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Home » Beauty » Nail Ideas

19 Gel Nail Designs That Will Last Longer Than Your Latest Netflix Obsession

By Ashley Hubbard | November 12, 2021 | Updated on June 7, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links that we collect a share of sales from. Click here for more details.
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Gel Nail Designs - Matte Green and Polka Dots
Gel Nail Designs - Multi-Colored French Tips
Gel Nail Designs - Abstract Nails
Gel Nail Designs - Cows and Gold Flakes
Gel Nail Designs - Black & Gold Leopard Nails
Gel Nail Designs - Mustard Yellow Nails

There’s nothing as frustrating as spending time and money applying polish only for it to start chipping the next day. Luckily, gel nail polish offers a longer shelf life than those avocados you bought this afternoon.

Regardless of how unique or simple your gel nail designs are, they’ll stand the test of time. And the ability to quickly cure the nail polish with UV light makes gel nail art consisting of several layers much easier to achieve. Or, it’s at least more efficient.

Gel Nail Designs

 

19 Gel Nail Designs

1. Cows and Gold Flakes

Tell us you love country music without telling us you love country music.

Gel Nail Designs - Cows and Gold Flakes
Photo Credit: @swaknails

 

2. Matte Mustard Yellow with Blue Accents

Perfect look for when you really want to flaunt that you have opposable thumbs. No wonder cats hate us.

Gel Nail Designs - Mustard Yellow Nails
Photo Credit: @kdnailedit

 

3. Abstract Nails

We love that anything can be called abstract. We’ve been using that little trick to explain our hair style for years.

Gel Nail Designs - Abstract Nails
Photo Credit: @superflynails

 

4. Multi-Colored French Tips

Can’t choose one color? Don’t want to paint the whole nail? Have commitment issues? Call it art! For legal reasons, our therapist cannot comment.

Gel Nail Designs - Multi-Colored French Tips
Photo Credit: @by.chloenails

 

5. Black & Gold Leopard Nails

Gold foil, black matte, French tips, leopard print…who knew that your ideal nail aesthetic would perfectly match the VIPs from Squid Game?

Gel Nail Designs - Black & Gold Leopard Nails
Photo Credit: @splashnails_lindsay

 

6. Matte Green and Polka Dots

When you understand Cruella’s vision, but you’re not quite on board with all the execution. It’s so messy!

Gel Nail Designs - Matte Green and Polka Dots
Photo Credit: @ellyaalishwright

 

7. Gold Drip Gel Nails

The bad news is that we didn’t get that job as a house painter. The good news is that our nails look outstanding.

Gel Nail Designs - Gold Drip Nails
Photo Credit: @color.city_

 

8. Pastel Camo Nails

We’re no fashion designers, but we think this slight adjustment to the Army color palette would look lovely.

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A post shared by 𝕂𝕖𝕤𝕒𝕟𝕘 𝕘𝕦𝕣𝕦𝕟𝕘 (𝕟𝕒𝕚𝕝 𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕤𝕥) (@kesangthenailartist)

 

9. Plant Gel Nail Design

If you can make your nails like this, you can keep plants alive. Look, it’s what the guy at Home Depot told us and he’s never led us astray before. Except that one time he sent us down aisle 13.

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A post shared by Nails by Ravi (@nailsbyravi_)

 

10. Matte Green and Tortoiseshell Nails

Did you know tortoise shells get along really well with matte green? They’re so much trendier than those silly turtles.

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A post shared by Learnah Starbuck (@learnahstarbuck_nailartist)

 

11. Brown Abstract Gel Nails

A little inside tip – take a few paint swatches to your nail artist and let them go wild. Super inside tip? Take your nails to the Home Depot paint department. (Don’t worry, it’s not on aisle 13).

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A post shared by Nails by Ravi (@nailsbyravi_)

 

12. Marbled Almond Gel Nails

Marbling is just like fancy tie-dye. Which really makes us wonder why we’ve never seen a tie-dye countertop.

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A post shared by Terri Louise Copeland (@terricopelandnails)

 

13. Lime Nails

When life gives you lemons, return them because you really need limes for those margaritas.

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A post shared by Nail Polish Direct (@nailpolishdirect)

 

14. Brown Negative Space Nail Design

Aside from looking amazing, the main benefit of this design is that it won’t get ruined when we rummage around in our purse and inevitably run into melted chocolate. We swear it’s chocolate.

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A post shared by Nia Ho (@nails_and_soul)

 

15. Geometric Nail Design

We are so glad we paid attention in geometry class. Or at least enough to have these shapely nails and name drop “hypotenuse” into conversations.

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A post shared by Jessica Washick (@jessicawashick)

 

16. Caramel Matte Gel Nails

This is what happens with you mix up your coffee order and your nail salon request. We’re not sure how our nail artist pulled off a design that mimics a peppermint mocha but it tasted delicious.

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A post shared by Sophie Ivanoff (@sophieivanoff.nailtech)

 

17. Green, Orange, Black, & White Tips

French tips have evolved so much that they’re Irish now. More Jamison, please.

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A post shared by 𝐙𝐨𝐞̈ 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐬 (@nails.by.zo_)

 

18. Black & White Gel Nails

Are these and black and white cookies connected? Do we get cookies now? We’ll even split one with you…tomorrow.

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A post shared by @glossimani

 

19. Peach Gel Nails

Someone get out the purple nail polish because we’re doing eggplants next.

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A post shared by 𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚊 • 𝙽𝚊𝚒𝚕 𝙰𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚜𝚝 (@_nailsbyemmaa_)

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Ashley Hubbard
Ashley Hubbard
Ashley Hubbard is a freelance writer and creator. As a Darcy Magazine contributor, she covers all things related to nails, entertainment news, pop culture trends, and more. Additionally, she regularly writes interview-based celebrity stories for Coping with Cancer magazine and has written for other publications, including Let's Eat Cake, Roadtrippers, Greatist, and Healthline. She has also been featured by Impact Travel Alliance as a creative who is transforming travel, and by Matador Network as a vegan travel blogger you should be following on Instagram. 

Ashley is a Nashville unicorn (born, raised, and based), queer, vegan, and dedicated to leaving a positive impact through her life, work, and her website, Wild Hearted. 

When she's not writing, she's traveling, reading a book, trying not to kill her houseplants, worshiping her dog, or having an existential crisis. Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter, and LinkedIn
Ashley Hubbard
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links from Amazon and other sites that we collect a share of sales from.
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