Micro Tips

An itty-bitty black accent can add a hint of edge to a classic mani. If you have square-shaped nails, highlight their angles with a few short onyx lines across the outer edge.

Latex Cutouts

A high-shine top coat gives black polish a latex-esque finish. This look is especially cool when paired with cut-out designs that reveal the naked nail underneath. Outline the abstract shapes with rhinestones to add a little glitz to the otherwise minimalist mani.

Black and Blue Aura

For a moodier take on aura nails, try a blue and black combo. Together, they create a look that feels utterly out of this world. Depending on how bright or dark of a center color you choose, you can tailor the contrast level throughout your manicure.

Black Butterfly Wings

This abstract butterfly look shows that the nature-inspired design doesn’t need color to be captivating. We love how the thick, curvy lines pop against the naked nail.

Graphite

Level up your solid black polish with a hint of sparkle. A shimmery, gray-toned top coat looks almost metallic when it catches the light. It’s an easy way to elevate a classic shade, and we love the way it looks on medium almond nails.

Starry Sky

An alternating black-and-nude manicure creates the perfect canvas for some starry sky art. We love how the glitter polish and the rhinestone accents make the stars feel like they’re actually shimmering.

Graphic Lines

A black and white pairing always pops—even with super simple designs. Take this manicure for example. The graphic, line-and-block nail art is minimalistic and chic at the same time.

Sparkly Black Stars

Brighten up a classic night sky mani by remixing the colors. Try a sheer, sparkly polish underneath black stars for an unexpected statement. The inky hue takes center stage against the pop of silver.

Elegant Black Negative Space

This high-shine, neutral pink and black mani uses negative space to elevate the entire look. It’s simple, chic, and about as “quiet luxury” as a black manicure can get.

Holy Glam

Extra-long (and extra shiny) black tips create an especially cool canvas for ornate nail decals. These sorts of 3D crosses and pearls were everywhere on this year’s Met Gala red carpet and are very much worth adding to your next set.

Glam Rock Stars

These glam-rock-meets-punk-rock stars strike the perfect balance of edge and sparkle. If ever you want to glitz up a black design, a single sparkle (or, in this case, a rhinestone) goes a long way.

Black Zodiac Nails

Use this Taurus-inspired look to guide your next astrological manicure. The clean lines, silver polish, and mystical shapes give it a celestial—yet simple—vibe.

3D Smoke

Sponge paint some white polish on top of an onyx polish to create this foggy effect. Decorate with 3D chrome line art, or leave them blank to lean a bit further into your witchy energy a la the aura mani trend.

Black and White Waves

We love the contrast that squiggle designs, like this one, create against the angles of square-shaped nails. For the slightly sheered-out effect seen here, stick to a single coat of white and black polish.

Sparkly Black Tips

Opting for a black polish with shimmer is an easy way to soften the shade’s effect. The silver glitter makes it look more like a dark gray than a true jet black. Try it on your tips for a striking and sophisticated French look.

Monochromatic Mix and Match Nails

Mix-and-match manicures—featuring different art on every nail—are just as cool without any color. This black, white, and gray version gives you ample ways to play and features multiple trendy designs, including chrome finishes and next-gen French tips.

Black Half Moons

Half-moon nail designs are versatile, making them easy to experiment with. Try mixing and matching the sizes and placements of the shape on each nail. We love the way they look on top of a sheer, shimmering silver shade.

Black Florals

Give a dainty daisy mani a bit of edge by swapping the standard pastel shades for a monochromatic black and white combo. Dab the simple dot designs (which are so easy to DIY with a toothpick or dotting tool) on top of a sheer, glittery base.

Black and Glitter