Ask your best friend, your sibling, or any manicure-faithful person on TikTok—a nail appointment on the calendar is something beauty lovers count down the minutes to. There is endless discussion about which trends reign supreme at any given time (cat-eye polish, nail jeweleryAnd detailed art Are making viral waves right now), but despite the online noise, a tsunami of a wedge trend is emerging on the horizon. It’s effortlessly cool and extremely versatile and has the ability to be reinterpreted to fit any personal aesthetic, and you’re going to see it absolutely everywhere.
no i’m not talking 3d texture Or soap nails. I’m talking about the striped manicure that’s been decorating my Instagram and Pinterest dashboards for the past two months. Although this trend is not entirely new (Kylie Jenner wore tuxedo tips last summer, and plaid-nail trend continues to climb), I have seen a gradual increase in the simple line art since the beginning of 2026. I’m inundated almost every day with everything from cool-girl tie-inspired sets to thin-slit French manicures and nautical stripes — with new, bigger and better iterations coming out by the week. This growing assortment of inspiration tells me that we’re in for a big, striped storm this spring and summer, and honestly, I’m here for it.
It would be unfair not to share with the class the amount of observation photos I’ve been saving over the past few weeks. Below, see 13 sets that look extra good music festival seasonwill pronounce you perfectly Winter to Spring Transitional Wardrobeand come to life with one trendy new swimsuit. Important decisions of your next few months have been decided. Thank me later.
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13 striped-nail ideas to try in 2026
cerulean chic
I can’t think of a better way to try this trend than one of these Spring’s hottest color combinations-Espresso and Cerulean, who took Spring/Summer 2026 Runway by Storm. manicurist haley favro Translated this color scheme onto my client’s tips with thickly stacked French tips, creating this tiered design that I’m eager to try myself. Tres chic, no?
gen z stripes
My favorite interpretation of this line-less trend is this finely carved design from a Milan-based manicurist. Oksana Zavora. Not only does Zavora play with my favorite element of this trend (French-tip placement), but she also offers other eye-catching accents like tortoiseshell and muted. C-curve liner This is a lot jenny kim Coded If you’re into mix-and-match manicures and want to take Gen Z by storm, you’ll want to add this set to your inspo board.
frozen
Please take a moment for the line work! This elaborate set, also by Zavora, re-imagines the striped manicure in a fashion context, using the diagonal perspective and varying thicknesses of lined ties and mashing it up with pinstripes, polka dots and more. CBK-Headband Acetate. This is a maximalist’s dream spring gem.
folded tuxedo
I mentioned Jenner’s tuxedo nails earlier, but it would be rude not to give you the visual. This look was created by a celebrity manicurist Zola Ganzorigat It features a lined manicure in classic French curves, not the horizontal stripes we’ve seen so far. If you’re a French-tip devotee who wants to try something new without straying too far from home base, this lightly detailed manicure is going to show off your nail technique.
short ‘n’ striped
If you think this trend is only for long nails, think again. This spring-ready style proves that striped French tips look extra cute (honestly, maybe even cuter than others). Short, rounded nails, especially when painted in this navy and light blue combo. Depending on what outfit you wear it with it can look dressy, effortlessly cool, or perfect for spring, making it one of the most versatile options I’ve seen yet.
Candied Color Blocking
Celebrity Manicurist and Brand Founder britney boyce She was on the cutting edge when she designed this color-blocked manicure on the influencer Dixie D’Amelio in February. This set feels like manicure-ification damson madder With a combination of earthy and jewel-toned hues in a color-blocked and pinstriped pattern, this playful print combo is elevated into something more.
finely studded
summer stripes
This vibrant, summery set is practically a streamlined expression of East Coast boardwalks and beach umbrellas. Although most of the striped designs we’ve seen so far feature horizontal or curved French lines, this set plays with beautiful vertical slits, a look that’s bound to dominate Pinterest as the weather continues to get warmer.
’60s mod
It seems like polka dots and pinstripes look perfect. Manicurist based in Stafford, England stephanie holland This mismatched print set played with mash brown, butter yellow and baby blue color combinations gives me a nostalgic feel.
tangerine tips
Did someone say summer nails? This combination of bright orange, brown, pink, and ivory was taken straight from my warm-weather mood board, and I can’t wait to try a version of it myself this year. For added personality, be sure to ask for different color progressions—the non-uniformity of these stripes makes them extra attractive.
missoni gem
celebrity manicurist queeny nguyen These colorful stripes are crafted in the image of Missoni’s Pre-Fall 2016 collection – a rainbow of pastels against a solid background. Although this look is easily one of the best choices for the quintessential American summer set, the subtle nod to a decade-old, colorful runway is a great nostalgic touch.
pattern play
If you still haven’t gotten over the mismatched-nails trend, join the club and save this manicure for inspo. Favreau adds ditzy polka dots; blue, yellow and berry stripes; And Paisley created this playful patterned set that shouldn’t work but just does.
button-down blues
If a classic palette is more your speed, try this blue and white pinstriped set. It adds a feeling of warmth without screaming with color and leans towards the preppy side of things.
shop the trend
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long stripper brush set
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green nail polish in satin
fingerpaint
Hip Hip Hue-Ray Stripping Polish
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4-Pack Nail Brush Set
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après
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gelish
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