When a manicure trend coined "Italian summer nails" began to pop off on my feed, it felt less like a passing beauty moment and more like a personal summons. I'm Italian—like grew-up-on-carbonara-and-Sunday-dinners Italian—so much so, that my parents named me after a city in Tuscany. (No, for real, Siena, if you missed the byline.) So yeah, this trend? It literally had my name written all over it.
Depending on which side of social media you land on, Italian summer nails can go one of two ways. On one end, there's the fun, warm weather, Mediterranean side: Amalfi lemons, Venetian sardines, and colors practically pulled straight from a Capri postcard. It's curated for the very aesthetic that comes with the term Euro summer.
Then there's the other take on the trend—the one that feels straight out of a Sopranos episode: square French tips (à la Carmela), cherry reds, and bling-galore. A manicure that wouldn't look out of place accompanied by a stack of gold rings and over-the-top expressive hand gestures. This side once felt flashy, but now takes on a deeply feminine, cool-girl vibe as mob wife core reignites its flame this summer.
So in the name of research (and my personal interests), I did a deep dive: I texted the cousins, tapped nail artist and Après Nail Educator, Priscilla Nguyen, and rounded up the products and polish shades you need to pull it off without actually booking a flight, below.
Coastal Chic
These manis are all about channeling that breezy, sun-soaked Italian coastline. Think starfish, pearlescent finishes, and shell details all set against dreamy Mediterranean ocean blues.
Begin with a sheer nude like the classic Ballet Slippers from Essie for the base.
A shimmery, opaque gold glitter like this one will make for the perfect blinged-out starfish.
While I'm no nail artist, I do like to replicate these sea creatures with a deep blue reminiscent of the Mediterranean.
To play up the blue, pop some pearlized polish on a few nails for an extra oomph.
Simply stick a few of these pearl decals on your nails for an easy-to-do coastal chic look. My tip is to apply a teeny tiny dab of nail glue to ensure they won't fall off.
Try your hand at an opaque, cool-toned off-white that perfectly mimics a seashell.
This baby blue adds a pop of color and makes for the perfect base of a sardine's body.
This silvery glitter mimics the scales of a fish.
This Aprés shade in Resting Beach Face 242 gives an ode to the Mediterranean's clear blue waters.
For the base of the play on the French tip, keep it basic with this semi-sheer pink.
Fun & Fruity
From zesty oranges to citrusy lemons and ceramic tile motifs pulled straight from a Positano villa, this fruit-inspired nail set reads a long, lazy summer spent on the Amalfi coast.
This shade, aptly named Morning Squeeze, is a delicious and citrusy-looking color.
This bright pink will make a great shade for the stripes and complements the orange tones.
This bright shade takes just one swipe to deliver a color reminiscent of the lemons in Amalfi.
These press-on nails mix it up with two accent nails filled with lemon motifs.
Don't have the skills to paint full-on fruit decals? Easy, pop on these press-on nails from Olive & June. Not only are they quick to apply, but they're also incredibly long-lasting.
Play up a basic polish with nail fruit stickers—just make to seal it all in with a top coat.
Create dots, swipes, and swirls with this seven-piece nail art set.
The blues in Italy's ceramic tiles are a pretty perfect match to the Chillhouse Cobalt Klein.
Aperitivo Hour
Consider this the delicious side of the nail trend: a love letter to aperitivo culture, this set takes its cues from the Italian table. Aperol Spritz-inspired shades, cocktail-garnish accents, and even full-on pasta decals.
These sheer polish with varying-sized glitter makes for a fun base coat on any pasta or aperitivo nail art.
Chanel's Ovni, a pale yellow-cream, looks like pasta to me.
If you're looking to do less nail art, consider channeling Aperol with this minimal ombre effect using a spritz-colored orange.
Nail artist, Iram Shelton used Take a Vow by OPI to blend the orange.
The easiest way to DIY this trend? Use a Q-tip or nail brush to draw an oval-shaped design with this green and finish with a dot of red on one end. And voila! You've made a simple olive.
A milky semi-sheer polish as a base will keep the design chic and minimal.
This topped can be applied on any color to add a bit of a chrome effect.
Why attempt to paint your own Aperol Spritz nails when Aperol Spritz press-ons already exist?
Old-School Glamour
Call this next iteration Italian glamour with range. From Carmella Soprano's iconic manicure (hello, squared-off thick French tips) to glossy and bright Italian It Girl reds, and Milan glitz channeled through bejeweled gems, this is one for those who want a little extra zhuzh.
The opacity of this white, alongside the shape and size of the brush, makes this polish my go-to for French tips.
Instead of my typical French manicure base, I've opted for this jelly pink lately and love the look even more.
Aptly named, this polish is the minimal nude that everyone and every skin tone needs in their life.
Varying styles of rhinestones will channel these fun, bedazzled nails.
Ah, have you ever seen such a stunning shade of red? Côte's Candy Apple is basically an ode to Monica Bellucci.
A slightly deeper cherry red than the aforementioned, this shade is just a bit moodier.
These press-ons look so natural in their shape and length, and they have such a realistic-looking tortoise design.
Love the moodier colors of tortoise shell but want a more minimalist look? Opt for a rich chocolate brown.
Combine French tips and gems with these press-ons from Paintlab.
Kiara Sky's flat-back rhinestones are the perfect way to glam up any nail shade.
What Are Italian Summer Nails?
“Italian summer nails are a trending and nostalgic style that’s been blowing up,” says Nguyen, adding that the look can take on two different, but equally bold aesthetics: “The fun Sicilian summer vibe and the glamorous old school Italian mob wife look.” Nguyen suggests envisioning French tips, Aperol Spritz oranges, hand-drawn lemons, and bright citrus colors alongside whites and pool blues.
How Can I DIY Italian Summer Nails at Home?
In terms of the mob wife core, Nguyen says a classic route is to go with a French design. "Remember, the thicker, the better!" For those who struggle with painting the tip (don't we all?!), a Band-Aid, or a sticker guide made for French tips (they do exist!) makes life much easier.
As for the beachy, fruity iteration, Nguyen suggests adding a lemon or orange on top of the nail. Again, if nail art isn't your greatest strength, grab a few nail stickers. It instantly elevates the manicure, making it look significantly more expensive and detailed.
And when in doubt, grab an Italian-inspired nail polish shade from the list, or if you prefer a more intricate design, invest in some press-ons for a chic and easy summer manicure.
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Meet the Expert
Priscilla is a nail artist and the expert behind the Après Nails Education Program. Aprés had launched a new partnership program for nail schools to affiliate with the brand and Gel-X®, Nguyen began teaching Gel-X® Certification classes, and by the end of the year taught over 10 classes across the country.
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