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Purple nails are a great way to add a pop of color to your look. They can be dressy or casual, depending on the shades and designs you choose (plus how you style them).
If you want a more subtle look, try a lavender shade. For something bolder, go for a deep plum or grape color.
If you’re obsessed with purple nails like we are, keep reading some of our favorite purple nail designs to find inspiration for your next design.
Purple Smoke
Smoky nails have been becoming more and more popular lately and we couldn’t be happier. This gorgeous purple smoke design didn’t miss a single detail.
Purple Wavy
These swirly nails are perfect if you want something simple that still manages to make a statement.
Pastel Purple French Tips
You can’t go wrong with French tips –purple included. The first design features a classic design, while the second replaces the tips on some nails with cute purple flowers. Adorable!
Purple with Glitter
If you’re a nail bling type of person, these are for you. With a couple of purple glitter statement nails and another nail with some fun bling at the base, your nails will be catching eyes left and right.
Purple Marble Tips
This gorgeous nail design features purple marble tips with a few small gems spread out across each nail. We love the gems, but you can always just go with the marble tips by themselves.
Full Purple Marble
Want more than just the tips? This marble design uses various shades of purple and the end result is magical.
Purple Chrome
We’re obsessed with chrome nails –check out these purple chrome designs that will inspire you to try out this fun nail color.
Purple & Pastel Blue Dots
A unique dotted design you don’t see every day, these nails combine a glittery purple shade with a pastel blue. If you’re not a fan of the blue, opt for white instead (pastel yellow works great too).
Zebra Print
Who said zebras have to be black and white? We’re living for these purple zebra nails. You can opt for a natural nail base with one color of purple zebra print on top, or pick various shades of purple like the photo below.
Smiley Faces
Need a mood lifter? These adorable upbeat smiley print nails will remind you to smile throughout the day.
Purple Ombre Tips
Ombre is always a satisfying nail design. This design uses a natural nail base to keep things simple, with a lilac purple tip that fades into the clear nail.
Purple Base & Purple Tips
We see plenty of clear nail bases with purple tips, but this design uses a lighter purple nail base and a darker purple French tip.
Yin Yang
Although most often seen in black and white, these pastel purple yin yang nails are to die for.
Wavy Abstract Tips
These pretty tips are great for anyone who wants to stand out, yet still keep their nails minimalistic.
Shiny Lilac
Simple and classy, these shiny lilac purple nails won’t disappoint.
Deep Purple
We see a lot of light purple and pastel shades, but you can’t forget about a gorgeous deep purple shade. This shade is perfect for fall and wintertime, whereas pastel is a great choice for warmer weather months.
Extra Special Occasion Nails
If you’re looking for more elegant purple nail ideas, these designs are absolutely gorgeous. The artists didn’t miss a single detail. Perfect for a night out, a wedding, fancy dinner, or any other special occasion.
Glitter and Flowers
Could there be a better combo than glitter and flowers? We don’t think so. These extra-long nails feature purple glitter tips and two pastel purple floral nails. And of course, you can always ask for a shorter length if you’re not a 10-inch nail type of person.
Flower Power
Embrace minimalism (and flowers) with these fun nail designs featuring purple nails and flowers on the middle and ring fingers.
Purple Wavy Line
This simple design features a single wavy pastel purple line down the middle of each nail. Simple, but so cute!
Shades of Purple
Can’t pick just one shade? Embrace your love of purple with a different shade on each nail.
Pastel Purple & Peach
Peach and pastel purple is a new color trend we hope never dies. This effortless color combo pairs so well together, we’re surprised we don’t see it more often –if you thought purple and yellow looked good together, this is even better.
Cloudy
These dreamy nails feature a sparkly light purple tip with white clouds and stars over the top.
Iridescent Glitter
A truly standout shade, these gorgeous iridescent nails will catch more than a few eyes.
Glitter Statement Nail
If you love glitter but don’t want it on every nail, you can always go with a single statement nail like this design!
Groovy Purple Nails
These trippy nails use three different shades of purple to create a fun, swirly design you’ll want to stare at for hours.
Purple Matte with Shiny Tips
These simple, gorgeous nails have a purple matte base with thin shiny tips.
Purple with Cow Print
If you’re willing to add some black and white cow print, these adorable nails are perfect.
Neon Purple
This bright purple color is a statement itself –you don’t even need to add anything else.
Pink & Purple Ombre
If you’re comfortable adding another color, this pink and purple pastel ombre is a fun nail design that is perfect for spring and summer.
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FAQs
“Many people are now embracing a sleek, minimalistic look for their nails, and we're seeing a lot of sheers and pigmented skin tone and nude shades trending for 2024.” This should come as no surprise, especially after a year filled with bright pink Barbie-inspired nail designs.
What does purple nail art mean? ›
If you are wondering what does purple nail polish mean- the answer is it expresses individuality, art and creativity. One of the most ” artistic” shades, which will undoubtedly draw attention to you. If you are looking for a color that will make you stand out in a positive way, purple is the way to go.
What nail color goes with purple? ›
Complimentary Nail Color
On the color wheel, the color directly opposite purple is green. You can wear yellow or blue-based green nail polish, depending on your purple dress' undertone.
What nail designs make them look longer? ›
Create an Almond Shape
Picture, well, an almond and create a slightly pointed tip. Alternately, an oval shape will also elongate the nail, says Holford, who also suggests to avoid going square.
What is the most attractive nail? ›
Red conveys a direct attraction and is associated with sensuality and erotic interest. Black, one of the favorite colors, is considered particularly trendy and is therefore also associated with attractiveness.
What is the rich girl nail trend? ›
"Rich girl" nails don't necessarily have to be nude in tone—they just have to be neutral to effortlessly go with everything. With this in mind, a subtle, shimmery white nail look can qualify as a "rich girl" manicure, too.
What do purple nails mean on a girl? ›
What Causes Blue or Purple Nails? Blue or purple nail beds or nails are a common sign of cyanosis, which is caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood. This type of discoloration can also occur on other parts of the body including the hands, fingertips, toes, nose, lips, and tongue.
Is purple nail polish in style? ›
top purple shades of 2023. purple nails are officially having a moment!! lilac nail polish, a pop of luscious bright purple, or a smokey mauve shade – essie has the purple nail polish for you!
What happens if you have purple nails? ›
This condition is known as cyanosis. It occurs when there isn't enough oxygen in your blood, making the skin or membrane below the skin turn a purplish-blue color. The skin discoloration could also mean that there's a high level of an atypical form of hemoglobin in your blood.
What nail color is most attractive? ›
Soft pastel shades like baby pink, lavender, or light blue can evoke a sense of sweetness and femininity. These colors are often associated with a gentle and approachable personality. Many guys find pastel nail polish attractive because it gives a feeling of innocence and charm.
So what are the colours that compliment purple? Yellow, orange, and green are the most obvious ones. However, contrasting colours aren't the only ones that matter. Colours right beside each other on the wheel also complement each other, like purple, indigo, and pink.
What color matches purple the most? ›
Gold, copper, and yellow are colors that go with dark purple, imparting a regal ambiance. And lilac, pink, and white are colors that go with light purple for a softer, delicate feel or a space for a child.
What nail color makes your nails look longest? ›
Certain colors and shades can create the illusion of longer nails. For example, light and neutral colors like beige, nude, pale pink, and light gray can make your nails appear longer. On the other hand, darker colors like black, navy blue, and dark red can make your nails look shorter.
What color makes your nails look the longest? ›
Because dark colors like rouge, indigo and even black focus attention to your nail shape, they make your nails look longer.
What nail shape makes your fingers look longer and thinner? ›
Round nails are a good choice for people with short fingers or wider nail beds, as they can make the fingers look longer and more slender. They are also a good choice for people who have thin, weak nails, as they are less likely to break than other nail shapes.
What is the most popular type of nails? ›
The Fan Favorites
Coming in as one of the most popular nail shapes out there is the squoval nail shape. A blend of the square and oval nail shapes, squoval nails make for an elegant look. Keeping the straight square edge with soft rounded edges, this balanced shape might be your new favorite staple.
What is trending in acrylic nails? ›
Milky White Nails
The milky white is a popular nail color in 2024, and will always be on-trend thanks to its simplicity. The best thing about this nail style is that the milky white gives an elongated effect to your nails. Here are some elegant ways to get your milky white nails done.
Are accent nails still in style in 2024? ›
But that's about to change in 2024, according to our experts, who have been seeing a rise in 3D accents this year (like the pink 3D bow above, or the silver 3D heart, or the clear 3D raindrops).
What is the summer trend for nails? ›
Summer 2024 Nail Trend: Metallic Jelly Nails
“These clear and often multicolor-shifting shades give a beam-like shine in popular purples and blues,” she says. Try sandwiching a chrome or metallic nail polish with a jelly polish to achieve that sheer look with lots of shimmer and shine.
