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Pink isn’t so much a color as it is a state of mind. From Barbie to Glinda to Elle Woods, pink’s influence has always been strong. And when it comes to manicures, pink is a classic color choice. But don’t mistake classic for boring—on the contrary, there are endless shades and patterns to make a pink mani really stand out if you’re looking for a break from your solid polish color.
An ombré design is one of our favorite ways to rock pink nails. All it takes is a few bottles of polish and a wedge makeup sponge (or the skill of your talented nail artist if you aren’t DIY’ing). Simply brush your colors in straight lines across the wedge and gently blot the sponge onto your nails to transfer the polish, repeating the process until you’re happy with the result. Need some inspiration? Read on for 14 pink ombré manicure ideas you can screenshot ahead of your next set.
1. Pearly pink ombré
We’re big fans of pearly polishes—they create a subtle shimmer and glossy effect that looks great on nails. This look uses a pearly white that fades into an opaque pink.
Get the look: To recreate, pair a pearlized white polish like Pleasing Perfect Pearl ($18) with a pearlescent pink like Pleasing Granny’s Pink Pearls ($18). Blot on the polish to create an ombre effect and seal with an extra-glossy top coat.
2. Blushing nude ombré
For an ombre effect along the tips, paint two or three lines of your base nude-pink color along the sponge before adding a single line of the second color. When blotting, be sure to line up the second color with the top third of each nail.
Get the look: Zoya Nail Lacquer in Mia ($12) is a perfect dusty nude-pink that looks great with a bold hot pink—we like Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri Nail Polish in Beet-ing Heart ($8). Top with a few starburst nail stickers like the ones in this Eseres Star Sticker Set ($8).
3. Sparkle pink ombré
If DIYing an ombre mani feels a little overwhelming, this glitter gradient is nearly foolproof. You don’t even need a makeup sponge to blend the colors, just apply a sheer silver glitter polish to the top half of the nail, focusing the product toward the tips (in layers if you want an opaque shimmer finish).
Get the look: Try a bold magenta base like OPI Nail Lacquer in Telenovela Me About It ($12). Then, blot a sheer silver metallic glitter onto the top third of each nail to create an ombre effect. We’re fans of Essie’s Metallics Nail Polish in Set In Stones ($10).
4. Sunset sky ombré
We wish all sunsets looked this good. The fade from pink to purple is so dreamy, and those clouds are a nice finishing touch.
Get the look: Le Mini Macaron “Le Gel Liner!” in Milkshake ($9) has a thin detail brush to paint on those tiny little clouds. Just be sure your base coat is fully dried.
5. Popsicle pink ombré
Once you’ve honed your skills with a two-color ombre, take things to the next level with a four-color design. Don’t worry if the lines slightly overlap on the sponge, it’ll just help them fade into each other seamlessly.
Get the look: Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel Nail Polish in Fuschia Fever Neon ($9) and Electri-Lime Neon ($13) are the perfect pink and green for this look. Pair with OPI Nail Lacquer in Exotic Birds Do Not Tweet ($12) and Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Bearer of Rad News ($10) to create that same popsicle ombre fade.
6. Five-finger pink ombré
Another take on an ombre manicure utilizes solid colors across the entire hand to create a gradual fade from light to dark.
Get the look: From left to right, apply OPI Nail Lacquer in Coastal Sand-tuary ($12), Essie Nail Polish in Free to Roam ($10), OPI Nail Lacquer in Cajun Shrimp ($12), Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Nail Polish in Augmented Red-ality ($8), and Essie Nail Polish in Forever Yummy ($10).
7. Cotton candy ombré
We love these cotton-candy ombre accent nails—they add an unexpected bold pop of color to an otherwise simple pink mani.
Get the look: A soft pink beige like Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Crop Top & Roll ($10) goes perfectly with a bright blue like Essie’s Nail Polish in Butler Please ($12) to recreate this cotton candy mani.
8. Kawaii pink ombré
While these adorable characters might be a bit difficult to recreate from home, they’re definitely a nice finishing touch to an ombré mani (and great inspo ahead of your next salon appointment).
Get the look:Self-adhesive decals might be the easiest way to copy similar motifs if you’re recreating a similar look at home. To nail the base, look for a sandy beige like Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Millennium Moment ($10) and a fuschia pink like OPI Nail Lacquer in Aurora Berry-Alis ($12).
9. Neon pink ombré
Bold colors have a bold impact—just look at that gorgeous fade. We love the way the neon shades really pop in this set. Of course, if pink and orange isn’t your vibe you can swap in any colors you like for a gradient affect.
Get the look: To recreate, try pairing a neon orange like Orly Nail Lacquer in A Vibe ($11) with a purple-pink shade like Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish in Orchid-ing Aside ($13).
10. Gilded pink ombré
For a little extra oomph, add a free-hand gilded oval to each nail—don’t worry about getting the shape right; the more asymmetrical and natural it looks, the better.
Get the look: A metallic gel liner is key to nailing the thin gold lining detail on this mani. Try U-Shinein’s Metallic Liner Gel in Gold ($8) and build up as needed to create a natural shape.
11. Pink ombré hearts
For a high-impact ombre moment, pair shades within the same color family on opposite ends of the spectrum together. In this case, the nearly-white pink goes perfectly with the loud-and proud-fuschia.
Get the look: For a dramatic transition like the one above, pair a sweet baby pink like Essie Nail Polish in Sugar Daddy ($10) with an ultra-juicy fuschia like Essie Nail Polish in Bachelorette Bash ($10). Once dry, apply multi-sized red heart nail stickers to the tips using a set like this one from Amazon ($7).
12. Bejeweled baby pink ombré
This pink-nude to white ombre feels like a modern day take on the classic French manicure. And we love the use of the silver gems here, which elevates the mani without distracting from the ombre design.
Get the look: A soft pink beige and a classic white polish are all you need for the simple base. We suggest OPI’s Infinite Shine Long-Wear Nail Polish in Keep Calm & Carry On ($15) and Essie Nail Polish in Blanc ($10) topped with self-adhesive rhinestones.
13. 3D wired pink ombré
Something about those 3D silver lines makes this pink-and-red ombre manicure feel a little mysterious and vampy. And we love the way the ombré hues alternate from nail to nail.
Get the look: A thin brush is key to nailing the precise metallic silver lines seen in this look. Try the RARJSM Metallic Silver Gel Liner ($7) to really hone in on the 3D effect.
14. Pastel pink ombré
You can never go wrong with a pastel pink hue—it pairs perfectly with any color you choose. This orange, in particular, makes for a seamless fade.
Get the look: You need the perfect bubble gum pink to really pack a punch here. We love OPI Nail Lacquer in I Quit My Day Job ($12).
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