23 Gel Nail Ideas for Summer, From Neon Blooms To Dazzling Auras (2025)

Table of Contents

Gemstone Blooming Gel Nails Rainbow Blooming Gel Nails Colorblock Skittle Floral Nails Red Hot Summer Mismatched Nails Cutie Chrome Fisherman Nails Cobalt and Neon Yellow Mani Color Swatch Nude Nails Sheer Polka Dot Nails Cobalt Cutout Nails Colorblock Daisy Nails Skittle Aura Nails Deconstructed Orchid Nails Cobalt and Orchid Evil Eye Nails Bedazzled Hot Pink Floral Nails Vibrant Mismatched Mani Jelly Gemstone Aura Nails Neon Blooming Gel French Tips Wild Orchid Swirl Nails Skittle Blooming French Tips Gold-Accented Neon French Tips Vibrant Checkerboard Nails Rainbow Aura French Matte Rainbow Gradient Nails

23 Gel Nail Ideas for Summer, From Neon Blooms To Dazzling Auras (1)

Forget about the holidays: Summer is the most wonderful time of year. And at long last, the sunniest season is unofficially here. This summer, we want to focus our attention on all things joyous and fun, from music festivals and beach getaways to camping trips and endless time spent outdoors. To do so, we must tailor other areas of our lives so that they won't interfere. While most of us can't exactly call out of work every day for the next three months (le sigh), there are small things we can do to ensure that summer 2025 is low-stress. A simple place to start? Your nails.

Given how hands-on summer tends to be, you'll want a manicure built to endure it all. That's where long-lasting gel nails come into play. We rounded up nearly two dozen gel nail ideas for summer 2025. Take your pick, below.

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Gemstone Blooming Gel Nails

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Up first, we have a double-whammy gel nail look for summer 2025. The head-turning mani combines clear gel extensions with a rainbow blooming gel design for a bold, ethereal effect we can't take our eyes off of.

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Rainbow Blooming Gel Nails

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Love a blooming gel design, but want to stick to your own nails? Here's proof that it looks just as gorg on shorter manicures and in opaque applications.

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Colorblock Skittle Floral Nails

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These bright floral nails are happiness in a manicure. You can DIY the vivid Skittle design with a dotting tool and nail art brush.

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Red Hot Summer Mismatched Nails

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Perfect for Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, red, white, and blue manicures are a summer mainstay. This mismatched design is especially suited to gel: Why sit patiently through its intricate creation if it's not going to last for at least a couple of weeks?

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Cutie Chrome Fisherman Nails

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ICYMI: Fisherman fashion and fisherman nails are trending for summer 2025. We love this cutie chrome take on the aesthetic.

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Cobalt and Neon Yellow Mani

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You can never go wrong with neon nail polish for summer. We love the high-contrast effect of this cobalt and neon yellow pairing. You can DIY the look with a nail art brush, dotting tool, and blooming gel. (Or book a nail sesh so a pro can do it for you.)

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Color Swatch Nude Nails

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Gel nude nails can work for summer, too. Here, you can see how a few simple swipes of color can drastically elevate the minimal look.

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Sheer Polka Dot Nails

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Polka dots are making a major comeback in the fashion world, so we imagine it's only a matter of time before spotted manicures become a must in the beauty universe. For an extra-chic design, layer a trendy milky white mani with large glossy black dots.

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Cobalt Cutout Nails

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There's nothing wrong with wearing a single nail color for your summer gel mani. To add a little extra intrigue, consider applying it in a negative space design. This cutout chevron cuticle sitch is easy to DIY with a slim nail art brush.

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Colorblock Daisy Nails

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Speaking of milky manis, feast your eyes on this fun colorblock daisy nail idea. Start with a sheer white or baby pink base, then use a nail art brush to paint a solid square in a different color on each nail. Next, grab a dotting tool to apply two-tone daisies on top (or make it easy on yourself with nail art stickers). Finish with a top coat.

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Skittle Aura Nails

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We love the airbrushed effect of this neon-on-white aura mani. To recreate it, start with a white base, then use a makeup sponge to dab a different neon polish in the center of each nail.

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Deconstructed Orchid Nails

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For a bolder, more intricate nail look, check out this deconstructed orchid design. Nail artist Olivia Sabellico is responsible for the rich dewdrop work of art.

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Cobalt and Orchid Evil Eye Nails

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Speaking of rich colors and orchid accents, this cobalt and wild orchid evil eye mani is a gorgeous option for summer 2025. We love the little hand-painted white sparkly accents.

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Bedazzled Hot Pink Floral Nails

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With sparkles top of mind, allow us to turn your attention to this stunning bedazzled hot pink floral masterpiece. Start with a matte fuchsia gel manicure, then use nail glue to adhere your gems.

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Vibrant Mismatched Mani

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Can't decide on a single color or aesthetic for your summer gel mani? We're suckers for vibrant mismatched designs. The possibilities are endless.

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Jelly Gemstone Aura Nails

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You can also incorporate many colors into an aura nail look. Here, hot pink, bubblegum pink, lime green, baby blue, lilac, hot coral, and limoncello run the show. The colorful gems make it that much better.

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Neon Blooming Gel French Tips

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Another neon creation for your consideration. Pink and green will always go together, no matter the shades or season.

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Wild Orchid Swirl Nails

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If you haven't noticed, wild orchid has become one of the most popular nail colors of the moment. Whether you wear a single shade or two layered together, you're bound to earn compliments on your nails.

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Skittle Blooming French Tips

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The beauty of blooming gel nail polish is that it can create the perfect croc-like effect. Head to the salon with this picture in hand, and your manicurist will prove it.

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Gold-Accented Neon French Tips

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A neon French manicure? Yes, please! The gold and iridescent accents certainly jazz things up, but the bright colors alone make for a stunning summer gel nail look.

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Vibrant Checkerboard Nails

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Color-blocked checkerboard nails offer a fun way to incorporate multiple colors. That said, they're pretty tedious to DIY, so you might want to book a nail appointment for the best recreation.

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Rainbow Aura French

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Aura nails with a crisp French tip? A combo we never knew we needed.

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Matte Rainbow Gradient Nails

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As much as we love a glossy finish, matte gel nails are a thing too—and this vivid rainbow gradient design inspires us to give them a go.