Introduction
The following minimalist nail art designs are perfect for the person who wants something easy and simple, but still cute. These ideas will take you less than 15 minutes to do and will make your nails look like art!
Polka dots
When you’re feeling lazy, but still want to nail a minimalist look, try polka dots. They’re simple enough that even the most novice of nail artists can pull them off. You can use almost anything as a dotting tool—a toothpick, pencil, bobby pin or straw will do the trick. Just make sure you’re not using something that’s too sharp so that it doesn’t tear up your polish as you go along. Then simply place dots where desired and fill them in with another dotting tool or nail art brush (if you don’t have one of those on hand). You can also just create one big dot first by using a straw instead of an actual dotting tool—then fill in the center with another dotting tool or paintbrush!
Paint splatter
Design that can be achieved
This is a really straightforward design that can be achieved using just one color. Paint splatter doesn’t require a lot of time, but it does require some patience and practice.
In order to do this nail art, you’ll need two or three colors (for example blue, purple, and orange) and something to apply them with (like an old makeup brush).
Start by painting your nails solid with your base color (in this case blue). Let it dry completely before moving on to the next step!
Next, take one of the other colors (purple in this case) and dab it onto the surface of a surface like plastic wrap or wax paper so that it makes little dots all over its surface as shown in the photo below:
Then take your third color (orange) and dip a clean makeup brush into it before tapping off any excess paint onto another piece of plastic wrap or wax paper as shown below:
Color block
This nail art design is perfect for the lazy girl because it’s easy to do and doesn’t require any fancy supplies. All you need is a base color, then a second color, and finally a third color. You can use any three colors that you want! Just make sure that they’re different enough from one another so that it looks deliberate rather than like an accident.
To create this look on your nails:
Paint your fingertips with one layer of base coat; once dry, apply two coats of whatever color you’d like to start with (I chose black). Let dry completely before moving on to step two.
Use a nail polish brush
or sponge to dab another shade onto each nail (I used white). Let dry completely before moving on to step three.
Nude nails with French tips
Start with a nude base coat and let it dry completely before applying your polish.
Apply one coat of nude nail polish, let it dry completely, then apply a second coat for extra durability (the more coats you use the longer they’ll last).
Once the polish is completely dry, use a nude nail art pen or brush to draw on your French tips (or line whatever shape you want). Then seal the design with an opaque topcoat so it doesn’t fade away!
4-6: Optional steps if you’re feeling extra fancy: Use a nude dotting tool or sponge to add dots along your nails for added texture and interest!
Negative space design
Use a contrasting color. If you want to make your nail art look more sophisticated and beautiful, choose a darker shade of polish for the negative space design. The contrast will help make your nails stand out from the rest of your outfit!
Use a small brush or dotting tool. This is much easier than trying to create tiny details with a toothpick or sponge—a few dots can go a long way toward creating an elegant effect!
Tribal prints
Tribal prints: These are a great way to add a little edge to your nails, and they’re easy to do. You can use any color you want—black and white are the most common colors for tribal prints, but other colors work too.
Chalk pastels: If you have some chalk pastels lying around (or if you want to buy some), this is a fun technique that takes only a couple of minutes!
Marble nails
If you’re looking for a fun way to add some extra dimension to your nails, marble nails are the perfect solution. With just a few supplies and ten minutes of your time, you can make your own marble nails that look like they belong in a museum!
This is an easy design that looks gorgeous with or without a top coat (I prefer doing it with one). If you have never tried nail art before and feel intimidated by the idea of freehanding an intricate pattern like this one, fear not: It’s easier than it looks!
Pineapple nails
Pineapple nails are a classic minimalist nail art design and for good reason. They’re cute, fun, and easy to pull off.
Pineapple is a symbol of hospitality in Hawaii. When you see one in your host’s home it means they’re offering welcome and friendship—so these nail designs are the perfect way to show your love for pineapple (or Hawaii).
If you want even more tropical vibes on your nails, go with this awesome sea green color scheme!
# Pineapple Nails
Paint the entire surface of your thumb with white polish.
Using small paintbrushes or toothpicks dipped into a bottle of nail polish remover, make small dots along the center line where it touches the top edge of your thumb (figure A). The dots should be spaced apart enough that they don’t touch each other but still form a close grouping together (figure B). The end result will look like a slice of pineapple (figures C – E). Once dry, finish by adding another layer or two over everything except for the center line; this will darken up those spots where there were originally white dots so they won’t stand out as much against all that white space around them now!
Nude nails with a silver or gold stripe
You can use a paintbrush, toothpick, nail art pen, or striping tape to create the stripe. If you want something more subtle than silver or gold, choose nude or beige as your base color!
If you decide to go with nail polish instead of any of the above options (which is totally fine), I recommend using one with a thin brush such as China Glaze’s Liquid Leather. This will make it easier for you to create clean lines without making mistakes in the application.
Painted triangles
Triangles are one of the easiest shapes to paint, but they’re also one of the easiest ways to make your nails look “finished” with minimal effort. You can use a lighter color than your nails, such as white or pale pink; a darker color such as deep purple or navy blue; or contrasting colors like bright yellow and black. If you want an all-over triangle design on your entire nail (which will look especially cool if you’re wearing black polish), just use three different shades from the same family.
Thin lines
Use a thin nail art brush or toothpick to create thin lines.
Fill in shapes with a thin line of polish (i.e., an “O” for an eye).
Create borders using thinner lines of polish than the rest of your nail art design, then fill them in with different colors if necessary.
Use thinner lines for flowers, like a daisy or sunflower!
Zebra nails
To create zebra nails, you’ll need nail art brushes. You can use these to create your black-and-white stripes, but they’re not necessary. If you don’t have any, simply use a toothpick or bobby pin to draw on a thin line in the shape of your choosing (I recommend freehanding it).
You can also use a toothbrush to achieve similar results (you’ll end up with something more like leopard print).
If you want thicker lines that are smoother than those created by your toothbrush or nail-art brush, then I highly recommend investing in a dotting tool.
Hidden designs (like an emoji)
If you think that a minimal manicure is too simple for your taste, then here’s a cute way to make your nails look more interesting.
First, paint your nails white and let them dry.
Then take a fine brush and add the design of your choice. For this, we used an emoji face because it was fun to create! The trick here is making sure everything is smooth and neat or it will be visible through the topcoat—make sure you pay attention to detail so that no one can tell what’s going on underneath!
Finally, after completing that step,
apply a clear coat over everything (and let it dry). This seals in any mistakes as well as make sure there aren’t any color inconsistencies between layers. If you want something more subtle than this emoji face idea but still noticeable enough without being obnoxious then try using different colored nail polish instead; just remember that anything thicker will show through when applied overtop so keep those brushes thin while painting!
3-D art using miniature objects like sequins or faux gems
Make sure to use a brush with the right tip. A toothpick with a dotting tool can be used for 3-D art. It will give you precise control over where you place your studs and gems. You could also try using a small paintbrush, which will provide more of an effect than just dots. The key is finding what works best for you!
You can do super fun and cute nail art without going all out!
You can do super fun and cute nail art without going all out! It’s not hard to do, it’s not expensive, and it can be a great way to express yourself. You can also use your nails as a canvas for some fun with your friends. Try some of these ideas at home or get together with some friends for an afternoon of creative nail art. The best part is that you don’t need any fancy tools for this minimalistic look!
Let’s get started on making these beautiful designs!
Conclusion
I hope you feel inspired to try these easy nail art designs! If you’re looking for more ideas. Check out my blog post on “15 Minimalist Nail Art Designs for the Lazy Girl.”