Revealed: the top 7 trending Valentine’s Day nail designs

Searches for Valentine’s Day themed nail designs are up 9,500% on Google, as many look to express passion and romance through their fingertips.

Nick Drewe, trend expert at Wethrift, comments: “Year on year we are seeing a growing demand for manicure trends, as many look for creative ways to add a touch of character to their look. Surprisingly, we are seeing strong gravitation towards both maximalism and minimalism, with trends like jelly, lip gloss and metallic nails adapted and experimented with to suit personal taste and style.

“In 2023, simplicity took over, with a significant focus placed on wearability, through soft tones, short lengths and minimalist designs. While this overriding trend is still very much present, we are seeing more adaptations and more complex styles take over.”

Drewe shares the top seven trending Valentine’s nail designs:

1. Mini hearts

“The barely-there trend will reign supreme for another consecutive year, due to its soft and suitable characteristics that pair perfectly with everything. Ultra mini hearts are a Valentine’s adaptation of the minimalist trend – offering a simplistic design for the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic.

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“This style can truly be adapted to fit a personal preference, go bold with a pop of colour, or truly elevate your set by adding more hearts, in different colours and styles. Or for something more toned down, choose a single white or red heart on the nail.”

2. Heart tips

“If you find yourself always gravitating towards the classic French manicure, then the half-heart design could be a top favourite for your Valentine’s Day set. The design involves creating a heart-like shape for the tip of your nails. For this style to be achieved, nails need to be in an almond shape, to replicate the look of a heart.

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“Colour and finish are to your preference, one key style present this season is the sheer, glazed look, which pairs well with this design.”

3. Chrome hearts

“Hearts are the overriding theme of Valentine’s Day nails as they are key symbols of all things love. This season, however, we are seeing many adaptations to the classic red heart, with many looking for creative ways to add personality to a traditional style. Enter the chrome heart. The high-shine nail art trend has been a favourite style carried through to 2024, and now we are seeing the chrome look incorporated in seasonal sets.

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“The style is completely adaptable. For the minimalists, the sheer glazed effort is the go-to look, whereas for maximalists, the titanium chrome effect is the manicure hype.”

4. Monochrome

“Pink, red and white are the colours we often associate with Valentine’s Day, but this year, black and white print nail designs are dominating our feed. Monochrome hearts are having a moment right now, as many don’t want to compromise on their taste by opting for a traditional colour.

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“This trend was present last summer, as we saw a rise in black and white flowers, instead of the classic, bright pinks, greens, yellows and oranges.”

5. Reflective nails

“Whether you’re heading out for a romantic dinner or getting together with friends for a night of cocktails, glitter can elevate a nail look. The reflective nail trend has been hugely popular over the last few years, and now we are seeing the twinkly effect popularised through Valentine’s manicured nails.

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“We’re seeing variation from a sparkly heart to an ultra-shimmered pink set take over this season.”

6. Cut out hearts

“For a different take on the heart, we’re loving the cutout trend. This design is a little more complex than the traditional heart, but when combined with a classic French tip, it’s the perfect set. You can keep it classy with a white or nude, or level up with a pink or red!”

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7. Textured nails

“Textured nail art has become one of the most desirable manicured looks of the last few years. Using sculpt gels and different 3D elements to create shapes and designs on the nails can truly transform a manicure. It adds dimension and character while creating a unique and personalised look.

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“The trend involves using texture to create a raised heart shape on the nail – but this doesn’t have to be limited to just this design, you can create swirls, lines and more.”

View our Valentine’s Day nail galleries by clicking here.