Tortoise Shell Nails Are on the Rise—9 Fresh Takes You Gotta See
- Image credit: @chloealicenails
- By Lavonia Elliott
- Published On 16 03 25
- In Nails
Tortoise shell manis are landing on fingertips everywhere. The pattern’s distinctive speckled color palette of caramel, brown, and black brings an instant upgrade to any mani.
Nail artists are calling this look the perfect blend of classic and modern, especially since you can customize it in countless ways. Some use a translucent jelly base before adding strokes of black and brown for that layered tortoise effect. Others add pops of color or gold accents for a fun spin, since gold can give anything an extra spark.
And if you’re the type who’s constantly switching up designs, you’ll appreciate how this pattern can be as bold or subtle as you want.
So why the renewed obsession right now? Part of it is nostalgia: two decades later, the 90s still exert a massive influence, and tortoise shell print holds a prime spot in that hall of fame. Another factor is that it seamlessly aligns with the neutral polish trend. Similar to those short-nail looks that let you enjoy simple pleasures, tortoise shell nails keep things polished while standing out from the usual monochromes. They’re easy to coordinate with a full spectrum of shades, so you can dial them up with statement colors or keep it low-key with earthy tones.
If you’ve scrolled through your Instagram lately, you’ve probably noticed that tortoise shell patterns are popping up in manicures left and right. This iconic print is more than just a passing highlight, in other words, it’s the kind of look people can’t get enough of, which is exactly why I’m spotlighting 9 new ways to rock it.
1/9 Metallic and Tortoiseshell Nails
Abstract metallic details are everywhere right now, and nail artists can’t get enough of tortoiseshell-inspired designs. The trick is to keep your base color neutral and let the nail art add a pop of rich brown.
2/9 Green-Edged Tortoiseshell Nails
This is how tortoiseshell nails are supposed to look. If you’re asking us, this green reverse french design totally redefines cool-girl nails.
3/9 Tortoiseshell and Gray Nails
While tortoiseshell and gray might seem like complete opposites, this neutral pairing is, in fact, a thing. Just look at this sleek manicure if you don’t believe us.
4/9 Gold-Flecked Tortoiseshell Nails
Nail artists everywhere have begun to see their clientele requesting tortoiseshell nail designs that sparkle when they catch the light.
5/9 Tortoiseshell French Tips
Dreamy and fun, we love these tortoiseshell french tips with a warm, hazy finish.
6/9 Metallic and Tortoiseshell Mix Nails
A beautiful tortoiseshell nail art design for any season.
7/9 Leopard Print French Tips
Leopard print, french tips, and pink base? It sounds like a lot, but in practice, it’s a simple, understated masterpiece.
8/9 Dalmatian Print Nails
Sure, leopard prints look amazing in warm tones, but it’s the crisp white base that really sets this Dalmatian-inspired design apart from others.
9/9 Pink + Tortoiseshell Mix
How beautiful and unique are these tortoiseshell mani with pink mix?
To keep things crystal clear, whilst we may receive a commission or sometimes other compensation from the links on YouDoYourWay, we never allow this to influence our opinion – read our about page
TRENDING
Share This Experience With Others
Please note that we aim to credit the right sources for every image we use. If you think we’ve credited the wrong source, please let us know at copyright@looklume.com.
