In our opinion, nail trends are the most fun beauty trends. They’re inescapable, ever-changing, and very fun to scroll through on Instagram. This year’s trends have consisted of negative space nail art, indie nails, coffee nails, and many others. But the most recent nail trend catching our eyes is cow print nails.
You’ve definitely seen cow print becoming popular in fashion, nearly every influencer owns the Lisa Says Gah cow print pants or several cow print bags from Baggu. And while cow print nails seem like they wouldn’t leave much room for variation believe us, they do!
Cow print nail art is one the most universal manicure elements (you’ll see what we mean). You can wear cow print on your nails without it actually looking like cow print. It’s both easy to DIY (check out this tutorial) or “cheat it” with nail stickers. If you’d like your next mani to be a cow print nail manicure, read on for the nail ideas to show your nail tech!
1. Indie Nails Ft. Cow Print
You know the viral indie nail trend, maximalist nails that make every single nail feel like a party. A sneaky way to test your love for cow print nail designs is to add it into this next multi-manicure. Try a classic black and white cow print or a fun color like baby blue, pastel pink, or green. There’s always decals too, we like these from Ciate to mimic a cow print manicure.
2. Cow Print Floral Mix
Another design that’s perfect if you want to dabble in cow print versus fully commit. Use the cow print on three accent nails and pull together with one floral and a solid.
3. Neon Cow Print
If you’re feeling a little wild, why not try neon colors? And if you find them a bit too bright you could try this trend in matte nail polish instead, that would tone down the neon a bit. Try this exact color-way, different shades of one color, or even a neon rainbow.
4. Cow Print Stripes
We love this design that reminds us of the 90s. It uses negative space and a bold color on fierce coffin nails to tie everything together. We love the orange but truthfully you can use any color you’d like depending on your mood and season.
5. Brown Cow Print
Cow print nails but make it fall inspired! If you love a more neutral nail, mark our words this will be taking over Instagram this fall. It uses the trendy cow print manicure blueprint but opts for a brown versus a heavy black. We might try this ourselves... with burgundy!
6. Clear Cow Print
If you love gel polish vs natural nail manicures, choose a design with a clear top coat. You’ll get more out of the design as your nails grow out and they look sleek. Here’s another look at how Betina Goldstein tackles clear cow print nails.
7. Cow Print Mini French
French tip nails are no longer made with boring white nail polish. It’s all about bold colors or even sparkly nail polishes. Try your hand at french manicure featuring cow print. It’s intricate and best to ask your nail artist for something like this for even lines. If you have short nails, you might even want acrylic nails for this for some length.
8. Bandana Cow Print
Really lean into the western theme by adding bandana print into your manicure! This look uses both brown and black cow print, plus bandana print, and rhinestones of course.
9. Multi-Brown Cow Print
Cows come in all different shades and colors so why not your cow print inspired manicure? Choose an array of browns and milky whites to get started. Then, decorate each nail with a different color-way. Perhaps these are a new take on coffee nails!
10. Pink Cow Print
Do you love having pink nails? Try out the cow print trend in a monochromatic look. Style every nail with cow print or mix and match like this example did with designs like flowers, lightning bolts, and sparkles.
11. Baby Blue Bells
Blue Bell Cows are a thing right? We’re pretty sure. We love these OG cow black and white cow print nails coupled with baby blue accepts. It’s trendy yet well put together.
12. Cow Print x Tortoise Shell
Another take on the indie nail trend, this one to us looks like a charm bracelet translated to a mani. We love the cow print and tortoise shell (We’ve seen a phone case with this look perhaps) plus, the cherry is the cutest touch!
13. Animal Print Nail Mix
What if you used cow print and leopard print? Or maybe zebra print too? Perhaps we rename these nails safari nails. Try blending multiple prints and colors but keep this manicure in the neutral family—it will be easier to decipher the prints and keep it cohesive.
14. Moo La La
We’re calling this “Moo La La” as that was our reaction when we first came across it. By now, seasoned nail art aficionados know the talent behind nail artist Melanie (aka @overglowedit). She’s the genius behind this creamy, pastel cow print manicure. Start with a neutral cream colored base and decorate your nails with shades of blue, caramel, and deep greens.
Do you want to try even more beauty trends? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started with your very own IPSY Glam Bag. Already an Ipster? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and Twitter @IPSY.
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