20 rainbow nails to put on repeat

rainbow nails

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but all rainbow nails are not created equal. 

With all those colors floating around on such a tiny canvas, it’s only a matter of time before that rainbow turns into a brown paper bag. It’s true.

This being said, we’ve managed to find 20 examples of rainbow nails that don’t look like a dirty puddle of water. Instead, they look like the beautiful, colorful masterpieces they were always meant to be. 

1. Tie-dye rainbow nails

We love rainbows, and we love tie-dye. Put the two together, and we’re in nail heaven. 

Recreate This Look: Etiquette First + Gel Nail Art Collection

2. Pastel rainbow 

Grab some pastels and paint a rainbow on your nail. You won’t regret it.

See More Looks: 12 perfectly perfect pastel nails

3. Pride nails

The rainbow is beautiful, but we’re especially loving those rainbow rhinestones. Epic.

Shop our complete collection of nail rhinestones

4. Rainbow heart

This tiny rainbow heart is absolute perfection. We love every tiny square millimeter of it. 

See More Looks: 11 blue nail designs we can’t get over

5. Rainbow side tips

Push that French to the side and take your nail design to that next level. 

See More Look: 16 neon nails that are actually really cute

6. More rainbow side tips

Here’s another example of rainbow side tips — but with thicker lines. We’re not sure which one we’re feeling more, so maybe we’ll try them both. 

Recreate This Look: Fun & Flirty + Light Up + Chinchilla + Chit Chat + I Fell For Blue + Cotton Kisses

7. Geometric shapes

We’re not fans of geometry, but we are fans of geometric nail designs. Especially when they’re painted every color of the rainbow. 

8. Rainbow cartoons

Those clouds. That flower. Those butterflies. It’s all so insanely cute and so very colorful that we literally cannot get over these nails.

See More Looks: 16 of the best nail color ideas ever

9. Rainbow frenchies

We love this classic set of rainbow frenchies paired with some adorable little clouds. Random, but still cute.

Recreate This Look: Gel Nail Art Collection

10. Kawaii rainbow nails

What is this masterpiece and how do we get it for ourselves immediately. Pure and total genius.

Get The Base: Etiquette First

11. Fading rainbow dots

See the dots. Be the dots. Embrace the dots. If you need us, we’re gonna be sporting rainbow dots for the rest of the year.

12. Rainbow swirls

This design reminds us of a tornado. But a rainbow one. That doesn't destroy everything in its path.

Recreate This Look: No Redgrets + Golden Hour + Light Up + Go Green + I Fell For Blue + Like A Snack

13. Rainbow frenchies with a silver outline

Here’s another classic set of rainbow frenchies — but with a silver outline. This would work well with a black or white outline, too.

Get The Silver: Chrome Silver Lining

14. Rainbow nails with happy clouds

If these smiling clouds don’t make you happy, then nothing will. 

See More Looks: 14 black nail designs you’re gonna love

15. A rainbow here, a rainbow there, a rainbow everywhere

Slap on a beautiful nude base and paint on a bunch of rainbows. You’ll thank us later. 

16. Pastel rainbow frenchies

Another classic rainbow French — but make it pastel. (And throw on some bling and glitter while you’re at it.)

17. Rainbow nails + zebra print

We love animal print nails. There’s no denying this. But when that animal print is also a rainbow gradient, we can’t help but love it even more. 

See More Looks: 12 of the most perfect glitter ombre nails

18. Rainbow dot outline

If you can make minimalist nail art also rainbow-colored, then anything is possible. 

19. Crocodile rainbow frenchies

We realize we’ve brought up rainbow frenchies at least a thousand times at this point, but these frenchies are giving us total croc vibes. We couldn’t not share them.

Recreate This Look: Don’t Pink About It + You Make Me Melt + Green With Envy + Caution

20. Rainbow tie-dye French ombre

We say this a lot — if you can’t decide what design to get, then get them all. 

Recreate This Look: I Fell For Blue + Go Green + Attention Please + Peachy Keen + The Perfect Nude + Fun & Flirty + Light Up