"Abstract Swirl" Nail Art Is the Dizzying Trend We Can't Get Enough Of
Abstract swirl nail designs have absolutely taken over the nail art world as the dominant trend. We're seeing a lot of manis on our social media feeds and IRL boasting twists, turns, spirals, and bends — veritable works of wearable art.
Besides looking cool, we think that part of the appeal of swirl nails is the fact that they're so versatile and adaptable. By that we mean: hard to get wrong. It takes the pressure off if you're trying it for yourself at home. But even if you'd rather tap the skills of a pro, we've got plenty of ideas, along with some tips from nail artists on how to do 'em or what to ask your manicurist for.
"It can be daunting for clients who want to achieve this look but don't know where to start," says Reading, England-based nail artist Trang Vu of Amy Nails Reading. "I recommend providing your nail technician with a few inspiration photos of the types of swirls you like. It is always useful to have a color palette in mind." The colors don't need to be exact, but having a basic idea of the hues you want to work with is the first step. "Your technician can help you pick them out and, if necessary, pair those shades with complementary colors," says Vu.
To save you endless hours of scrolling through the #swirlnails rabbit hole, we rounded up 15 of our favorite designs we've seen online. Get into them!
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Instagram/@primping_aint_easy1/15Punky Rollerwave
This Beetlejuice-style set is was created by New York City-based nail artist Anna Miles. "It's 'just' black-and-white wavy stripes, but they contain multitudes," she says. "As if the psychedelic waves went punk, it's a little unexpected combo of smooth waves and sharper turns."
Thinking about asking for this at the salon? "You'll want to focus on accentuating the natural curves of your nail," Miles advises. "A larger 'blobby' swirl on the center of a shorter nail may create an illusion of seemingly shorter nails — I would focus by framing the swirls around the nail, not necessarily painting them down the center."
Instagram/@blkgirlnailfies2/15Groovy Swirls
This set was done by Kansas City, MO-based nail technician Arriel Houston for her client, Bria Douglas. Houston combined several shades of blue and green to create this look. "It's got that '70s swirl aesthetic — super fun and cute, plus it all meshes together well," she says. "It mixes old school with new school."
Instagram/@chaunlegend3/15Purple Waves
Where do the twists and turns in this mani start and finish? We don't know — and that's what we love more about this set by Chaun Legend. "I know I said I was over the swirls but it's something about these colors together I love," Legend captioned this nailfie on Instagram. He used all OPI lacquers for this look: Bubble Bath for the base, Violet Visionary, OPI ❤️ DTLA, and (P)ink on Canvas for the swirls.
Instagram/@primping_aint_easy4/15Intellectual Swirl
Miles created what she calls "Intellectual Swirl" nails on staff editor Jihan Forbes. "It's elevated by the varied animal prints (tortoise, leopard, and giraffe) as if she's a well-traveled and extremely chic academic," says Miles of the look.
"At this stage in fashion and in nail art, we often consider animal prints to be neutrals, and combining several just elevates the vibe," explains Miles. "Pairing the pattern mixing with the color of the moment (I call it 'Bottega green') is peak fashion zeitgeist, in my opinion."
Instagram/@amynailsreading5/15Retro Daisies
These retro nails are another nod to the '70s with this mix of daisies and swirls. Vu, who helps run her mother's nail salon, Amy Nails Reading, created this set in September. To celebrate the change of the seasons, she combined autumnal colors such as burnt orange and mustard yellow with more vibrant, summery colors like pink and bright orange.
To achieve this look at home, Vu recommends using gel polish. "With gel, you can easily wipe away any mistakes you make and not have to start again," says Vu. "A thin, long brush (like this one) is also recommended for achieving precise strokes in one easy motion. A dotting tool makes all the difference when painting the daisies."
Instagram/@strawberrymilknailsx6/15Toxic Swirls
"Large and bold — go big or go home!" says Bristol, England-based nail technician and scientist Angela Griffin. "The contrast of the neon against the black and white makes these nails glow, which they actually do under neon lights."If you're trying this look at home, "Use the lightest color as the base (in this case, it's white)," Griffin explains. Then, take a medium-length brush like the Brillbird 0 Brush and apply some chunky waves in your chosen color (here, it's yellow and green). "Finally, outline [the swirls] in black, making sure the edges are neat." Griffin used The Gel Bottle colors in Daisy, Freesia, and Jet Black for this look.
Instagram/@_nailsbyniamh7/15Candy Cane Swirls
Get into the holiday season — or just feel like it with this look by Herefordshire, England-based nail artist Niamh Compton. "What makes [swirl nails designs] unique is that no two can be the same, allowing clients to follow a trend but still express their individuality."
For at-home manis, Compton suggests using gel polishes as you can cure them in a lamp between layers to prevent smudging. Choose three to four colors you'd like to use ("I recommend including white as it makes the rest pop," says Compton.)
Start with a nail-toned base and then either the darkest or the lightest color for the first lines. Using a fine liner brush, paint the swirls on, keeping in mind that it's an abstract design so it doesn't need to be perfect. Once that's set, seal it with a glossy topcoat.
Instagram/@karanailedit8/15Pastel Dream
No matter the season, these sorbet-colored nails are an instant mood-booster. Done by Minneapolis, MN-based nail artist and Olive & June affiliate Kara Crevier, this set was painted on with nail polishes from the Olive & June x Golde collab (to be exact, the shades are Energize, Boost, and Glow.)
At the salon, "Choose bright or contrasting colors. For example, you want to make sure the lines and art stand out from the base color, if that's the look you are going for," says Crevier. "Ask for about a third to half of your nail to be painted with one contrasting color, and then add thin abstract lines with a liner brush over the top near the contrasting color."
Instagram/@ardelysbeauty9/15'80s Flashback
Between the polka dots and the swirls, this manicure has a lot going on. It's giving excess — a very '80s vibe, if you ask us — but we are eating up every bit of it. "To achieve this design at home, you will need to be precise," says Bronx-based nail artist Lisset Robles, who created this look. She recommends using various Leafgel colors, which she purchased from nail art supply retailer Zillabeau.
Robles says to start by putting a base. "If you're using gel, use a dehydrator and a primer first for better results," she says. Then, apply the colors of your choice to the nail. Follow by adding your swirls with a liner brush and use a dotting tool to add as many dots as you'd like. Finish by swiping on a topcoat.
Instagram/@_nailgirlshae10/15Candy Swirls
Nail artists often find inspiration within their community. Just ask Winnipeg, Manitoba-based nail artist Shae-Lynne Merkel who got the idea for these "Candy Swirls" nails from @nails.bab, a nail salon account featuring the work of fellow manicurists. Merkel also got inspired by the strawberry yogurt candies she ate as a kid.
"To achieve this look at home, grab your favorite nail polish that you would want as your base color and paint on a couple of coats," says Merkel. "Use a very thin striping brush to get the best-looking swirls. Then, paint your abstract swirls using a pigmented color."
Instagram.com/@nailartfairy11/15Negative Space Swirls
It's all about the autumn aesthetic with this set by Beverly Hills-based nail artist and founder of Nailart Fairy, Samantha Pasaye. "This negative space look is the opposite of the usual sheer base and pop of color," says Pasaye. "It's inspired by fall colors like olive and orange. My client came in with a reference photo — we changed the colors and added gold to define it and give it some extra sass."
Her process: "I used a striping brush and started off by painting a thin line to create the swirl shape and created a guide for myself for where the negative space will be. Then, I went ahead and filled the rest with the colors." Here, Pasaye used OPI's 'It's Piazza Cake' and 'Suzy-The First Lady of Nails' nail lacquers.
Instagram/@vwnails_12/15Zen Garden
There's something so calming about looking at the green swirls of this set created by Sydney, Australia-based nail artist Vivian Wong. "Green is the color right now — from forest green to sage, it's such an underrated color and I think people are really enjoying stepping outside their usual color choices," says Wong, who found inspiration for this look from @nailsbyalsn.
Wong explains her methods: "I started with a milky white base (which I find really brings out the green) and then used two different greens and a liner brush to create the swirls."
Instagram/@abrowngirlrecommends13/15Psychedelic Swirls
Is it just us, or is it getting a little trippy in here? Nah, it's this psychedelic swirl manicure that's making us feel so wavy. "I knew I wanted to do swirls and this kind of just happened," says London-based nail artist Aamirah Essof. "I like to just paint what I see in my mind and go with the flow."
Her tip? If you're trying this at home, don't use quick-drying polishes since you won't be able to move the paint around. "Start by drawing the skeleton of the swirl, and then build it up with the polish," says Essof. "It's best to have thick and thin sections to give it more dimension. Let your nails dry before applying topcoat — this way, the colors won't bleed." Here, she used the Nails.INC Plant Power collection.
Instagram/@nailcraftbyvonny14/15Vibrant Waves
"Be brave with your brush and go with the flow," says East Leake, England-based nail artist Vonny Tuckley, who created this look. "I knew that I wanted a dark pink, then I checked the color wheel and went for two other colors using the triad approach (combination of three colors that are equidistant from each other on the color wheel)."
For this design, Tuckley painted on two coats of the base color, then applied the dark pink swirls. "If you're using gel, just ensure each color is flash cured before applying the next, so the colors don't bleed into each other and the lines stay sharp," says Tuckley. Next, the orange swirls were added, flash cured, followed by the teal swirls and finished with a topcoat.
Instagram/@lolo.nailedit15/15Purple Passion
Purple: it might not rhyme with anything, but it when it looks this good, it doesn't have to. We love these shades of periwinkle, lilac, and violet all twisted together in this design by San Francisco-based nail artist Lauren Phelps. To achieve the look, she used all colors from OPI: Abstract After Dark, Violet Visionary, OPI ❤️ DTLA, and Baby, Take a Vow as a base coat.
"It's something fun and vampy with the deep purple shades and a little sparkle," says Phelps, who was inspired by nail artist @heluviee. Before heading to the salon, "I would recommend asking for abstract swirls with a minimum of three different shades," she says. Sticking to a similar color family keeps it looking cohesive while the various shades create more interest.
