Summer Nail Designs in a Sunset Palette: Coral to Maroon

A sunset palette is an easy way into summer nail designs: soft peach, coral, apricot, amber and a deep maroon, used alone or blended into a gradient. Pick two or three neighboring shades, keep the shape simple, and the set looks planned rather than busy.

Below you will find how to choose shades for your skin tone, ideas for short nails, French tips and quieter looks, and a few notes on keeping nails healthy when the season ends.

Section 01

Which sunset shades work for summer nails?

Think of the palette as a gradient from light to dark: peach, apricot, tangerine, coral, burnt orange, maroon. Shades next to each other blend easily, so a peach and coral pairing looks calm, while tangerine next to maroon looks dramatic.

I can't point to a single most popular summer nail color, and trend reports change every season. What I can say is that coral and orange tones are an easy place to start because they sit well against tanned and lighter skin alike.

Section 02

How do you choose a shade for your skin tone?

Hold a few swatches or painted nail tips next to your hand in daylight. Warm golden or olive skin usually looks good with amber, tangerine and bright coral. Cooler pink or blue undertones often prefer softer peach or a rosy coral, which sit gently beside the skin instead of fighting it.

Through the lens of evidence-based design, I'd check the finish as well as the color. A glossy coral reads brighter and more saturated than the same coral in a sheer or matte finish, because the surface changes how light reaches your eye.

Section 03

Summer nail designs for short nails

Short nails suit light, warm shades because they keep the nail bed looking long. Peach, apricot and a sheer coral are good picks. A vertical gradient, with the lighter shade at the base fading to coral at the tip, also draws the eye along the nail.

• Keep the shape rounded or a soft squoval.
• Use one accent nail with a small sunset gradient.
• Skip very dark maroon on every nail if you want length; use it on one or two.

Section 04

Simple and elegant summer looks

For summer nail designs that are simple, a single solid coral or apricot is hard to beat. Add a thin top coat and you are done. For elegant summer nails, try a milky peach base with a single fine line of gold or a maroon accent nail.

Sunset French tips

Summer nail designs with a French tip are an easy way to use the palette. Keep a sheer nude or peach base and paint the tip in coral, tangerine or maroon. A thin tip looks lighter on short nails, and a wider one is bolder on longer shapes.

Gradient and layered sets

A true sunset gradient needs a sponge and a little patience. Dab two or three neighboring shades onto the nail, then seal with a top coat. For more ideas, see ombre sunset nails, citrus summer palette nails and desert sunset design nails.

Section 05

Matching nails to your outfit

Balance is simple: bright nails with neutral clothes, or a bold outfit with quieter nails. A tangerine manicure looks good with white denim or cream linen. If you like building outfits around the palette, the summer layered color palette post shows how to mix the shades in clothing.

Section 06

Acrylics, gel and taking care of your nails

If you choose acrylics, know the trade-off. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the surface of your natural nails must be filed until they feel rough for acrylics to stick, which thins them and makes them weaker. The same page says artificial nails need touch-ups every 2 to 3 weeks as your nails grow.

Removal matters too. The AAD says acetone is the most effective way to remove gel polish at home, according to board-certified dermatologist Shari Lipner. For dip powder, Dr. Lipner advises: "After removing the color, wait one month before getting another one of these manicures."

If your nails feel weak or painful after removal, check with a dermatologist or nail professional.

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