gel polish.

This is because regular nail polish is not as structurally strong as other types of nail polish, so the process of hand painting or attaching the design might not be as smooth.

Which Lasts Longer? Polish Painted Butterflies or Butterfly Nail Stickers?

The answer depends on what type of polish you used and how you applied your nail stickers.

Regular polish nail art may only last a few days to a week, depending on formulation and application. If you use gel for your nail art, it may last up to 14 days.

Nail stickers, when properly applied, can last for over a week to two weeks. Be sure to use a top coat once the stickers have settled down on the nail. A gel top coat will seal the stickers in better and make them last even longer.

Try Beautiful Butterfly Nail Art Designs Now!

With butterfly nail art, there’s no cap on how creative you can be. Designs can come in various colors and textures, are suitable for different nail sizes and lengths, and can be done with any kind of nail polish.

Butterfly nail art can also be as simple or as complex and intricate as you want them to be.

So take a look at our favorite picks if you need some butterfly nail design inspiration, and try out some of our faves. You can replicate whole manicures or take bits and pieces from each to create your dream butterfly nail design.

Did You Enjoy This?

Here are more nail designs to check out!

Author

  • Stephanie Martin

    Stephanie Martin blends her beauty industry background with expertise in communications to lead in the fashion and beauty world. As a fashion and beauty editor, she is known for engaging and informative articles. Her lifelong passion for fashion, makeup, and hair shines through her work, earning her widespread respect among readers and clients. Stephanie's style, a mix of classic and contemporary, makes her a dynamic and influential figure in the industry, inspiring others with her knowledgeable and approachable insights.

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