30 In-Season Cherry Manicures to Try in 2023

May 12, 2023

By: Sarah Ferguson | Makeup.com by L'Oréal

This year, ordering an ice cream isn’t the only time you’ll be using the phrase “cherry on top.” The sweet red fruit is the perfect topping for your nails, whether you’re getting a classic French manicure or a mix-and-match array of designs. Get inspired (and maybe a little hungry) by scrolling through our favorite cherry-on-top nail art looks from Instagram below.

Maraschino Mani

To get this cherry-topped French manicure, @nailartbyqueenie used Essie nail polish in Russian Roulette and Blanc.

The Devil’s in the Details

Not feeling a cute and sweet vibe? Follow @getnailed_bb’s lead and incorporate them into a cheeky and edgy look like this one.

Tic-Tac-Cherry

Small cherries are a fun way to add color and flair to a minimalist neutral mani. For inspiration, check out this look from @theheirsofvenus.

Mix and Match

Nail artist @bysadiedaisy painted cherry, butterfly and smiley face designs on this leopard print French mani that proves that more is more.

Cherry Pink

To DIY this outlined cherry design, you’re going to need a striper brush and a bubblegum pink polish like Essie Muchi, Muchi.

Juicy Fruit

Bring cherries to life with holographic 3D polish. Here, the addition of the smiley face accent nail makes for a unique and colorful look that screams summer.

Crystals and Cherries

In the mood for some bling? As demonstrated by @nuka.nails, red crystals make the perfect base for cherry nail art.

Neutral Cherries

Who says cherries have to be painted in red and green? We love this dainty, luxe take on the trend by @cmgbeautyx.

Pink and Purple

This vibrant take on a cherry nail design is ultra-girly and playful.

Mini Cherries

A tiny scattering of cherries is dainty and delicate. You can recreate this look at home with a steady hand, gel polishes and precise nail art brushes.

Magic 8 Cherries

Go bold and graphic with a mix of cherries and black-and-white prints, including a checkerboard French tip and a Magic 8 Ball design.

Aura of Cherries

Aura nails, which are typically done with an airbrush or a sponge, offer a soft, airy contrast to a cherry design.

Cherry Hearts

These elegant red French tips and cherry heart bunches make for an adorable manicure choice year-round.

Cherry Dewdrop Chrome

For cherries that look freshly plucked from a spring garden, ask your nail tech to place artificial dewdrops across each nail. Chrome and tiny gems add to the wet, forest-fairy-inspired effect.

Cherry Skies

Pale blue French tips look dainty and classic next to a sweet cherry nail design. For a similar yet slightly brighter look, opt for Essie Ride the Soundwave.

3D Cherry Pop

Sherbert-colored auras and 3D cherries give your manicure a retro, soft-focus effect.

Matte Cherries

Seal in hundreds of tiny cherries with a matte top coat, like the Essie Gel Couture Matte Top Coat. The formula provides a chip-resistant seal without the need for a UV lamp.

Blinged-Out Cherries

Maximalists, rejoice — these cutesy cherry nails look straight out of a little kids’ costume jewelry box, in the best way possible.

Cherry Drip

An abundance of crystals and a dripping, hand-painted cherry design adorn this classic white French set.

Photorealism Cherries

These ultra-realistic cherry nails guarantee double-take after double-take.

Cherry Accent Nails

Hand-painted cherries and charms make for a decked-out red and pink manicure. The stiletto shape is ultra-fierce and helps elongate your fingers.

Picnic Ready

Grab your favorite blanket, a little wicker basket and a sunny spot in the park — these cherry and gingham nails are the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon picnic.

Cherry Chrome

Get in on the mermaidcore trend and cherry designs with these green chrome-tipped nails.

Barely-There Cherries

Teensy-tiny gold stickers add a subtle twinkle to a neutral pink mani. To recreate the look at home, paint on two coats of Essie In My Sandbox and apply gold decals on top (although nail artist @manisbyannie hand painted these designs).

Neon Glow

These nails make us crave a sip of a fruity mocktail on a humid summer night, bathed in neon lights outside of a trendy new bar.

Spring Green Accents

Pale green accents look especially fresh for spring next to a cute cherry print. These stickers from Amazon make it easy to DIY the look.

Kawaii Cherries

Chunky cherry and star decals add an extra cute and sparkly touch to these Y2K-inspired claws.

Baby Pink Cherries

There are so many ways to play with short nails, including this cherry-patterned set. A baby pink polish base lets the cherries take center stage.

Cherry Tips

Give a classic French tip a fruity spin with this juicy cherry set.

Cherry Blush Nails

Nail artist Jin Soon Choi previously deemed Korean blush nails one of the biggest nail trends of 2023. Cherry accents give the trend a fresh, warm weather twist.

Photo: Queenie Nguyen, @nailartbyqueenie