Summer isn’t over yet—in fact, when it comes to your manicures, summer isn’t going anywhere. On the heels of other very popular—and food-related—beauty trends of summers past (think tomato girl summer, watermelon nails and the like), meet the newest nail art trend of the season: sardine nails. Playful, unexpectedly chic and perfect for anyone embracing a Euro summer, sardine nails are inspired by Mediterranean living.
The manicure is gaining major momentum this year. According to beauty and wellness booking platform Fresha, search interest in sardine nails has jumped 140 percent over the last three months and are up 50 percent year over year. Ahead, everything you need to know about sardine nails, including how to get the look and plenty of manicure inspiration photos before your next trip to the nail salon.
What Are Sardine Nails?
Sardine nails are a whimsical, beachy and a creative take on fairly minimalist nail art. You’ll see that many versions start with a sheer, milky or neutral base before adding tiny hand-painted sardines or tinned fish to one or more nails. You can play around with colors here—some stay more realistic and opt for silver polish for the tiny fish, while others go colorful. The tiny fish create a playful accent that still looks elevated. “Most people jumping on the trend go for a minimalist milky or neutral base manicure with playful silver fish, or some would call it a tinned-fish motif,” says Fresha beauty expert Annabelle Taurua.
The look can even go beyond just sardines. “This is sometimes paired with tackle-box accents for a seaside aesthetic or could be paired with cocktail-inspired olive accents for a more ‘European summer’ and Mediterranean grocery aesthetic,” she adds.
Why Are Sardine Nails Trending?
Like so many beauty trends this year, sardine nails tap into the ongoing love of the European summer aesthetic. According to Taurua, the trend is part of a much larger moment across categories. “Sardine nails follow a Mediterranean-inspired coastal aesthetic that has been popular in fashion, homewear and now nails,” she says.
The manicure is the latest extension of the coastal lifestyle that’s been dominating fashion, beauty and more. As Taurua puts it, “I think this is the perfect trend suited to relaxing by the ocean with a book in hand and perhaps a martini,” she says. “And if you’re not on holiday or having a Euro summer, this fun nail trend can bring a hint of the Mediterranean closer to home.”
In addition to interest on Fresha, Pinterest search for sardine nails is also up 281 percent. “Sardine nails might sound unexpected, but they’ve quickly become one of the internet’s favorite nail trends,” Cosmetify beauty trend expert Carly Cochrane previously told NewBeauty. “Inspired by the rise of fisherman aesthetics and quirky Mediterranean fashion trends, these manicures feature tiny illustrated sardines, silver chrome details and coastal color palettes.”
How to Achieve Sardine Nails
The easiest way to get the look is to start with a soft, sheer manicure.
Taurua recommends asking your nail artist for a milky or neutral base, then layering on tiny metallic silver sardines as accent art. If you’d like to fully embrace the Euro summer life, consider adding miniature olives, lemons or tomatoes for a Mediterranean-inspired mix-and-match manicure.
“In fact, whimsical nail art combining tiny silver fish, green olives, lemons and tomatoes has been popping up all over social media, showing inspiration from coastal Mediterranean cafes and oceanfront restaurants,” Taurua says.
The Best Sardine Nails Ideas to Try
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