40 Gorgeous White Nail Designs You’ll Absolutely Love!
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White is back in a huge way!
Well, to be fair, it never left.
White is a classic and sophisticated color that looks good on everyone. It’s timeless and beautiful, and it can be sweet or sexy, depending on your look.
These days, people are wearing white proudly — even after Labor Day!
White clothes, white accessories, and white nail designs are everywhere. And we can see why. White is fabulous!
White nails, in particular, are especially lovely. There is something about them that is sleek, stylish, and stunning.
That’s why we’ve put together our favorite white nail designs!
So if you love white manicures as much as we do, check out our 40 top picks for inspo for your next mani!
Table of Contents
Choosing Your Perfect White Polish
The right polish can make or break a mani, and it’s important to get the perfect white nail polish for the look and vibe you want.
To help you make the right choice, take a look at the most popular nail polish finishes below:
1. Creme
This is the most popular nail polish finish. It’s pigmented, and it provides a bit of gloss. It has no glitter or sparkle.
Some of the good white creme polish products you can try are the OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow and the Essie Nail Polish in Blanc.
2. Matte
Matte polish is an excellent choice if you love bold colors but aren’t a fan of too much shine. This polish looks smooth and flat on the nail, and it doesn’t reflect light.
You can try the Zoya Matte Velvet Polish in Aspen if you want a matte finish.
Or you can choose another white polish and use a matte top coat like the Essie Gel Couture Matte Top Coat to mattify your manicure.
3. Glitter and Shimmer
Glitter polish is a type of nail polish with a clear or colored base that has flecks of glitter. These flecks can be big or small.
Shimmer is similar to glitter, but it usually contains mica powders in various colors instead of glitter particles to give nails a pretty sheen.
White glitter and shimmer polish products include the OPI Nail Polish in Happy Anniversary and the ILNP Shimmer Nail Polish in Snow Angel.
4. Pearlescent
Pearlescent polish products are also often light or transparent, with an iridescent finish like that of a pearl. This polish gives your nails a beautiful, elegant shimmer.
One of the best nail polish products with a shimmery pearlescent finish is the Duri Nail Polish in The Struggle Is Real.
5. Metallic and Chrome
Metallic polish is shiny and reflective, and it comes in shades that closely resemble metal, like gold, silver, and bronze.
Chrome polish is also metallic and shiny; it gives a mirrored and close-to-liquid finish.
Amazing white metallic and chrome polish options include Duri Nail Polish in Platnium, China Glaze in Pearl Jammin, or PrettyDiva Pearl Chrome Nail Powder.
6. Jelly
Jelly polish has gotten really popular recently. This polish is also sheer but has a jelly-like “squishy” finish and translucent color.
Some jelly polish products contain glitter.
If you want jelly polish, you can try the ILNP Piñacolada or the Aillsa Milky White Gel Polish.
40 Stunning White Nail Designs
Once you’ve got your perfect nail polish, all you need is some sweet nail inspo.
Here are stunning white nail designs you’ll definitely want to try!
1. White Coffin Chrome
Try these perfectly sculpted white chrome nails in a coffin shape if you want something classic that never goes out of style.
This beautiful but easy white nail design is sleek and versatile enough to go with any outfit.
2. Knitwear-Inspired Nails
Show your excitement for the colder season with these detailed matte white knitwear-inspired nails paired with white nails embossed with snowflakes, giving you a mani that’s ready for hot cocoa by the fireplace.
3. Shining, Shimmering, Splendid
If you want white nails with attitude, go for full-on sparkle with this nail idea!
These long white nails with iridescent glitter can take you from day to night.
4. Golden Snowflakes
Give your snowflake-inspired mani a luxurious metallic touch by using a white base and adding intricate snowflake nail art in lavish gold.
5. Glassy White
For a sophisticated white nail design with glitter, try these white nails with a refined glass-like finish.
Then add a sparkly touch with a glittery French ombré for your accent nail.
6. Sparkly Silver and White
If you want a splashy style, white nail designs with rhinestones are for you.
This mani looks stunning in white chrome with silver gems on select nails, sprinkles of oversized glitter flakes on others, and a glitter silver accent nail.
7. Pearly White French Tips
You can never go wrong with French tips! These long nails look ravishing in a gel manicure with a white-pink base and pretty white French tips.
You can add even more oomph with sparkly rhinestone gems on one nail.
8. Milky White Luxury
Milky white nail designs are already so alluring on their own, but you can add flair and drama to yours by adorning your milky white nails with alternating French tips and reverse French tips in gold glitter.
9. Sexy and Sweet
A basic white nail design is made sexier with lusciously long acrylic nails in a sleek, slender coffin shape.
10. White Shimmer and Shine
Combine dazzling elements in one all-white manicure like this design, which features delicate white French tips with rhinestones and shimmery snow white accent nails.
11. Deep White
Want to play around with your long nails? Take white French tip nail designs to the next level by creating bigger, bolder white French tips.
They look beautiful with a pale pink base.
12. White and Green Leaf Prints
If you love plants, white makes the perfect base to show off your love for greens.
This stunning manicure features glossy white nails with bright green leaves in a pretty pattern.
13. Neon and Gold
Let your white nails stand out by decorating them with glittery V-shaped French tips in pink and green, gradient lines in blue and green and pink and orange, and studs in gold.
14. Double the Fun
White almond nail designs are alluring.
Take them up a notch with double French tips in glittery gold for that unique touch.
15. Kintsugi Nails
Stunning sheer white almond nails are given an artistic touch with cracked lines created with gold foil, mimicking the art of Japanese kintsugi or filling cracks or imperfections in pottery with gold.
16. Milky Acrylic Mani
If you want longer nails for your white mani, acrylics can give you the nails of your dreams.
Paint them with milky white polish and amp them up with a stunning artistic accent nail featuring scraggly lines in crisp white and glittery blue.
17. Green With Envy
More is definitely more with this white manicure that features tons of strikingly exquisite green emerald gems.
Don’t be afraid to go big and pair your nail gems with gold-dusted accent nails.
18. You Glow Girl!
Just because you want white nails doesn’t mean you can’t do a glow-in-the-dark mani.
These white acrylic nails with fun abstract patterns glow in the dark beautifully.
19. Long and Lovely
If you are looking for length, don’t be afraid to turn to extensions.
This white acrylic nail design features extra long nails painted with milky white polish and embellished with gold moon and star details.
20. Marbled 3D Nails
Add interest to sleek white glossy nails by decorating them with swirly marble designs in bright colors like lime and blue.
Take it up even further with shiny 3D caviar beads for some texture.
21. Pastel Florals
Floral nail designs are huge right now!
Personalize this trend and create a white spring nail design by adding unique accents like these tiny, dainty pastel flowers in various shades to the base of your milky white nails.
22. White Nails With Doodles
A white mani is perfect for nail art, and this one brings together fun doodles like cherries, butterflies, stars, and rainbows in bright colors and silver gems for a hint of shine.
23. Pretty Pink and White
Love pink and white nail designs?
Recreate these pretty stiletto nails, which have a white base, pink French tips with bokeh-like glitter flakes, and a rhinestone heart outline on the accent nail.
24. White Hearts
White nails with different designs allow you to go big and decadent!
This luxurious mani uses white and nude nail polish to create deep French tips, romantic hearts, luxe rhinestones, and pretty butterfly designs.
25. Red, White, and Blue
Blue, red, and white nail designs aren’t just for the 4th of July — they look good all year round.
These white almond nails are made even more stunning with deep red and blue accent nails, French tips, and rhinestone hearts.
26. Hello Kitty!
Love putting unique nail designs on white nails?
You’ll adore these extra long white nails with French tips, mini pearls, and cute Hello Kitty charms.
27. Magically Marbled
Who doesn’t love white and silver nail designs?
These nails look striking combining white sugar nails, matte white nails, silver gems, and a stunning accent marble nail with white and silver glitter swirls.
28. French Abstract
French tips always look chic on long nails.
Update your French manicure by opting for abstract designs like these sheer white nails with glossy abstract lines on the tips.
29. Holographic Elegance
This white gel nail design features gel extensions, mesmerizing shimmery white nail polish, and a breathtaking accent nail with 3D orchids.
30. All That Sparkles
White nail designs with diamonds always stand out!
If you love a little sparkle in your mani, try these nails in sleek white with diamond gemstones on the accent nails.
31. Golden Glam
If you like simple designs on white nails but still want your mani to look glamorous, take your cue from this glossy white mani that features small bits of gold foil on one white nail and large gold foil flakes on the clear accent nail.
32. Black and White
Black-and-white nail designs are always going to be classic.
If you love elaborately designed nails, try these short round white nails with breathtaking hand-painted art of faces, florals, and plants.
33. Captivating Blue Marble
There’s something so cool and classic about blue-and-white nail designs like this one.
These white ballerina nails are stunning with blue marble accents and wavy gold chrome lines.
34. White Quartz Nails
Want to add more style to your plain milky white mani? Try quartz nails!
These gel nails look stunning with a white-on-white quartz design we absolutely love.
35. Black, Gold, and White
You don’t need long nails for a gorgeous white mani.
White nail designs on short nails can be just as classy, like these white nails with irregular black lines and lavish gold glitter.
36. White and Pink Marble
These white nails are given an elegant touch with a hint of pink-and-nude marbling and luxe gold foil details.
37. Tic, Tac, Love
Plain white nails with artsy designs always stand out because everything pops on white.
These white nails look super cute with bright red hearts and a fun tic-tac-toe design on the accent nail.
38. Nature Love
Short nails painted with white nail polish and adorned with nature-themed designs can be delightfully eye-catching, like these short white nails featuring black and green leaf and stem art and gold foil embellishments.
39. Tips and Polka Dots
If you’re a fan of cute white nail designs, you’ll love these matte white nails with thin black French tips and black polka dots on the accent nail.
40. Simply White
One of the best white nail designs is a classic glossy white mani. It can add glamor to any fashion aesthetic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do White Nails Look Good on Everyone?
Yes! White is such a versatile color that white nails look fabulous on all skin tones and stay in style all year (although they’re especially great for the winter and the summer).
Plus, a white mani can work for every occasion.
Why Does My White Nail Polish Sometimes Get Yellow?
This can happen for several reasons. Some of the most common and easy to avoid include the following:
- Low-quality nail polish — Poor-quality nail polish can turn yellow a couple of days after application. So make sure to buy high-quality polish from a reputable brand.
- Contact with chemicals in products — Contact with cleaning agents, sanitizers, and even skincare products can cause white polish to turn yellow.
To avoid this, wear gloves when cleaning your home or doing household chores. Wash your hands after applying skincare products as well.
- Overexposure or underexposure to UV light — If you used gel polish and kept your nails under the UV light for too long or too short, your white nails can suffer from discoloration.
So make sure to let your nails cure properly after gel polish application for two to three minutes.
Your Ultimate White Mani
If you’re looking for a stylish and timeless nail design, a white manicure is absolutely something you should consider.
Our favorite designs look great on nails of all lengths, and they’re so easy to customize and make your own.
So have fun trying different white nail designs and mixing and matching your favorite elements until you come up with the perfect white manicure for you!
Love Nail Designs?
Check these articles out for more nail inspo:
- 35 Pink and Black Nails for a Pretty Yet Fierce Aesthetic
- 44 Checkered Nail Design Ideas for You To Hop on the Trend
- 50 Heart Nail Design Ideas You Will Love