20 Pride Nail Ideas With Vibrant, Celebratory Vibes

Every June, we take time to celebrate joy, love, and individuality during Pride month. It's truly the best time of year when anyone and everyone can celebrate their most authentic selves. And while one of the best ways to celebrate is by shopping LGBTQ+-owned fashion and beauty brands and donating to causes like The Trevor Project, Pride month is also about uninhibited fun and self-expression—which means Pride manicures are definitely on the menu. Much like Pride month, nail art is for everyone, and getting a little (or very) colorful with your manicure is a beautiful way to celebrate and draw attention to Pride. Ahead, discover 20 nail ideas for Pride, from classic rainbows to understated approaches.

01 of 20

Skittles Manicure

rainbow manicure with different color on each nail — @melanated.mani / Instagram

A classic "Skittles" manicure is one of the most popular manicures for Pride month celebrations. And the good news is, it's fairly easy to DIY. Choose a few rainbow hues that make you the happiest and alternate between each for a totally customizable, rainbow effect. Use an at-home gel nail kit to keep your mani looking fresh for longer.

02 of 20

Rainbow Fade With Negative Space

manicure with rainbow fade and negative space — @imarninails / Instagram

This rainbow fade design by @imarninails is the perfect marriage of two classic nail trends: ombré effects and negative space. Add in a Pride-ready rainbow colors and you have the perfect manicure to wear all summer long.

03 of 20

Rainbow-Studded French

rainbow gem manicure — @disseynails / Instagram

For the manicure minimalist, a studded French is the perfect way to incorporate a little color into your manicure without going full-rainbow. To get the look, opt for a glossy neutral (a.k.a. your "lip gloss manicure" shade) and top with nail appliques in the shade(s) of your choosing. And don't fret over the placement—while it may seem counterintuitive, the more randomized the gems, the more polished it will look.

04 of 20

Candy-Coated

pastel manicure featuring purple, green, and orange tones — @brushedbyb_ / Instagram

Mixing candy-coated, pastel polish is another beautiful way to tone down your Pride manicure if you aren't a fan of vibrant rainbows. Here, nail artist Brittney Ellen has created a gorgeous gradient of soft blue, green, purple, pink, orange, and yellow for a colorful—yet understated—effect.

05 of 20

Monochromatic

pastel green manicure against matching pastel green suit — @pleasing / Instagram

You can definitely celebrate Pride without a stitch of rainbow coloring if that's your preference. But for something that still feels unique and colorful, try creating a monochromatic look by pairing your nails to your outfit—bonus points for gorgeous suiting.

06 of 20

All Smiles

smiley face sticker manicure — @disseynails / Instagram

Nothing says joy like Pride celebrations, and smiley-face nail art is the perfect way to bring this sentiment to life. If you lack a steady hand or simply don't have the patience to sit down at the nail salon, peel-and-stick nail stickers like those by Pretty Fab Nails will do the trick. Just top them off with a quality top coat for a longer-lasting manicure.

07 of 20

Beaming With Pride

pink and purple heart manicure — @lolo.nailedit / Instagram

Beaming hearts—like the ring finger accent nail created here—are a kitschy way to celebrate love in all its forms. And while pink and purple are clearly complementary, you can request this mismatched manicure in any colorway—there are truly no rules.

08 of 20

Slanted French

Slanted French tips in a swath of rainbow hues are a great way to modernize the classic French manicure. Go for a two-tone finish like nail artist Dayanna I. Sapiens has created here, or keep things simple with one rainbow shade per tip.

09 of 20

Pastel Pride

pastel gradient manicure — @imarninails / Instagram

Matte pastels are another gorgeous way to get in on all the rainbow joy this Pride month. But if you prefer more of a muted approach, pastel shades and a matte finish will get the job done.

10 of 20

Rainbow French

If you're looking for a manicure that's classically Pride, it's hard to go wrong with a rainbow French manicure. Instead of your standard white or nude-colored tip, layers of rainbow shades create the same arched effect of a physical rainbow without being too literal.

11 of 20

Love Is Love

hot pink manicure with heart cutout — @phoebesummernails / Instagram

Pride month is all about taking time to celebrate love and individuality. That sentiment is perfectly illustrated in this manicure by Phoebe Cascarina, which features hot pink polish and sweet heart-cut-out detailing.

12 of 20

Neon Smileys

person with neon green smiley face nail art — @nailsinc / Instagram

For evening Pride parties, nothing will make a statement quite like a neon, glow-in-the-dark manicure. Top your polish with a cartoon smiley face and you have yourself a nail look that's ripe for celebration.

13 of 20

Glazed Rainbow

Ultra-glossy, glazed nails are one of the biggest manicure trends to emerge in 2023, but we typically see the trend manifest in a single colorway. To make the trend even more Pride-ready, try a rainbow chrome manicure for a fun, carefree, maximalist look.

14 of 20

Matching Mermaidcore

two different hands with same glitter blue manicure — @opi / Instagram

Mermaidcore nails are having a moment, and the trend can certainly be tailored to Pride month. For starters, if you and your partner both wear nail polish, try coordinating your manicures for a subtle way to match.

15 of 20

Subtle Rainbow Dots

dotted rainbow manicure on white background — @opi / Instagram

A little bit of color goes a long way. Here, a simple white base is elevated with a vertical ombré of rainbow dots. And fortunately, you can definitely pull this one off at home—you'll just need a nail dotting tool (or the end of a bobby pin, in a pinch).

16 of 20

Rainbows and Butterflies

Close-up of manicure with pastel rainbow designs and heart, rainbow, smiley face, butterfly, and star stickers — @deco.beauty / Instagram

To give your rainbow Pride mani some extra pizzazz, try adding some nail stickers that embody the month's joyful energy. The smileys, stars, hearts, rainbows, and butterflies you see here are from Deco Beauty's Love Is Love pack—while it's currently unavailable, you can get a similar result from another of the brand's colorful sets, like Sunny Side Up.

17 of 20

Subtle Rainbow Chrome

Close-up of Kylie Jenner's hand with chrome base manicure with different colored finishes on each nail — @nailsbyzola / Instagram

Can't get enough of chrome? This mani, as seen here on Kylie Jenner, takes the modern nail staple into rainbow territory—and the result is even more mesmerizing when it catches the light. It's probably easiest to head to an experienced nail artist equipped with all the shades of chrome powder for this one, although you can also try to DIY with a shimmery rainbow eyeshadow palette.

18 of 20

Short Rainbow Nails

Close-up of short manicure with different rainbow color on each nail — @chalkboardnails / Instagram

Prefer to keep things short and sweet? Simply swipe a different color of the rainbow on each nail in gradient order, and you have a practical yet festive Pride mani.

19 of 20

Retro Rainbows

Close-up of short manicure with retro rainbow cuticle design — @oliveandjune / Instagram

For a slightly more involved short Pride mani, try a rainbow design that arches along your cuticle. The retro palette here breaks from traditional rainbow hues and gives these nails a fresh, groovy feel.

20 of 20

Metallic Pride Mani

Close-up of manicure with rainbow gradient metallic nail design — @lolo.nailedit / Instagram

A metallic sheen takes this rainbow gradient mani into unexpected territory, which we think is so fun if your Pride month plans involve dancing the night away with lots of glitter. Even if your agenda is decidedly more low-key, these will surely add a fun pop to any outfit.