I Swear None of These St. Patrick’s Day Nail Ideas Are Corny (2024)

I Swear None of These St. Patrick’s Day Nail Ideas Are Corny (1)

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Fact: I’m highkey always looking for a reason to switch up my nail art. Like, when my nails are done, I feel like I have my life together, you feel me? That's why I think holidays are always a good reason to try out a new nail trend or play around with different polish colors. And with Saint Patrick’s Day on the horizon, I’m on the hunt for the cutest nail ideas that will look dope on my feed. Unlike Christmas or New Year's, though, Saint Patrick's Day nails can honestly be a lil more challenging than you'd expect—like, you wanna be fun and festive (and break out the green polish you haven't used all year), but you don't want to look like you have the literal Lucky Charms leprechaun on your hand. Tiny clovers and rainbows and touches of gold, though? Yes pls.

Because I know I’m not the only one prepping for March 17, I combed through Insta to find the coolest Saint Patrick’s Day nail ideas for you. Trust—none of these are lame or cheesy. Some of them are so subtle that, except for you and the friends you have plans with, no one will even know! (Although they'll totally match the green beer you're drinking—perfect for Insta, amirite?) From French manicures to glitter polish, here are 30 ideas you’re going to absolutely love but won't be bored with on March 18.

1

A Green Gradient Nail Choice for St. Patrick's Day

Not quite a French mani, but still unique enough to be eye-catching? Win, win, bb. The gradient of green makes this festive but also...rlly soothing. If you're DIYing this one, get some nail art tape to stick on the bottom half on your nails to make your lines straighter.

Recreate it with: Beetles Carnival Evergreen Gel Nail Polish Set

2

These St. Patrick's Day Hearts/Shamrocks

These tiny green heart shapes also look like half a four-leaf clover. That's subtle enough to be a low-key mani but festive enough to feel like you're totally nailing it (pun intended, sorry). If that's too much, just swipe: There's a perfect ombre and gradient nail idea for you, YW.

Recreate it with: JINsoon Nail Polish in Tila

3

Spring-y St. Patrick's Day Nails With Green Accents

If you really wanna go for it (but still be chic, natch), check out this abstract, leafy springtime design that doubles as the St. Patrick's design of your dreams. Vivid, colorful, but not on the nose, ya know? It helps to lay out which design's going on which nail before you break out your brushes.

Recreate it with: Sundays Polish Box of Five

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4

Just a Hint of St. Patrick's Sparkle on Your Nails

K, let's say you wanna commemorate the holiday in the absolutely most subtle way possible. First of all, how are you such a mindreader? Second, opt for a rainbow sparkle polish with a green iridescence that you ever-so-gently swipe on one side of your nail.

Recreate it with: ILNP Real Magic Nail Polish in Renegade

5

A Graphic, Geometric St. Patrick's Day Nail Look

This has the festive gold and green you might expect, balanced with thin white stripes and a neutral background. If you want something simpler but way, way easier, grab this set from CliqOnU—the brand won a Cosmo Holy Grail Award for best press ons.

Recreate it with: Essie Winter 2021 Nail Polish in Off Tropic

6

This Yin and Yang Design for St. Patrick's Day Nails

How dope is this yin and yang design? You’ll be able to rock this St. Patrick’s Day nail look way beyond the 17th. Mix and match different shades of green to recreate this dynamic nail design.

Recreate it with: Cirque Colors Nail Polish in McKittrick

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7

This Geometric Design for St. Patrick's Day Nails

This nail look is so eye-catching. Not only does the green design pop against the nude background, but the clean lines and geometric shapes make these St. Patrick's Day nails a must-try.

Recreate it with: Eternal Five Nail Polish in Et Voila

8

This 'Connect the Dots' Design for St. Patrick's Day

If you can't decide which shade of green you want to swipe on your nails, why not try a couple? These St. Patrick's Day nails check all the boxes: They're super cute, way festive, and on-trend.

Recreate it with: Nail Art Brushes

9

This Green and Nude Mani for St. Patrick's Day

The gold decal and the sleek combo of green and nude nail polish gives these St. Patrick Day nails a subtle and modern look.

Recreate it with: Gold Metal Nail Decals

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10

This Marble and Gilded Mani for St. Patrick's Day

Forget a pot of gold—this St. Patrick’s Day nail design is moneyyy. The green marbled design paired with the gold foil accent basically screams "sophisticated."

Recreate it with: Gold Nail Art Stickers

11

This Multihued Mani for St. Patrick's Day

Want to level up your basic mani? Opt for different shades of green for your St. Patrick's Day nails. These multihued nails are simple but still really, really cute.

Recreate it with: Ella + Mila Nail Polish in Mistletoe Magic

12

This Green Sequin Mani for St. Patrick's Day

Not only is this St. Patrick’s Day nail idea super fun, but you’ll def also grab everyone's attention with a mani this sparkly.

Recreate it with: Nail Sequins

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13

This Matte Green Mani for St. Patrick's Day

Okay, so I know this isn't a new trend, but I'm still way into the matte nail mani vibe—I mean, how freakin' cool would this mani look for St. Patrick's Day?

Recreate it with: Eternal Top Coat in Matte Finish

14

This Minimalist Clover Mani for St. Patrick's Day

Add a handful of clover stickers on your nails to really get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit. The bright color will pop against a white base—so dope, right?

Recreate it with: Saint Patrick’s Day Nail Stickers

15

This All-Over Clover Mani for St. Patrick's Day

And if one or two clovers doesn’t do it for you, may I suggest this mani? It screams St. Patrick’s Day without being, you know, corny AF.

Recreate it with: Essie Nail Polish in Ballet Slippers

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16

This Glittery Mani for St. Patrick's Day

How dreamy is this half-and-half glitter green nail color? It's absolutely perf for St. Patrick's Day and beyond. Like, you’ll want to wear this 24/7, 365.

Recreate it with: Moon Glitter Nail Polish in Green

17

This Jelly Mani for St. Patrick's Day

If you need a sign to hop on the jelly mani trend, here it is! Seriously though, this mani is so cute—it’s the perfect nonbasic option for your St. Patrick’s Day nails.

Recreate it with: OPI Nail Polish in My Dogsled Is a Hybrid

18

This Green and Gold Mani for St. Patrick's Day

Keep your nails looking classy—even if you won’t be—and add a swipe of metallic gold polish over a dark-green base. It’s sooo sleek and elegant.

Recreate it with: Essie Nail Polish in Off Tropic

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19

This Artsy Green Mani for St. Patrick's Day

Go full-on art school with your manicure and paint Matisse-inspired faces all over your nails. It’ll turn your St. Patrick's Day mani into a legit work of art.

Recreate it with: Essie Nail Polish in Turquoise and Caicos

20

This Gold Glitter Mani for St. Patrick's Day

Paint a layer of gold, glittery polish over your dark-green mani and it literally looks like a sprinkle of fairy dust on your St. Patrick's Day nails. How pretty?!

Recreate it with: OPI Nail Polish in Glitter All the Way

I Swear None of These St. Patrick’s Day Nail Ideas Are Corny (22)

Katherine J Igoe

Contributor

Katherine J Igoe (she/her) was a contributing editor for Cosmopolitan and is a freelancer covering style, lifestyle, culture, and beauty (she's obsessed with gift guides, best-of movie lists, and beauty products). She's been a freelance writer and editor for over a decade, previously working for Marie Claire (2018 to 2021) and Bustle (2021), with bylines in the The New York Times, Parents magazine, and elsewhere. She lives in Boston with her family, and you can follow her on Instagram or Twitte. It's "I go to dinner," not "Her huge ego," but she responds to both.

I Swear None of These St. Patrick’s Day Nail Ideas Are Corny (23)

Ama Kwarteng

Ama Kwarteng was previously the associate beauty editor at Cosmopolitan.

I Swear None of These St. Patrick’s Day Nail Ideas Are Corny (2024)

FAQs

What is nail art called? ›

With nail art you make your nails more beautiful by decorating them. Therefore it is also called nail decoration. Decorating your nails with nail art could be done with nail polish, glitters, stones or stickers. With nail art you could completely personalise your nails as you wish.

Why did people start painting their nails? ›

The history of nail polish begins in ancient China, in its earliest form it was worn by the rulers and those in high society as a symbol of their wealth and power.

Who invented nail art? ›

The first actual record of nail art was from the short-lived Inca Empire (1438-1533), one of the largest empires in South America. Incas decorated their nails by painting eagles on them. In 1770, the first fancy gold and silver manicure sets were created.

What was the nail polish in ancient China? ›

Nail polish originated in China around 3200 B.C., and it's claimed that warriors would paint their nails before going off to battles. However, a warrior “manicure” was different than what we know now. Their polish ingredients of choice were coal, beeswaxes, eggs, gelatin, and flowers.

What is the oldest date nail art discovered? ›

The existence of nail art was first found from the short-lived Inca Empire (1438-1533), where people would decorate their nails by painting eagles on them. It was not until 1770 when the first fancy gold and silver manicure sets were created.

When were fake fingernails invented? ›

The history of artificial nails

These were often made from bones or ivory. The concept of the acrylic nail was then accidentally founded in 1954 by a dentist called Frederick Slack. One day at work he broke his nail and fashioned an artificial nail to go over his broken one, using dental acrylics.

Do guys like painted nails? ›

Not only do men love wearing polish themselves, they love seeing a multitude of colors on other people. It is important to note that this is not true for every guy. Some guys may not be into wearing more than a clear gloss, but others may gravitate towards a bright nail polish.

Why do females paint their nails white? ›

White is also seen as a color that represents a blank slate, or a fresh start. This can make it an empowering choice for someone who has just graduated high school or college, started a new job, or moved to a new city or country. Of course, the 'blank slate' could also link back to the viral trend.

Was nail polish made for guys? ›

Which Gender Was Nail Polish Originally For? Just like heeled shoes, wigs and the colour pink, nail polish was also originally created for men, despite its feminine connotations nowadays. Men would apply polish to their nails to make them look shiny and clean.

Who invented kiss nails? ›

KISS starts up in a small studio in Flushing, NY

John Y. Chang, Sung Yong Chang and Won Shik Kang formed a small startup company named Dae do in Flushing, NY, creating a unique niche in the artificial nail market.

Did a dentist invent acrylic nails? ›

In 1957, Dr. Fred Slack Jr., a dentist, cut his thumb nail at work, and created an artificial nail using dental acrylic resin and aluminum foil as a realistic-looking temporary replacement.

What is a French manicure? ›

A French manicure is a pale pink, nude or sheer polish with a solid white tip. It can be done on natural nails or with acrylic options and as either a manicure or a pedicure. The length of the nail is down to personal preference, but in most traditional styles, the tip will be shorter than the nude base of the nail.

Why did KFC make nail polish? ›

Mugglestone said the nail polish was a way “to remind the younger generation” of “the great taste and good times the brand stands for.” The polish is made in conjunction with McCormick & Company, which produces the spices for KFC's chicken.

What do long nails mean in China? ›

Long fingernails were a mark of high status indicating that one did not have to engage in manual labor, and in order to protect the nails from breaking Qing noblewomen wore metal guards. The guards were very often worn in pairs, one on the little finger and another on the ring finger.

What is the oldest nail polish? ›

As mentioned above, the first record of nail polish (not nail dye) was recorded in 3,000BC China. Much like with the Babylonian warriors and the ancient Egyptians, nail polish was used to show social status. In 600 BCE, during the Zhou Dynasty, nail polish was used to show royal statuses among the royal family.

What is the art called with nails and string? ›

String art is one of the most aesthetically pleasing DIY projects you can think of. Often referred to as pin-and-thread art, string art is an addicting artform that is inviting to the most experienced crafter and the newcomer alike.

What is the name of nail and thread art? ›

String art or pin and thread art, is characterized by an arrangement of colored thread strung between points to form geometric patterns or representational designs such as a ship's sails, sometimes with other artist material comprising the remainder of the work.

How many types of nail art are there? ›

There are three types of nail art techniques –– freehand, airbrushing, and nail art stickers and stencils.

What are the 5 basic nail designs? ›

Most clients lean toward one of five basic nail shapes: square, round, oval, squoval, or pointed.

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