Temperatures have been over 90 degrees for the past few days, and although staying inside with air conditioning sounds ideal, sometimes you have to step outside, embrace the heat, and enjoy the bright summer sun. Hot as it may be, warm weather calls for bright, playful nails.
We spent some time outdoors and created a fresh striped nail DIY that’s perfect for hot summer days. Below is a simple step-by-step tutorial so you can recreate the look at home.
Materials
- Clear base coat
- Two contrasting nail polish colors
- Small paint brush (for detail work)
- Clear top coat
Instructions
1. Start by applying a clear base coat to protect your nails and create a smooth surface for polish.
2. Choose a base color and paint each nail. For this design we used a sunny yellow. A bright base helps the stripes stand out and feels perfect for summer.
3. Once the base color is fully dry, dip a small paint brush into your contrasting polish color—pink was used here—and paint thin stripes across each nail. Vary the direction and spacing of the stripes for a playful, hand-painted look: diagonal lines, horizontal strokes, or short accents all work well. Work one nail at a time to maintain clean lines.
4. Allow the stripes to dry completely, then finish with a clear top coat to seal the design, add shine, and extend wear.
The result is a fun, summery manicure that looks custom and carefree. The hand-painted stripes give each nail a unique pattern while remaining cohesive as a set.
Nails and photography: Rachel Brewer
Model: Amelia Tatnall
Art direction: Brittni Mehlhoff
Color combinations to try
- Sunny yellow base with coral or hot pink stripes for a bold, tropical look.
- Soft pastel base (mint or baby blue) with white or metallic silver stripes for a subtle, modern vibe.
- Classic white base with navy or black stripes for a crisp, nautical-inspired manicure.
- Bright orange base with fuchsia or deep purple stripes for a high-contrast summer statement.
- Neutral nude base with gold or rose-gold metallic stripes for an elevated, chic finish.
Which color combo would you try for this striped nail DIY?