From Leopard to Zebra: The Animal Print Nails Everyone's Trying
Roar into the peak of summer with spotty leopard and tiger-stripe motifs on your nails. The animal print manicure trend is one of the most expressive and playful looks to try right now, and it can easily be adapted to suit a maximalist style or be worn in a more understated way.
"One of the things I love most about animal print nails is that they don't have to be perfect," says Kent-based manicurist Shelley Graham. "Unlike other nail art, there's a lot of freedom with animal prints, and sometimes the more organic and slightly different each print is, the better it looks. No two sets are ever exactly the same, which makes every design feel unique."
Given the popularity of animal prints in fashion (one could argue that a leopard print is now a modern neutral), it's no surprise that we are embracing it on the nails, too. "The Wild West and cowgirl aesthetic is still everywhere, from festivals to everyday style, and people love matching their nails to those trends. Animal prints are also really versatile, they can be bold and statement-making or much more subtle depending on the colors you choose," adds Graham, whose intricate work is like miniature pieces of art on your nails.
If you're going down the minimalist route, work the animal print in as an accent. "Using soft neutral tones, a fine print or incorporating it into a French tip gives a subtle nod to the trend while still feeling timeless and wearable," Graham tells ELLE.
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