Do you binge-read comics? Because there’s a trend going around on the ‘gram that makes your nails look like they’ve been dipped into a comic. Yup. As bizarre as it sounds, pop art nails are legitimate, and they’ve been around for over a decade now. Manicurists are reviving the trend again — with more aesthetic liberty this time, and there’s something on here for everyone. But what is it anyway?
The pop-art manicure, also known as the ‘cartoon’ manicure, features painted-on lines drawn around the perimeter of the nail. These drawn-on nails look animated — like drawings of cartoons out of a comic book. Most are characterised by jet-black lines accented by different streaks of colour to play into the illusion of texture and make your nails look creased and folded. Note that while your nails appear 3D-ish, they have no texture at all — so this is like a minimalist-maximalist’s dream-come-true manicure. Ahead — some of the most versatile iterations of the pop-art nail trend.
This Is Every Minimalist-Maximalist’s Dream Mani
Not all the iterations are poppy and colourful. You can play around with neutral-toned colours as demonstrated above, and restrict the painted-on line to the border of the nail. The trend has been spotted on all shapes and lengths — from coffins to almonds, diversity lies at the heart of this trend.
Many versions are even more attention-grabbing. Like this one. The nails are multi-coloured — like skittles — and they’re defined by jet-black and white streaks around the corners — making you feel like you’ve fallen right out of one of your favourite comics. The lesson is — as long as you find a way to bring in the jet-black borders, you’re good.
Yet another example of how this trend flatters every nail shape — from miles-long square-shaped nails to short almond-shaped nails, you can play around with pop nail art exactly how you’d like.
Do you like your French tips too much? Just show your manicurist this picture for some inspo.
This one’s so pretty — olive green is officially our favourite backdrop for this trend. This one’s subtle, polished, and classy, and it doesn’t use any nudes and neutrals to achieve the aesthetic.
Or….a chocolate brown punctuated by streaks of dark brown and white? Yumm. Even purples have the grace to flatter the trend.
This trend is best executed by a trained nail artist. Just show them your favourite iterations from this guide, and you’re good to go!
Featured Image: Instagram
