Oh, They’re So Back—17 Pretty Nail Designs That Make This "Outdated" Mani Feel so 2025

The last time you thought about asking for ombré nails at the salon might have been in 2015, but hear us out: gradient nails are back in a much cooler, chicer way in 2025. From the aughts to 2010s, celebrity manicurist Natalie Minerva says the then-new ombré look was considered very “editorial”—its simple two-tone transition igniting a frenzy among the fashionable. Like many trends, it then saw a steady decline before an eventual drop off; manicures escalating to 3D decals, glazed donut chrome finishes, and majorly maximalist art.

“Ombré has gotten a big glow-up in the last few years,” says celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen. “In 2025, it’s less about the ‘basic fade’ and more about playing with unexpected textures, color pairings, and finishes.” Examples of these include the trending “aura” nails with their psychedelic centers, magnetic gel velvet finishes, and negative space. “Ombré has gone through many variations since the early days… The biggest shift is how versatile it’s become,” celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec agrees.

Below, 17 ombré nail ideas that you’ll be thinking about ‘til your next appointment.

Ombré Nail Design Ideas

Lilac Bloom

We can’t get enough of these pretty purple nails. Reminiscent of the aura nail trend, this ombré starts at the center and works its way out towards the end of the nail. Try it at home by placing a drop of lilac polish (isn’t Chanel’s Immortelle so pretty?) at the center of a wedge sponge, and then paint a ring of nude polish around the perimeter. Tap away on your nail for a lava lamp-esque result.

Frombé

One of the most classic ways to wear this trend is by blurring the lines of your traditional French tips, which Minerva calls a “Frombé.” This airbrushed look is an immediate compliment-earner, goes with every outfit, and makes your outgrowth look more subtle between fills. “My favorite go-to French is one coat of OPI Nail Lacquer Bare My Soul and OPI Nail Lacquer Alpine Snow to create the French Tip,” says Minerva.

Aura Nails

Aura nails are absolutely everywhere this year, and we can't say we're complaining. This dreamy color combo looks like a love potion, and we can confirm that we're falling hard. To achieve this look at home, chief educator at MiniLuxe’s Paintbox, Evelyn Lim, has a few tips. "Choose two tonal colors. First, apply your base color and allow [it] to dry for five to seven minutes," she instructs. "Then apply both colors onto a makeup sponge and begin to tap gently onto the nail. Repeat until a seamless blend is achieved, [and] finish with top coat."

Aura Tips

Want to take this trend look into the year 2025? Stack the aura nail trend with groovy ombré French tips. These cute half-moons look like little slices of sorbet—making for the perfect late summer set.

Polaroid Mani

You may envision gradient nails as one color that bleeds into another, but these patchwork blends are a fun and modern way to approach this “dated” trend. This alluring blend of citrine, garnet, and white remind us of developing Polaroids—and when you get this set yourself, you won’t be able to stop snapping pics.

Glitter Gradient

An easy way to dress up your tips is by dusting the ends in glitter. It’s easy to recreate this look at home: simply use a clear, sparkle-flecked polish and lightly paint the brush from the tips to the middle of the nail.

Micro-Ombré Ballerina Tips

Nguyen calls these kinds of ombrés (the ones where you can barely tell a difference) micro-ombré manicures. “[It has] very subtle, almost airbrushed gradients that look like natural color shifts on the nail,” she explains. “Perfect for a minimalist vibe.”

Hot Pink Halo

If ballerina tips aren't quite your thing, kick things up a notch with this hot pink set. This bubblegum and fuchsia blend looks like everything our tween selves would have loved, just in a more grown-up manner. Essie's Bachelorette Bash and Free to Roam look like perfect matches, no?

Strawberry Lemonade

“In 2025, ombré nails are all about seasonal palettes,” says Lim. “This summer, I saw a lot of strawberry lemonade nails fading from sunny yellow to soft pink." This gorgeous gradient feels perfect for summer—and if you don't want to try to blend these bright shades yourself, try lookalike press-ons.

3D Aura

If you want to combine several trends for a look that feels extra modern, try adding 3D elements like these polygel ripples on top of your aura ombré. "I love to use ombrés as [a] 'backdrop' for my art," says Minerva. "So, I’ll do my base colors as an ombré, and then add a pattern on top, color block it, or I’ll add some 3D embellishments. The options are endless with ombrés."

Y2K Bling

This set feels like a throwback to the '00s in cool, modern way. Zhuzh up a neutral-toned ombré with geometric cutouts and bling for that extra Y2K touch.

Citrus Tips

Do these nails not remind you of lemon slices? We love how effortlessly cool these look—stacking graphic liner, aura ombré, and trendy lemon yellow together. Kandalec is a proponent for added extra design details like stickers, polka dots, and lines over your gradients to make them look more modern.

Glazed Gradient

Ombré glazed donut, anyone? This set combines two of-the-moment trends: Hailey Bieber's glazed nail technique, and ombré nails.

Negative Space

Let's shift things into grayscale with these negative space nails. "Some cool and modern ways to wear an ombré [are] to have the gradient transition into negative space," muses Lim. To take this trend into the cooler months, try swapping bright colors for varying shades of black, white, and gray.

Strawberry Jelly

Jelly nails never looked so lavish. "What’s exciting now is how ombré is being mixed into nail designs instead of being the whole look," muses Kandalec. We're obsessed with this dripping, sheer gradient and the use of accent art on top.

Tight-Lined Tips

Take your aura nails to the next level by lining the circumference with a contrast color. This stark white accentuates the length of nail and makes them look instantly cooler—all in one swipe.

Candy Coating

It's like sticking your hand in the candy jar. These mismatched, ombré-shellacked nails are a fun way to try the ombré trend without being too precious about color.

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