Striped Nails

trendpatterncraft

A nail-art manicure of thin, clean lines painted across the nail in one or more directions — horizontal 'pyjama' stripes, diagonal 'beach club' stripes or vertical pinstripes. The look is graphic and preppy rather than dotted with motifs.

Trend context

Striped nails are the graphic manicure editors keep naming the 'fashion girl' look of 2026. Marie Claire calls them the manicure of the moment and 'a new version of polka dots,' InStyle reports the look is 'eclipsing polka dots' as one of the fastest-rising nail trends, and Pinterest's 2026 'FunHaus' report flags bold stripes as a leading spring motif. The Gel Bottle founder Daisy Kalnina told Yahoo and ELLE UK the shapes to watch are 'pyjama stripe' and 'beach club stripe,' and the look is filling TikTok, Pinterest and Instagram saves through spring and summer.

Key fact Marie Claire names striped nails the 'fashion girl manicure of the moment' and 'a new version of polka dots,' InStyle reports the look is 'eclipsing polka dots' as one of the fastest-rising nail trends, and Pinterest's 2026 'FunHaus' report flags bold stripes as a leading spring motif.

How to get the look

Paint a clean, opaque base and let it set, then use a fine liner brush or striping tape to lay 1–2mm lines in a contrasting polish. Decide the direction first — horizontal 'pyjama' stripes, diagonal 'beach club' stripes, or vertical pinstripes — and keep the spacing even so the lines read sharp. Two thin coats of top coat seal the lines without dragging them; for crisp edges, remove the tape before the top coat fully cures.

How to wear

Stripes are the preppy, coastal cousin of nail art: wear horizontal pyjama stripes with Breton tops and gold hoops for summer, or try a single pinstripe accent nail against a neutral set for the office. Because the lines are graphic, keep the rest of the outfit calm — the manicure is the pattern, so let it lead and skip the printed top.