The Aura Nail Trend Will Raise Your Vibe This April—Try These 5 Looks We’re Loving

Spring is officially here, meaning it's time to embrace all things bright and colorful—for your fashion, makeup, and yes, your nails. While a few nail trends have recently come on the scene, including the dreamy, metallic cat-eye nails, one trend in particular has made a resurgence in a whole new way. We're talking aura nails—the psychedelic design that's bound to raise your vibe this April.

What is an aura, you ask? In spirituality, auras are the colorful energy fields that surround your physical body. Each person's aura has its own set of colors that are thought to match your soul's energy and personality. But when it comes to nails, auras are actually quite similar: the design usually has several layers of bright colors that emanate from the center of the nail, and the colors and designs you choose can say a whole lot about your personal style, too.

The best part about aura nails is that they're versatile. Whether you prefer simple or detailed nail art, neon or pastel colors, or a bit of sparkle or shine, there is an aura design out there that will not only match but elevate your spring outfits and energy for April.

Ready to try out the trend? Here are five of our favorite looks to save as inspo—along with some nail polish recommendations to help you achieve each one.

How to achieve the aura nail design

If you're looking to try the aura nail design on your own at home, you'll first need to decide if you want to use regular or gel nail polish. If you're using gel, start by applying a clear gel base coat, and then cure it under your UV or LED lamp. Next, you'll need to pick two or three colors that pair well to create the aura effect. You'll also want to grab a small rectangular makeup sponge (with flat sides), which will help you create a stamp of the aura design.

Begin by painting a small circle in the middle of your sponge with the lightest color, or the color you want to be the center of the aura. Then, take your second color—either a slightly darker version of the center color or a different color entirely—and paint a ring around the first circle on the sponge. Continue this process to make the aura as big or small as you want.

Once you've created the design, firmly press the sponge directly onto your nail for about 30 seconds or so, remove it slowly from your nail, et voilà! You have your aura nail design. Repeat this stamping process on each nail until you're satisfied with your design, adding more polish to your sponge (i.e., repainting the design) as needed for a more vibrant effect. Cure the entire set under your lamp until dry, add a clear top coat to each nail, cure, and your aura set is ready for all the spring outfits you have planned.

Now let's get into some of our favorite designs we've seen so far.

5 aura nail designs to try this spring

Whether you're bringing these inspo pics to your nail artist or saving them to DIY at home, we've got a variety of aura designs to fit every style and vibe—from understated and neutral to bright and bold.

1. Pink sunset

This pink sunset aura design is reminiscent of sunny days, blooming flowers, and all the good vibes spring has to offer. Instead of the solid pops of color typical of the season, the bright orange center adds a playful surprise. Nail artist Samantha Jade (@jadeandpolished) combined the colors "Go Go Boots" and "Orange Submarine" from the nail polish brand Lights Lacquer to achieve this fun look, but we love Essie in "Throw in the Towel" pink ($10) or the brand's orange "Be Them All" ($10).

2. Neutral tones

While nail artist Alexia Torres (@setsby.lex) created this design back in the fall, the neutral tones in this aura are great for any time of year, especially if you prefer subtle nails but still want in on the trend. You can DIY this design by creating a sponge stamp or getting it airbrushed for a more blended effect. While any neutral or earth tones will do, we love Olive & June's "Shacket" ($10) along with "The Queen Takes Her Tea With Milk" ($10)—a rose and neutral mauve that blend seamlessly.

3. Mix-and-match zodiac

Speaking of auras and energy, these zodiac nails by Marnie Boswall (@thenaillologist) will tap into your spiritual side this spring. Get the look by painting a yellow-orange aura onto a sponge, then stamping, and drawing a thin blue outline around the edge of your nail. Top it off with some more details and a thin gold zodiac symbol, which you can paint freehand or apply a sticker, like these Zodiac Sign Nail Stickers on Etsy ($3).

For the colors, we recommend a light yellow like Olive & June in "Bright & Focused" ($9) with the brand's orange "You're a 10" ($9) and turquoise "Yes Please" ($9). You can also go for gold with OPI in "SaTURN Me On" ($7). And if you need a tutorial for the design? Boswall has a step-by-step Instagram reel.

4. Multicolor glam moment

For those craving a bold multicolored moment, this design by Ashley Martin (@nailedit_byash) is sure to please. We love how Martin mixed solid with French-tip styles and gave each nail its own unique, neon aura. Plus, we can't forget about the gems, which add a touch of sparkle. While not the easiest DIY design (unless, of course, you're a pro), it's a great look to try or save as inspo for your nail artist.

If you DIY, we recommend starting with press-on nails for the base—like the new Glamnetic French Lilac Short Almond nails ($15)—to save time. Then go for polishes like "ASAPink" ($10), "Bright Back at It" purple ($10), and "Snap Your Fingers" blue ($10) from the OPI RapiDry collection.

5. Pop of lemon

Consider this design by Stacey Lowrie (@sl_yournailgal) the perfect middle ground between all the sets so far. This lemon aura look is fun yet understated: It appeals to both the "clean girl aesthetic" by keeping a neutral base coat and the detail lovers with delicate freehand silver lines. The aura itself is also a surprising pop of color on an otherwise simple design. Lowrie uses a yellow polish from The Gel Bottle Inc., but we like this OPI RapiDry Quick-Dry Lacquer in "Proceed with (No) Caution" ($10).