Celebrate The End Of Summer With These August Nail Design Ideas (And A Beach Day) (2024)

August is kind of a weird month. On one hand, it’s the last month of summer and it’s as hot as the surface of the sun. On the other hand, we can’t stop thinking about fall and everything pumpkin spiced. But on both hands, we’re sporting these August nail design ideas.

Oh, did you slip on that smooth transition? Here, we’ll give you a (perfectly manicured) hand to help you up.

But really, there aren’t a ton of rules when it comes to August nails. They can be bold and bright and summery, or you can start to weave in darker, more neutral fall tones. Or you could use this month to give your nails a break and go au natural. Man, we’re really killing it with the jokes today!

To help you with some nail inspo, here are 50 great August nail ideas for any vibe you’re looking for.

50 August Nail Design Ideas

1. Solar Power Nails

In case you forgot about the power of the sun, August is here to remind you. And these nails for good measure.

2. Melting Ice Cream Nail Art

Speaking of warm weather…here’s your reminder to eat your ice cream quickly. And get extra sprinkles, obviously.

3. White Tips with Stars

Jazz up the classic French tip look with some subtle stars and pearls. And maybe a some saxophone if you’re really leaning into it.

4. Cherry Red Tips

Are they cherries? Hearts? Little sunburned corgi bums? The world may never know.

5. Back 2 School Breakfast Nail Art

We love breakfast and we love being extra, so this nail set is a dream come true. But like actually, we’re pretty sure we had a dream where we had breakfast foods in our fingertips. Way better than the one where we lost our teeth.

6. Summer Harvest Nails

Skip the dirt and get the best of summertime nature painted on your nails. Follow us for more life hacks.

7. French Chrome Nails

French tips, meet chrome. You can pay our matchmaking fee later.

8. Blue Nails With Waves

Call them waves or call the swirls. Just don’t call them after 10pm because they will be asleep.

9. Moroccan Tile Nail Design

Remind everyone that you traveled this summer with this gorgeous nail design. And a photobook that you bring out at every gathering.

10. Matte Black Nails with a Gold Stripe

We love the look of this clean and sleek nail design. Now if only we could get our apartment this clean, we’d be doing great.

11. Lemony French Tips

We can practically smell the Limoncello from here.

12. Pink Aura Nails

We call this set, “The One Where Astronaut Barbie Makes Friends With Aliens.” What do you mean that wasn’t in the movie?

13. Summery White Flowers Nails

When you love florals, but you love neutrals more.

14. Leo Season Nail Art

How do you spot a Leo? They’ll have these birthday nails. And they’ll just tell you.

15. Virgo Nail Design

Virgos, however, may be more understated. Until that third round of tequila.

16. August Florals Nails

We don’t know how flowers can survive in this August heat, but they deserve some extra appreciation. Oh shoot, and water! We always forget that part.

17. Dippin’ Dots Nail Art

It’s not truly summer until you get a cup of Dippin’ Dots. Thankfully, this nail design won’t melt as quickly.

18. Black August Nails

Tell us you’re ready for Spooky Season without telling us.

19. Bejeweled Nail Art

Hey Siri, play Taylor Swift.

20. Hippie August Flowers Nail Art

These little flowers definitely got some water and are *thriving.* And we may have gotten something other than water, because we’re pretty sure the pinky flower just winked at us.

21. Accent Florals Nail Designs

We love this soft and dainty floral design. It doesn’t make for a great pillow, but it is easy on the eyes.

22. Powder Blue Abstract Nails

We’re pretty sure our college roommate had this design as a piece of wall art freshman year.

23. Textured Neon Nails

Don’t be surprised when the lightning bugs start calling you their leader.

24. Barbenheimer Fire Nails

Turn Hollywood’s biggest double feature into a nail set. It’s way less expensive than movie tickets these days, anyway.

25. Idyllic Summer Nail Set

Can’t decide on one design? Choose as many as you want! Or up to 10. That’s probably enough.

26. Green and Gold Nails

Keep things simple with these subtle swoops. No one has to know it’s because you’re running low on polish.

27. Electrifying August Mani

They say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but we managed to get a bunch of lightning bolts on here. Maybe we should stop sticking our fingers in outlets?

28. Tie Dye Sunset Nails

If you have fond memories of making tie dye shirts as a kid at summer camp, relive the experience in the form of this manicure. And if you don’t have fond memories, let your nail tech do the painting.

29. Simple Neon Nails

This August nail design couldn’t be easier to do yourself. That doesn’t mean you have to. But like…you totally could if you wanted to.

30. Funky Mix and Match Nail Set

Take a ride on the wild side with these groovy nails. Yes, you can still be in bed by 9pm if you want to.

31. Barbie Girl Nails

It wouldn’t be a 2023 summer nail roundup without some Barbiecore nails. And a frozen margarita. That’s unrelated, we just really want one.

32. Black Leaf Nail Art

Who said a tropical design always has to be bright and bold? Toucan Sam? What does he know?

33. Pastel V French Nails

We’ve never been great at geometry, but this sharp nail design is pretty a-cute.

35. Vibrant August Nails

It has bright colors. It has fun shapes. And it has just the right amount of bling. The only thing this manicure doesn’t have is the winning lotto numbers. And it was so close to being perfect.

36. Pressed Flower Nails

Finally, a way to preserve all beautiful things that have given you allergies this season.

37. Rhinestone Romance Nails

If you’re an August bride, you’ll love this nail set. And probably a nap, too.

38. Funky Tips

Why do we feel like we’re in a Disney Channel show with these nails? All we’re missing is two scarves and at least three layered shirts.

39. Neutral Bandanas Nails

Country cowgirl, but make it stylish. And slightly off kilter. Which works fine for nails, but not when you’re riding a horse.

40. Abstract August Nails

Go ahead, get funky with your nails this month. Your cat will think it’s cool, and who else really matters?

41. Ombre Zebra French Set

It’s giving neon safari. It’s giving Barbie Land ocean. Honestly…it’s giving us a bit of a headache from staring at it too long, so we’re done describing it now.

42. Ready For Fall Nail Art

If you set out your fake pumpkins the day after the 4th of July, then everyone already knows you’re ready for fall. But this nail set will confirm that.

43. Blue and Gold Macaw Nails

Didn’t pass bird drawing class in art school? No worries – this is a nail stamp! And that teacher totally didn’t see your vision.

44. Pink Gradient French Nails

We bet every sunset in Barbie Land looks just like this. Except for that weird time when the Ken’s took over, but we can ignore that.

45. Spotted Neutral French Nails

Step one in preparing for Harvest Season? Harvest some neutral nails. We hear you can find great ones in the pumpkin patch.

46. Two-Toned Blue French Tip Nails

Of course this look is intentional. We didn’t forget which color blue we were using halfway through…

47. Far Out Vivid Nails

We love this look. And we love that it doesn’t involve drawing straight lines even more.

48. Football Nails

You can’t spell “football” without “fall.” We’re not quite sure why that matters, get ready for pre-season with this set.

49. World Cup Nails

And for the rest of the world, here’s a different kind of football nail set to celebrate the Women’s World Cup.

50. Glamourous Sun Nail Art

If the real sun just isn’t cutting it, decorate your nails with this stunning set. Sunscreen not included.