The NailDraft Blog

Visual nail-design guides, written by people who actually wear nails. Trend reports, shape and colour theory, and seasonal looks - updated every week.

More guides & trends

Summer Nail Designs 2026: 30 Looks From Citrus Brights to Glazed Pastels
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Summer Nail Designs 2026: 30 Looks From Citrus Brights to Glazed Pastels

The summer 2026 nail forecast: butter yellow, blueberry milk, citrus chrome, and the glazed pastels that replaced last year's neons. Thirty looks, sorted by vibe.

· 7 min
Aura Nails: The Dreamy Gradient Trend (and How to Get the Look)
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Aura Nails: The Dreamy Gradient Trend (and How to Get the Look)

Aura nails - soft glowing circles of colour floating on a sheer base - were the breakout trend of 2025 and have stayed dominant. The full guide to colours, technique, and shapes that wear it best.

· 5 min
Cat-Eye Nails: The Magnetic Chrome Trend Sweeping 2026
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Cat-Eye Nails: The Magnetic Chrome Trend Sweeping 2026

Cat-eye nails are the magnetic-shimmer manicure flooding salons and TikTok right now. Here's how the magnet trick works, the colours leading the trend, and how to read whether a cat-eye will suit your shape.

· 5 min
Almond Nails: The Most-Requested Shape of 2026
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Almond Nails: The Most-Requested Shape of 2026

Almond nails are the shape salons book more than any other in 2026 - and for good reason. A complete guide to length, lining, who they flatter, and how to ask for the version that suits your hand.

· 6 min
Butter Yellow Nails: The Soft Pastel Owning Spring 2026
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Butter Yellow Nails: The Soft Pastel Owning Spring 2026

Butter yellow has gone from a niche nail trend to the dominant pastel of 2026. Every shade, every shape, every reason it works - plus the matching outfits making it stick.

· 5 min
Milky White Nails: Glazed Donut, Blueberry Milk, Strawberry Milk - Decoded
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Milky White Nails: Glazed Donut, Blueberry Milk, Strawberry Milk - Decoded

Milky nails are the family that ate the whole pastel category. Glazed donut, blueberry milk, strawberry milk - what each one actually is, plus the formulas you should know.

· 6 min
Chrome Nails: Every Shade, Every Finish, Every Shape
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Chrome Nails: Every Shade, Every Finish, Every Shape

Chrome nails - mirror, glazed, holographic, pearl. A complete map of the chrome family in 2026, with the shades worth booking and the ones already on their way out.

· 6 min
Short Nail Designs: 30 Looks That Punch Above Their Length
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Short Nail Designs: 30 Looks That Punch Above Their Length

Short nails are the most-worn nails on earth - but the most-photographed ones are almost always long. Here are thirty short-nail designs that genuinely look incredible at 1–3mm of free edge.

· 7 min
Nail Colors for Every Skin Tone: A Complete Guide
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Nail Colors for Every Skin Tone: A Complete Guide

Which nail colours actually flatter your skin tone - broken down by undertone, depth, and finish. No vague advice, just the shades that work and why.

· 8 min

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