15 Striped Nail Designs You Need To Try

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There are so many different cute nail looks to try, but one of my favorite is striped nails. They can look fun, sophisticated, classy, elegant, you name it! When it comes to striped nail designs, the options and looks are endless and you can play around with the colors too.

I’ve put together some of the cutest striped nails to inspire your next nail look! To help you get a perfect stripe, check out these nail stencils that will give you a steady and straight line!

1. Artistic Nails

These cute nails were inspired by Paul Signac’s Opus 217 +++ painting, which to be honest, I was not familiar with- I fell in love with the nails without the painting!

I love the color combination and the different waves the stripes have to them. Play around with your nails and create your own original wavy stripes!

2. Zebra Stripes

Add a dynamic touch with zebra stripes that are bold with black and white contrasting colors. I love how these nails have a touch of a French nail look with the zebra design only on the top half of the nails.

3. Shimmery Sea

Inspired by the sea in the summertime, looking at these nails sends chilled vibes! Summer nails are often bright and out there, but they don’t have to be, and these nails prove that.

I love the added shimmer that gives the nails an extra sparkle, and the shades of blue are simply stunning!

4. Red and Black Nails

These red and black nails are ideal for those who don’t want a too ‘stripey’ look. With a thick red tip and a thin black stripe, it has the originality factor without it being too much.

5. Matte Stripes

Matte nails always give a sophisticated finish, add some colorful stripes and you’ve got a beautiful set of nails!

SHOP THE STRIPED NAIL LOOK

Here are the products I’d use to recreate these looks at home:

Nail Striping Tape: The single most important tool for getting clean, straight stripes at home. Lay the tape across your base colour, paint over it and peel it off while the polish is still wet for crisp lines every single time. No steady hand required, the tape does all the work. It’s the shortcut that makes striped nails genuinely achievable for beginners and it’s what I’d reach for first before anything else in this post.
Nail Stencils: Stencils are the other great shortcut for perfect stripes, especially for diagonal, curved and wave designs like #1, #7 and #10. A set that includes both straight edge and wave guides covers the majority of designs in this post.
31pc Nail Art Brush Set: For the freehand designs- the swirls in #7 and #10, the zebra outlines in #2, the tiger stripes in #12 and the baseball stitching in #9. A fine liner brush gives you the control that a regular polish brush never can, and once you have one you’ll use it constantly.
Multi-Shade Gel Polish Set: With so many colors and shades in the post, you’ll need a multi-shade gel set to recreate these looks.
Matte Top Coat: Design #5 is all about that sophisticated matte finish and design #18 in the black nails post shows how striking matte can be as a base with a shiny stripe on top. One matte top coat transforms any gel polish into a completely different look and is worth having in every nail kit.
Neon Gel Polish Set: Design #14 specifically calls for proper neons, not just bright colours but the kind that almost glow. A dedicated neon gel set in pink, yellow, orange, green and blue covers this design perfectly and is brilliant for summer nail looks generally.
Pastel Gel Polish Set: For designs #10, #15 and the softer seasonal looks like #6 and #8. Baby pink, lavender, mint and sky blue between them cover the majority of the sweeter, more delicate stripe designs in this post.
UV/LED Nail Lamp: If you’re doing gel at home, you need a lamp to cure it. This is the one trusted by professionals and it works with every gel brand.

Striped nails are honestly one of the most beginner-friendly nail art styles once you have the right tools, the tape and stencils do the hard work for you. Everything you need is linked above, start with one stripe and go from there!

6. Sweater Nails

These nails are the perfect choice for the fall, when the weather gets colder, the trees shed their leaves, and out come your cozy sweaters.

Match your nails to your sweater with these adorable sweater nails!

7. Fall Swirls

Not all stripes need to be straight, and these cute swirly nails are perfect for anyone looking for slightly out-of-the-box nails.

Customize the colors of the swirls to your outfit or the season of the year, we think these fall colors are crushing it!

8. Candy Cane Stripes

No striped nails post can be complete without candy cane nails! If you have a sweet tooth but need to cut down on the sugar, enjoy candy cane’s by looking at them instead (Ye, I know it won’t quite do the trick!).

Looking for more festive nail inspiration? Check out these Christmas nail looks.

9. Baseball Nail Design

Going to watch a baseball game? Show full support with these baseball nails! Designed with blue stripes and the classic baseball design, these short nails are everything you need for a baseball party or match!

10. Cotton Candy

Add some sweetness to your nails with these cotton candy inspired nails. Using pale pink with blue swirls, these nails are perfect for spring and summer nail looks. Check out more pink nail looks.

11. Textured Rainbow

Textured nails are a trending way to add an interesting touch to your nails without making them too busy. Truthfully, these rainbow striped nails are already super busy, the texture adds some fun!

Stay tuned because a textured nail look is coming soon…

12. Tiger Nails

Although tiger stripes are not technically stripes, they’re called stripes so they made it here!

I love animals and tigers have some of the most beautiful patterns in the world, I can look at them for hours, like, seriously! Bring some of that beauty to your nails with these tiger inspired stripey nails!

13. Patriotic Nails

Stars and stripes all the way for all of those patriotic ones out there! These nails are perfect for the 4th of July when we can’t get enough of the American flag!

You can customize them to your taste with smiley faces, flowers, starts and plain red and blue nails.

Want to recreate these at home? This nail art practice sheet makes it much easier✨

Create stunning nail decals, press-ons, and wraps with this easy-to-use Nail Shape Template Set designed to make nail art faster, cleaner, and more professional. Perfect for nail techs, salons, and DIY artists. Print and practice as many times as you like!

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14. Neon Stripes

Do you love making a bold statement wherever you go? If your answer was yes, these neon stripes are ideal for you! Bright, bold and colorful, you’ll have all heads turning and admiring your beautiful nails!

15. Pastel Stripes

Soft, pastel stripes are ideal for a delicate, feminine look. Combine colors like baby blue, pink, lavender, and mint green for a subtle, yet still fun design!

My Thoughts

Striped nail designs are a versatile nail look that can be adapted to any occasion. Whether you prefer simple, classic lines or bold, artistic patterns, there’s a striped design that will suit your style.

Looking for more nail inspiration? Check out these chrome nails for an original look!

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Hollie xx