Rhinestone nail art has surged in popularity over the last few years, largely due to social media and celebrity influence. People are drawn to its ability to personalize and glam up their look with just a bit of sparkle. As DIY nail art becomes more accessible through online tutorials and rhinestone embellishments, more possibilities emerge for creative expression.
Themed rhinestone nail art unlocks endless possibilities, perfect for personal expression. Seasonal designs, like Christmas and Valentine's Day, add festive flair to your nails. Natural themes, like florals and animals, bring fun and colour, while abstract and geometric patterns offer a contemporary look. For those drawn to the fantastical, fantasy and celestial designs create whimsical or mystical vibes. The versatility of rhinestones in nail art means you can easily personalize your manicure to reflect your style, mood, or occasion, transforming your nails into a wearable piece of art.
Seasonal Themes
Spring
Bring vintage shades and floral patterns into your spring themed nail art. The most popular colours to represent spring are pastel tones such as pale pinks, purples, greens, blues and lemon yellow. Opal rhinestones are also a great way to introduce subtle sparkle into your design. Other spring themes can include Easter designs for instance sparkly eggs, chicks, daffodils, bunnies, lambs.
Summer
Using bright bold rhinestone colours are great for showing off summer nails. Neon rhinestones are particularly popular for holiday or festival nail art, while bright pinks, green and oranges are commonly used to represent tropical weather and beach vibes. Other summer inspired designs include under the sea themes, summer florals, depictions of sunshine and beaches.
Autumn
Get creative with your Autumn themed nails and experiment with warm Earthy toned coloured such as deep reds, emerald greens, rich golds and warm oranges. This season also includes Halloween which is a great opportunity to have fun with spooky rhinestone designs. Other Autumn theme nail art could be leaf designs, woodland creatures, pumpkins, horror inspired designs etc.
Winter
A big part of the winter season is Christmas, so nail art using sparkling rhinestones is a must! Stick to classic red green and gold for a traditional design, or go for cool blues and icy white for a more wintery feel. Depicting snowflakes with White Opal rhinestones is a common choice for nail artists. Other winter/Christmas designs include baubles, snowmen, Christmas star, and iconic festive characters such as elves, gonks, Father Christmas, and angels.
Character-Inspired Designs
Inject some fun and creative flair into your nail art designs by depicting characters from films, fairy tales, comic books, cartoons, books or TV shows.
- Fairy Tale Fantasy: Princesses and magical creatures with colourful and iridescent rhinestones.
- Superhero Flair: Bold, primary colours to represent favourite heroes.
- Animated Delight: Cartoon characters with playful patterns and vibrant rhinestones.
Nail artist Scarlett Senter created these fabulous Barbie & Ken themed nail sets to honour the movie Barbie last year, the main colours pink and blue accentuated with rhinestones to match.
Here's another example of character work within nail art, Scarlett's chosen some famous Christmas themed characters and created acrylic nails featuring decorative rhinestones, pearls and caviar beads.
Below are examples of how Scarlett has depicted two popular trends in rhinestones – Beyonce's 'Texas Hold Em' song and the award winning TV show 'Stranger Things.' For the first she has stuck to classic black and white theme, using Clear and Jet black crystals to make this very sophisticated and intricate design. For the second she goes bold with fiery colours Jet, Light Siam and Citrine to create a smoking hot design.
Florals
Floral designs have always been a popular choice for nail art enthusiasts, they give off a pretty and feminine feel and can incorporate any colour. Flowers can be used as a theme during any time of year: Spring daffodils/tulips, Summer sunflowers/poppies, Autumn leaves/vines and Winter snowdrops/mistletoe. As long as you choose the correct colours to suit the season, floral nail art can work for any season.
Other themes
Within the nail art world, the theme possibilities are endless, but here are some popular trending themes to give you some inspiration:
- Geometric – Use straight edges crystal shapes such as square, triangle, rhombus, kite, rectangle or diamond to make geometric patterns. These are great for edgy designs or if you want to make an Art Deco inspired pattern.
- Celestial – Nail art featuring galaxy style patterns, moon and starts, or other worldly themes make a great talking point. Enhance these style designs with delicate caviar beads, glitter or crystal faerie dust.
- Abstract Art – Abstract art within nail designs is big at the minute, whether it's symbolic, optical illusions or animal print, artists can't get enough of making a statement through unusual designs.
Special Occasions
Bridal
You can get really creative with rhinestone embellishments for bridal nail designs, as well as flatback crystals you could apply ivory pearls for an elegant finish, crystal faerie for a blingy look or silver caviar beads for the finer detail. Clear, AB and White Opal rhinestones are the most popular colours for wedding nails but you could choose colours to match your wedding theme or flowers.
Read our article on 'Everything you need to know about wedding nails' for a full guide on shape, colour and style fit for a beautiful bride.
Valentine's Day
Applying crystal hearts to your manicure is obviously a huge trend around Valentine's Day, but you could also showcase this theme by using red and pink rhinestones or other embellishments. Chunky 3D rhinestones are great for making a statement nail, especially Swarovski pointy back hearts which are a luxury addition to any design.
Annual Events
For events that occur every year, why not mark them with a rhinestone manicure? Have fun with different colours and effects, and see how your crystallising skills improve each year. Seasonal events such as Christmas, New Year, Halloween and Easter are an obvious go-to, but try your hand at celebrating Pride month, Wimbledon, Glastonbury festival, Mother's Day, Eurovision, St Patrick's Day or any other occasion you're into.
Social Events
Big one off events are a great excuse to get creative with rhinestone nail art. Recently we've seen a Diamond Jubilee and a Coronation, possibly once in a lifetime events that are highly celebrated. Choose rhinestones that fit with the theme, for example Clear crystal to represent the diamond jubilee, and Ruby and Sapphire for the King's Coronation.
DIY Tips and Tricks
When it comes to creating your vision and applying rhinestones to nails, it is useful to know these handy tips and tricks for ensuring a flawless design.
How to select the right rhinestones for your nail art
- Selecting the right rhinestones for your nail art involves considering size, colour, and shape to match your design vision.
- Opt for smaller sizes for intricate designs or subtle accents, and larger stones for statement nails.
- Choose colours that complement or contrast with your gel colour for visual interest. Go bright and bold with neon rhinestones, or stay neutral with soft pinks and golds.
- Consider the shape of the rhinestones—round, teardrop, or unique shapes—to add texture and dimension to your nail art.
- Read our comprehensive guide on choosing the best rhinestones for nail art.
Techniques for applying rhinestones to nails
- For applying rhinestones to nails using crystal fix nail glue, ensure your nails are clean and the gel polish has been cured first.
- Apply a small drop of glue where you want the rhinestone, then use a pick up tool to place the rhinestone gently onto the glue.
- Press down lightly to secure it. Avoid using too much glue to prevent spillage around the stone.
- Cure the glue for as long as the instructions state.
- Read our full guide on how to apply rhinestones to nails for more details.
Maintaining your rhinestone nail art for longevity
- To maintain the lifespan of rhinestone nail art, apply a top coat around the edges of the rhinestones to seal them without covering their sparkle.
- Minimize exposure to harsh chemicals by wearing gloves during cleaning tasks.
- Regularly check for loose stones and secure them with a small amount of nail glue.
- Avoid using your nails as tools to prevent dislodging the rhinestones.
Conclusion
Dive into the sparkly world of rhinestone nail art and unlock the endless possibilities for creativity. Whether you're drawn to subtle elegance or bold statements, themed nail art allows you to showcase your unique style and personality. From seasonal celebrations to favourite icons, each design tells a story. So, grab your rhinestones and let your nails be your canvas, exploring the huge array of designs that await. Remember, with rhinestone nail art, the only limit is your imagination.