56 Valentine’s Day Nail Trends For The Hopeless Romantic

Valentine’s Day nail art is constantly evolving. From whimsical 3D designs to glassy chrome pink powders and dainty little bows, the options are endless. What doesn’t change? A fresh (and romantic) mani is always a fun way to mark the occasion.

In recent years, it’s been trendy to think beyond neutral pinks and classic reds and incorporate more unexpected shades into a Valentine’s Day manicure, like black, silver, gold or green. If you’re into painting your own nails, try repurposing some of the details from decorative Christmas manicures, such as bows, shimmer or press-on jewels.

Below, 56 of the best Valentine’s Day nail art designs to save for your February salon appointment.

Fuchsia fusion

Fuchsia looks even cooler with a metallic chrome finish. Dress down the manicure by going for a uniform block colour, or elevate it by opting for a nude shade on your index and ring fingers. For a cute edge, use the same fuchsia polish to outline an accent on the nude nails.

Glass hearts

Glass nails were a reigning manicure trend last year and look set to remain incredibly popular for 2026. Personalise your manicure with glittery hearts, swirls, colourful French tips… or all three.

Red marble

Ask your manicurist to create a hot pink marble effect over a milky pale pink base.

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Old-school polka dots

Inverse polka dot nails are the perfect way to modernise a classic print. Plus, they look fantastic on a shorter set of nails. Celebrity manicurist Zola Ganzorigt created this deep red and white set for actress Sydney Sweeney.

Cupid nails

Incorporate some V-Day symbolism in the chicest way with an intricate halo heart detail, complete with bows, lacy doodles and gemstones.

Pink ‘n’ mix

For those who exhausted black cherry nails ahead of Christmas, consider a trio of pinks to brighten your mood. The pink mix-and-match style above is delicate and joyful at the same time, featuring a light pink base, alternating pink French tips and a light pink heart in the centre.

Dreamy vintage nails

This coquette nail set encapsulates everything that’s fun about Valentine’s Day beauty. The right level of bold, each base is made up of clear gel, giving space to fun designs without the added noise of clashing colours.

Ruby pearls

With just a touch of bling, these ruby pearl nails will add extra sparkle to the sweetest day of the year.

The Barbie set

To channel a sunny Malibu Barbie effect, go for a nude manicure and dress it up with thin bow doodles, as well as fun lip-shaped art.

Sweet berry nails

Reminiscent of a decadent spring picnic, these sweet berry nails are made up of fruity nail art, mixed in with the aura design and 3D accents.

Strawberry shortcake nails

Named after the decadent dessert, this manicure truly does look good enough to eat. Create a halo around a central strawberry design with faux pearl stones and an icing-like design using a fine nail brush.

The love heart mani

Like the sweets of the same name, the love heart manicure is delicious. Plus, it incorporates the elegant spring pastel shade that we know and love: butter yellow.

Hot air balloon hearts

Be blown away this Valentine’s Day with sweet hot air balloon art – the perfect addition to a day with your girlfriends or a fun date night.

Sweetheart mani

Candy-inspired nails are sure to make a statement. Let your mani do all the talking with squashies-inspired swirls and loveheart 3D art.

Gold leaf nails

Chic and simple might be your vibe for V-day. In that case, try a delicate gold leaf manicure on top of a classic nude base.

Patchwork pattern nails

Why not inject a little fun into your next set? Uniform nails are no longer necessary: opt for a cocktail of patterns, gemstones, hearts and stars instead.

Black sparkles

Go against the grain and opt for little black hearts instead of your classic pink or red. A great way to elevate this nail art is with a little shimmer – top with a thin layer of glittery polish, or adorn with gemstones.

Glittery kiss nails

Kiss your January manicure goodbye and switch it up with this sweet yet subtle nail design. Ask your nail tech for a classic ombré French tip manicure and ask for kisses to be hand-painted on and topped with glitter. A cheat to recreate the look at home? Add nail stickers on top of the French manicure and then top with a clear coat of gel polish.

Rainbow hearts

Why settle for one shade when you can have them all? Here, nail artist Hang Nguyen takes inspiration from the rainbow and paints multicoloured heart outlines on bare nails.

Half-hearted

As the saying goes, if the colour isn’t interesting, then the shape and texture should be. Mix different finishes and shades – as with these half glossy, half metallic pink and green hearts – for a dynamic nail look.

Mini hearts

If you’re a fan of all things mini or minimal, these adorable tiny heart designs should be right up your alley.

Mini hearts of gold

For subtle sparkle, we also love this mini gold heart with a shimmer finish. Small but impactful on a bare nail.

V-day rainbow

Simple and fun, the easiest way to achieve a chic Valentine’s Day mani is to paint each fingernail a different shade of pink or red.

3D art

Celebrity nail artist Brittney Boyce gave Megan Fox’s bare nails the simplest upgrade by placing these rounded 3D hearts at the centre. The translucent finish gives the decals a gem-like quality that’s just stunning.

White flames

Love can light a fire in your heart… and on your nails. This intricate flame design morphs into a heart shape at the ends for a unique spin on the French mani.

Charmed life

Who doesn’t love nail charms? Up your Valentine’s Day nail game with something as unique as these semi-sheer droplets.

Queen of hearts

Celebrity nail artist Kim Truong created this upside-down heart for a unique spin on the classic V-Day symbol, using the tips of Kourtney Kardashian’s almond nails for the ends of the heart design. Set yours against a bare background for it to really stand out.

Minimal geometric shapes

Chic yet minimal, a simple geometric design in Valentine’s Day red is all you need. Celebrity nail artist Zola Ganzorigt, who counts Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner as clients, adds a red rectangle to the corner to dress up a bare nail. The gold stud placed in the centre is a nice touch.

Dark romance

A rose design by any other name would be just as sweet, but this intricate nail art by Kim Truong has won our hearts. The deep red with black outlines creates a moody, romantic tone we can’t stop obsessing over.

Minimal floral

These simple and elegant nails belong to model Miranda Kerr. She opted for a bare glossy nail with an intricate floral design on a single finger and the result looks perfect for a romantic date.

Pink pearl chrome

This semi-sheer pink chrome shade on short nails is minimal, yet just as stunning as the bolder Valentine’s Day nail inspiration on this list. A favourite for this holiday and beyond.

Aura nails

Call in the good vibes, love and positive energy this Valentine’s Day with Aura nails. Zola Ganzorigt uses a mixture of magenta and pale pink on Madelaine Petsch’s almond nails here, for a really pretty look.

Heart cut-out

Wearing your heart on your nails has never been easier. Dress up a red nail with a heart-shaped cut-out right in the middle.

Coquette bows

Red French tips, strawberry glazed, coquette-esque bow details – Ganzorigt mixes all of our favourite nail trends in a single, super-fun nail look.

Peek-a-boo sparkle

J Lo’s mauve mani is stunning on its own, but leave it to Tom Bachik to give it an unexpected twist. Striking that perfect balance of subtle and impactful, the “peek-a-boo” rhinestones placed on the inside of the long tips make for something unique.

Sweet details

To incorporate heart decals subtly, opt for heart-shaped French tips. If you want to take the look to the next level, paint on small red hearts that will really pop against a bare base.

Heart eye

If you want to be on theme without going overboard, paint a single heart on one nail against a bare base, and leave the rest with a full-coverage cherry shade.

Strawberry-glazed doughnut

Zola Ganzorigt gives her classic glazed doughnut nail another delicious update. Opt for a pink iridescent shine for a more festive feel on 14 February.

Bubblegum shimmer

If your Valentine’s Day plans involve going out dancing, these fun “bubblegum disco” nails are the perfect fit. Bachik uses the bright pink Apres Nail gel colour in Sweet Cheeks as the base and layers some shimmer from his Modelones Solid Gel Polish Palette for a sparkly finish.

Ice cold

A French mani and an adorable heart decal are really all you need for your Valentine’s Day nail look. Opt for a shade like this silver chrome for something more unexpected and cool.

Pink chrome tips

You can’t ever go wrong with a French mani. This Valentine’s Day, opt for a deep pink shade for the tips with a super cool metallic finish.

Red hot

For a fiery spin on the glazed nail trend, opt for a red metallic shade. Celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik uses the PLA Gel Polish in Chai and Chai Again to get that deep red base, and adds a golden glaze to give it a warm iridescent sheen.

Rounded French

When in doubt, go with the classic French manicure. Opt for deep, rounded tips and a deeper pink base.

Winter white

Another winter staple, white nails make for a perfect Valentine’s Day manicure. Here, Tom Bachik paints a bright shade on Selena Gomez’s square nails to really make them pop.

3D chrome

If you love pink chrome French tips as much as we do, give it some texture with these 3D swirls.

Pink and red

Hang Nguyen goes with a classic combo of cherry red and bright pink nails. She adds a heart-shaped outline at the base of the nail for a nice added touch.

Abstract art

Channel your inner Picasso and think outside the box when wearing hearts on your nails. Place the design at the tips, on the side, at the base… mix it up!

Whimsical vibes

Give us pastel blues and pinks any day. Brittney Boyce mixes these colours on Megan Fox’s long nails for a dreamy aura look that we’ll wear well beyond 14 February.

Dreamy watercolour

A mix of lavender, pink, green and orange in a watercolour wash effect makes for a lovely Valentine’s Day nail look.

Colour block

Pairing contrasting colours always makes for a dynamic look. Here, celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen painted a black half-moon at the base of the nail and created a diffused airbrush effect on the tip against a dark neon pink base.

Hint of shimmer

For some subtle shine without going all out, reach for a pink shimmer polish and focus coverage in the centre of the nail. Have it fade as it reaches the edges for an aura-like feel.

V-day marble

Mix shades of white, rose and pink shimmer to get that mesmerising marble effect that’s just so pretty to look at. We especially love the gold flecks.

Textured red

Elevate a cherry-red nail by adding some texture. Natalie Minerva is behind this “red croc” mani, with its raised curves and indents to give the nail a wild and animalistic feel.

Holographic shine

Something is mesmerising about holographic nails, and this iridescent pink with silver and blue specks makes for a stunning nail look. Add matching jewels at the base of the nail for added shine.

Playful French

How fun are these Valentine’s Day nails? Dress up a multicoloured French manicure with contrasting coloured hearts right at the top.

Negative space

For the minimalists, these negative space lines are a simple way to dress up a natural nail. We especially love this Oxblood shade from CND.