Tribal Nails
Tribal nails are bold, freehand print designs: lines, dots, triangles and swirls drawn in black over a bright base. This gallery shows finished tribal print manicures for ideas.
The featured design, Tribal Paint Nails, layers black pen marks over a red base and finishes with top coat. It's a good first try if you've never drawn on your nails.
1 in Tribal Nails
How tribal print nails come together
A tribal print is a set of simple marks repeated across the nail, so you don't need drawing skills, just a steady hand and a fine tip. A black nail art pen is the easiest tool because it draws like a marker.
- Start with a base coat and two coats of a bright color, such as red, coral or turquoise.
- Let it dry fully, then draw bands of marks: straight lines, dots, small triangles, hash marks, zigzags and swirls.
- Vary the pattern from nail to nail so it looks hand-drawn rather than stamped.
- Let the lines dry, then seal with top coat, floating the brush lightly so nothing smears.
More ideas
Triangles and zigzags overlap with chevron nails, and bold black prints sit naturally alongside animal print nails. To choose a base color first, use try it on.
Questions people ask
Can you do tribal nails without a nail art pen?
Yes. A thin striper brush dipped in black polish works the same way, though it takes a little more control. Wipe the brush often so the lines stay fine.
What colors go with black tribal designs?
Warm brights like red, orange and coral make black marks stand out, while turquoise or mint give a cooler look. A white base works too, for a graphic, high-contrast print.