Ombre Nails

Ombre nail designs and styles

Ombre isn't one look. Before you choose colors, decide which way you want the fade to run.

• Classic ombre: light at the cuticle and dark at the tip, or the reverse.
• Vertical ombre: the colors blend from one side of the nail to the other instead of top to bottom.
• Skittle ombre: each nail is a solid color, a shade darker than the one before, so the gradient runs across your hand.
• Glitter or holographic ombre: sparkle that's heaviest at the tip and fades out, like Holographic Ombre Nails.
• Patterned ombre: a fade built from dots or brush strokes, as in Blue Dotted Gradient Nails and Fan Brush Tie Dye.

Color pairings that blend well

Shades that sit next to each other on the color wheel blend most smoothly: pink into coral, lavender into blue, green into blue. Light-to-dark versions of one color, like pale pink into hot pink, are the easiest to get right. High-contrast pairs such as black and white make a bolder statement but show any patchiness. Browse shades on colors to plan your pair, or preview a look with Try it on.

Ombre French nails at the salon

Ombre French nails, a nude base fading into a white tip, are a salon favorite in acrylic nails and other enhancements, where the fade is built with colored powders. Bring a picture to one of the nail salons near you, or learn to sponge one yourself in the ombre nail art videos.

Questions people ask

Do ombre nails work on short nails?

Yes. On short nails, stick to two colors so each has room to show, and keep the blend soft rather than stretching it over three or four shades.

How many colors should an ombre use?

Two is simplest, and three gives a fuller sunset effect. More than three can look striped on a single nail, but it works well as a skittle ombre spread across the hand.