40 Stunning Spring Nail Art Ideas That Pop on Dark Skin Tones
Written by: Naveera Perera and Deepa Somasunderam
The sun is coming, the flowers are blooming so it’s time for some new nails.
Check out our favourite nail art designs to put the spring back in your step. We have everything from florals, zesty fresh colours, abstracts and pastels so when you’re choosing in March you will have all the options you need.
We want you to have nail art inspo that looks like you. There are so many colours that work on us melanin-rich ladies from brights to nudes to jewel tones, the options are endless. We want to challenge what you think works for you (and also spring) and yes, you will even see how black nails can work for spring. Keep scrolling for your spring-time nail art feast.
Cherries all the way
If you are looking for nail colours for dark skin, incorporating bright shades of pink or red with cute patterns of fruit is a fun way to style your spring nails. For this look, Lilian blended in marshmallow, milkyway, diva and daisy palettes from Aprés Nails
Micro Daisies
A more minimalistic spring nail art for dark skin tones, a crown of daisies is a great look to have throughout the holiday season. To create this look, Charlotte used Sweet Candy Breath from Bio Sculpture Gel, used GO 01 and 70 designer gel in Neon Peach and Coral from BrillBird UK and also used Nail Stamping Queen’s neon yellow pigment for the dots.
Coloured Spheres
Fed up of all the lines and swirls? Well the good news is there are other kinds of shapes out there like spheres. The Good Polish calls this the Gel-X, a summer favourite for those looking for nail arts that adds a bit of length.
Pastel Marble Nails
What's prettier than marble? Pastel coloured marble! Pastel colours are known for being easy on the eye and can beautifully blend with different shades of colour to give your nails an elegant finish.
Minimalistic Hot Pink
With all the Oscar nominations for Barbie, the barbiecore nail art trend is still going strong. An eye-catching look for anyone that was looking for some spring barbiecore nail art inspiration, the hot pink tips is a simple and elegant nail look against the nude base. If you are over Barbie, this look still allows you to stay relevant as this can be part of your Mean Girls look next Wednesday (courtesy of the #OnWednesdayWeWearPink trend).
Mini Picnic
Using a neutral base, this look was made with picnic stickers, courtesy of Deco Beauty. With just a neutral base, this is one of the easiest ways to personalise your nails with a spring nail art trend, and take it to another level with nail art stickers.
Mini Waves
A little wave here, and a little wave there. Here is a hand-painted nail design that really compliments dark skin tones. A minimalist nail art with pops of colour, try out a nail look that is different from the typical spring art designs.
Abstract Nails
To all of you that are artists at heart, bring out your artistic creativity through your nails. Whether your type of abstract art is human figures or random objects, a nude base can be your canvas to your next masterpiece.
The Perfect Combo
Tired of plain symmetrical or geometric shaped styled nail art? To add some spring into your nails, try adding something else. A small heart, a flower or a shape that is out of the ordinary, feel free to mix and match the traditional with something new.
Lazer Nails
With the beginning of spring, say bye bye to the clean aesthetic girl look. It’s time to bring back neon nail art ideas. For this nail look Sparkle Nail Bar used pink chrome and topped it off with some funky looking nail art.
Clean and Bright
Clean lines, no negative spaces, and a full block of colour is just all you need sometimes. Choose two or three complementary colours as pictured above for an eye catching spring nail art.
Golden Shine
Do you think gold tips are overrated? We think not. With the layer of elegance it offers, simply choose one out of the many other stunning gold nail art designs out there. Pictured above is one that looks good for springtime - simple, unique and yet enough to dazzle your hands.
Side Tips
A great minimalistic nail art for springtime, design the corner of your nail tips with patterns of your choice. Whether its tear drops, diagonal lines, or polka dots, add a whimsical look into your nail style.
Rubber Skin
Thinking out of the box can include replicating patterns that you see or feel in your day to day life. For instance, take the feeling of rubber. Its 3D silicon like effect adds a cool aesthetic to your nail art.
Splashes of Watercolour
Pastel nails are a popular spring nail trend style. One great way to incorporate it is to create the watercolour effect, which celebrates a swirl of pastel colours flowing around your nail buds.
The Milky Way
What's better than a sky full of stars? An entire galaxy. If you are the type of person to look at the moon and stars, a nail art that resembles the milky way will surely touch your heart.
Water Droplets
You know how you tend to get lost in the water drops that slide through your window when it rains and you are inside your car? If you are the type of person that finds this soothing to your mind, how about freezing some water droplets in your nail tips? An excellent choice for those with long nails, here is nail art you don’t see often.
Sporty Nails
Are you a sports fan, planning on going for some upcoming tournaments or matches in the spring? Or perhaps you are someone that constantly needs inspiration to power through your ambitious goals. There is nothing more motivating than sports phrases and puns. In your next nail appointment, consider short phrases, words or symbols that touch your mind.
Lilac Dreams
Elevate your nail art with some gems, rhinestones, gold studs or metals. Contrary to many, these shiny accessories do not always have to be over the top. Even a small stud with a gentle lilac is enough to make a subtle statement during spring time.
Crocodile Nails
There are many ways to do the crocodile nail look. Either you can paint your entire nail in crocodile patterns, or just your nail tips. Alternatively, a crocodile nail look is a brilliant choice for anyone wondering what kind of nail art looks good in 3D. Best on anyone with long nails and likes the french manicure on square tips, this is a great way to exclusively use earthly tones of colour.
Marble Tips
Don’t want to use plain colours? Well, instead of showcasing any one colour, you can add hues of colour as your nail style. Almost like the sky during sunset, infuse multiple layers of colour in a soothing form.
Earthly Roots
Channel into your black cultural roots by connecting to earthly elements and colours. One obvious way to do this is by drawing intricate patterns of trees and leaves. One less common way to do that is by mixing and matching leaves, colours and even replicas of black women.
Cat Eye Nails
Nothing beats the look metallic chrome polish or glitter nail polish gives your nails. A perfect way to creatively focus on just one colour, this nail look highlights one section of your nail brighter. Embrace a powerful look and feel with this gorgeous spring time trend, more popularly known as the ‘Cat Eye Nails’. Best with bright colours like yellow, this glittery nail look is sure to be a hit this spring.
Fire Nails
Instead of random lines, dots and other forms of geometric shapes, symbols or emojis can be a great way to style your nails. For instance, you can showcase your fiery power with a line drawing that is meant to replicate the shape of a fireball.
Butterfly Nails
For those who want intricately designed nails, but with lots of colour and meaning, butterfly nails are for you. It's also one kind of nail art that black nail polish can skillfully be incorporated into without overpowering your nails.
Rainbow Gradient
What better way to embrace gradient nails other than blending in the colours of the rainbow. Whether you want to blend different colours or shades of one, start your spring with a pop of colour. Featured above are nails done by @suziemoon626 who used Sinking Feeling, Neverland, Eternal Sunshine, Lucid Dream, Euphoric, Sweet Nightmare, Fake Halo and White Rabbit from the mooncat collection.
Aura Nails
The aura nail look is perfect for spring particularly due to its soothing and warm effect. This is a great way to radiate your energy, whether it is through shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, blue, violet or green. While red embodies those that are grounded and energetic, orange implies those whose dominant traits include their creativity, sensuality and friendly nature. Other colours such as Yellow, share your positivity and happiness, pink, your enormous love, blue, your intuition, violet, for your originality and green for growth and power.
Poker Nails
Some gambles do pay off - like trying out a new nail design inspired by a deck of cards. What is your next move going to be? Will you draw out a card of clubs, diamonds, hearts or spades? Keep them in suspense this spring, by confidently designing your nails to complement the next game night.
Mix and match floral frenchies
How cute are these? Orange, pink and a bit of white makes the whole look work.
Hand Drawn & Whimsical
The hand drawn hearts in a metallic pink add a whimsical edge to these neutral florals.
Popping pastels
Nothing says spring like pastels. We love the combination of pastel colours with the understated nail art.
A Grown Up Floral
The orange and green shades together with the midnight blue add a touch of seriousness to these floral nails and the glitter still keeps it fun.
Pretty Pink Wanderlust
Neon pink with a dreamily unique design on each nail and the hint of lemon yellow, this nail art screams spring.
Floral On Clear
Clear nails are always in and with lipgloss nails so in for 2023, go ahead and try these pastel florals with small stars.
A Perfect Floral
We think we found the perfect spring nail. Always fun to try a gel sticker when you're in a rush.
Floral and Black
The shiny black nail polish makes the nail art pop more, tying in with the black pistils on the nail art. Also, having a french black tip on one nail keeps the look fresh enough for spring.
A Bright French
A bright french mixing two colours that will pop on your skin.
Candy-Pink Flowers
These nails bring back everything wonderful about spring: fresh flowers, cotton candy and sunshine.
Neon Swirls
Whatever mood winter has put you in, these nails are guaranteed to give you a springtime boost and make you feel better. The swirls, the changing colours, the shades are so fun and so lemon fresh, perfect for spring.
Zesty Abstract
The zesty colours on the pink create a striking, fun nail look for the weekend.