Please Excuse Me While I Try All 16 of These Oval Nail Ideas (2024)

Carrara marble too boring and basic? Swapping out the classic white, gray, and black polishes with colors of the rainbow should do the trick.

💫 Recreate it with: Sally Hansen Insta Dri Crayola School’s Out Limited Edition Nail Polish Set

Who says you can’t mix metals? Only copper and silver glitter polishes could distract you from that rock.

💫 Recreate it with: Essie Gorge-ous Geodes Nail Polish Collection

When you want a French manicure but, like, cooler, try a softer, blurred version. This modern take on the classic design looks extra dreamy paired with an oval nail shape.

💫 Recreate it with: Londontown Lakur Nail Polish Princess Awaits

Sometimes all you need for an interesting nail art look is a little sliver of polish, which is great news for those of us who still don’t know how to paint our nails with our nondominant hands.

💫 Recreate it with: Dior Vernis Limited Edition Couture Colour in 807 12 A.M.

You’re already obsessed with line-art tattoos and wall art, but have you tried it on your nails yet? Try it on a neutral background or on top of a bright-red nail polish, as shown here. The faces fit especially well on oval nails (hint, hint).

💫 Recreate it with: Tom Ford Fabulous Nail Lacquer

The bright design on these oval nail tips is open to interpretation. Are they ice cream scoops? Bubbles? Who knows. The only thing certain is they would be perfect for summer nails.

💫 Recreate it with: Nailmatic Water-Based Nail Polish Set

You know what’s a fun word to say? Squiggles. You know what’s a fun nail design? Squiggles. Throw in some pastel colors and you’ve got yourself a fun spring nail look.

💫 Recreate it with: Shany Cosmetics Nail Polish Set in Spring Inspired

Unlike other nail shapes, you don’t need super-long nails to pull off the oval shape. This simple design deserves a—wait for it—gold star.

💫 Recreate it with: Nails Inc. Seeing Stars Nail Duo

You know what’s humbling? Knowing that someone made this realistic-looking tie-dye design with nail polish and I can’t even tie-dye a T-shirt.

💫 Recreate it with: OPI Neons Nail Lacquer 3-Piece Gift Set

I urge you to press play on this vid to get the full effect of these oval nails. Don’t know about you, but I’ll never not be mesmerized by iridescent or holographic nail polish.

💫 Recreate it with: Color Club Halographic Hues Nail Polish, Shimmering Sky Colors

Don’t know what I like most about this nail look: the exaggerated oval shape, the clear nail extension style of manicure, or the cool gold band across the middle. I’ll take them all, thank you.

💫 Recreate it with: Static Nails Fun Girl Pop-On Reusable Manicure Set

When you want a little color but not so much that you’ll want to remove it the next day, go with matte polish in muted earthy tones, like this. And with a practical oval shape, you’ll never get sick of your nails.

💫 Recreate it with: OPI Matte Top Coat

Who would’ve thought neon splatter paint and gold polish paint drips would go together so well? Someone much more creative than I am, that’s who. Now excuse me while I go copy.

💫 Recreate it with: China Glaze Sesame Street 50th Anniversary Holiday Collection 12-Piece

When you just want a little somethin’-somethin’, go with a neutral or white nail polish for your base coat and a touch of gold foil for good measure.

💫 Recreate it with: Sinen 12 Boxes Gold Silver Copper Rainbow Foil

After you’ve figured out how to file your nails, accentuate the shape of your oval nails with a thin stroke of neon polish along the tips.

💫 Recreate it with: Floss Gloss Pro Nail Lacquer Set in Coin Limon/El Caption

If you’re partial to abstract designs, try this negative-space mani with yin-and-yang-inspired shapes.

💫 Recreate it with: Winstonia Striping Nail Art Brushes for Long Lines