Embrace Your Inner Mermaid With These Shell Nail Ideas

Pink and Pearly

Go mother of pearl with your mani by placing a small pearl decal at the base of your nail beds. Pair with the pink nail polish shade of your choosing.

Pastel Seashell

Mimic the ridges in actual shells by drawing white lines over a pastel base color à la @nolas.nails.

Go Maximalist

For an under-the-sea look with maximum drip, don’t be afraid to play with abstract, organic-looking forms that look like they’re straight from the deep sea. Pro tip: Adding some pearls and chrome details ups the aquatic look.

Translucent Blue

Match your shells to the color of the sea with a blue hue. And if you can get a translucent, jelly acrylic tip like @sugamama_nailz, all the better. These are oceanic to the next level.

Reverse French Tip Shells

A French tip and metallic line make the shell look extra sleek. Do a sheer coat of Essie Metallic Nail Polish in For The Twill Of It for a chromatic, shiny effect.

Classic French Tip Shells

We’re calling this the French mermaid mani: To replicate, add shells and pearls to the tips of your nails instead of a white line.

Long and Pointy Shells

Bring the shells from sand to hand with this maximalist acrylic mani. The longer, the better.

Translucent Shells

You don’t need to love sparkles, pink or pastels to embrace the mermaidcore nails trend. This 3D shell manicure uses milky, translucent polish for an understated look.

Matte White Shells