Style Skincare Hands and Feet Nail Care 8 Cute Accent Nail Ideas to Try All it takes is a finger or two to spice up an otherwise boring mani. By Danielle Cohen Published on April 30, 2024 Close Photo: @ We’re always looking for the latest and greatest to level up our manicures. And we’re willing to try it all, from stark chromes and pretty pastels to playful textures and shattered-glass effects. But when it comes down to it, you really only need a finger or two to make a real statement. That’s why we’ve always been fans of a great accent nail moment. Be it a contrasting color or 3D embellishment, a well-placed accent nail can be as minimal or bold as you please, making the ultimate personalized touch to an otherwise standard manicure. Ahead, eight accent nail ideas we’re saving for our next trip to the salon. 01 of 08 Chain and Stone We love spicing up a simple mani with some 3D nail art, and these chains and rhinestones are no exception. They take an otherwise barely there manicure and turn it into a true work of art. For an added element of unpredictability, consider switching up the number and placement of accent fingers on each hand. 02 of 08 Flower Power Welcome the warmer weather with a spring-inspired accent nail look. Start with two complementary spring colors, like this tangerine orange and soft baby pink as an accent color. Paint two accent nails before using a dotting tool to create a couple flowers on each. It’s surprisingly easy and the perfect way to usher in the new season. 03 of 08 Black, White, and Red All Over Try a trippy accent nail by pairing a bold red manicure with a black-and-white dripping motif on your accent nail. The design is simple but packs quite the punch—and we love the subtle negative space moment on the accent finger. 04 of 08 Outlines Use outlines and negative space to create the ultimate eye-catching dissonant manicure. Use a bold color on a nude base to carve out the nail’s shape, avoiding the bottom half moon—this will help create a clearer visual difference between the accent nail and the rest of the manicure. Finally, use that same bold color to completely paint one accent nail. 05 of 08 Evil Eye Spy Think you can’t pull off a minimalist accent nail design? Think again. We can’t stop thinking about this understated milky mani and subtle evil eye accent. Best of all, you can replace the evil eye with any shape or design your heart desires—we love the idea of a tiny star or sun. 06 of 08 Black Bows Amp up a traditional French manicure with black sparkly tips and a bold accent nail moment. While the black sparkles add a vampy twist, the bow-adorned accent nail brings a much-appreciated coquette feel to the end result. It gives your classic French mani a little bit of va-va-voom. 07 of 08 Baby Brown Yet another simple, DIY-friendly accent nail option is this neutral-toned mani with pops of brown. Use your trusty dotting tool to create those itty bitty dots at the base of each nail, and a high-gloss top coat for that ultra-shiny finish. 08 of 08 Modern Art Unleash your inner artist with a paint stroke-inspired accent nail. The key here is creating harmony with an array of complementary colors —anything too different will create a sense of dissonance between the accent nail and the rest of the manicure. And don’t worry about being too precious with your accent nail design; the streakier, the better. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit