I spent most of New York Fashion Week running around from backstage to backstage. What I learned there: the biggest trend at NYFW is that nails are understated.

Similar to the Fall 2024 nail trends, solid colors, textured finishes, and easy DIY nail art will be a priority for the upcoming Spring/Summer season. Some of the nail industry's best professionals, such as Gina Edwards, Jin Sun Choi, and Miss Pop, have proven that the “Less-is-More” mindset is anything but boring.

For example, PatBo's nails blend the mannequin manicure trend with metallic accents, adding a hint of excitement to nude nails. Jet-black polish, a staple color, was transformed into ombre French tips at Nehm Khan and star-shaped cutouts at Christian Cowan. Metallics, once in line with the glazed donut trend of silver chrome, have expanded to rose gold shimmer and chrome.

While there were over 60 shows at New York Fashion Week, five spring nail trends are likely to dominate the coming months. Be sure to read the full rundown and what the pros have to say about them.

Mannequin manicures featuring skin-colored polishes, high-shine finishes, and clean-cut cuticles are all the rage. Not only have they become a recent favorite of Jennifer Lopez and Selena Gomez, but they have also become a staple at Phillip Lim, Pat Bo, Pamela Rowland, Jason Wu, and Brandon Maxwell. [Mats Hanna, owner and CEO of the Nailing Hollywood Agency, who used Dazzle Dry backstage with Phillip Lim, said. 'Nude nails have been around for most of the year and won't go away. Sheer nudes have always been in style, but now there are so many really pretty colors in opaque nudes.”

Fun glue add-ons don't have to be as kitschy as Kylie Jenner's backyard bug manicure or Haley Bieber's Farmer's Market mani. This season, designers took nail stickers up a notch with a twist. Sandy Liang partnered with Sally Hansen to pump rhinestone stickers over nude polish. Juli Candelac, lead nail artist for Christian Cowan, “brought the stars to life” with black stickers over pale pink polish. Miss Pop created floral French tips at Alice and Olivia using floral adhesive.

Contrary to the stereotypically childish aesthetic of nail stickers, all of these looks are simple and sophisticated. Plus, they are surprisingly easy to DIY.

The use of metallic polishes was twofold this season, with shows like Meruert Tolegen, Kim Shui, and Theophilio using rainbow nail polishes in honor of their collections. We wanted the nails to blend into the overall storyline,” said Naomi Yasuda, lead nail artist at Meruert Tolegen, ”since there were pearl accents in the clothes and makeup. We wanted the nails to blend in with the overall story,” said Naomi Yasuda, lead nail artist for Meruelt Torlegen. Other brands, including Monse, keyed by Choi, also utilized shimmery tones to add pop to neutral-toned clothing.

While the fall 2024 season was awash in neon twists on classic French nails, the spring 2025 season is putting a simple spin on timeless designs. Take, for example, Edwards' “Rose Quartz” twist at Prabal Gurung. The nail look, created for Prabal, is grounded in optimism for the future.” The smoky quartz nails are a symbol of spreading light and hope,” she says. The white tips were designed to be diffuse and free-flowing, rather than a harsh contrast of colors.”

Miss Pop's take on Alice and Olivia was a similar through-line, but with a lacy twist and a short almond shape. Naeem Khan also proved that even dark shades can look sophisticated with the models' nails, which were painted in a black ombre French-style design.

Jet-black polish, the very anti-season nail trend, seems to be breaking the winter-only stigma. At Susan Alexandra and Christian Cowan, a wash of colors as dark as night appeared.