Grab a paintbrush & copy these stunning stripe nail designs

Warm summer weather brings out the playful side in all of us. That certainly applies to manicures as well because stripes, waves, rainbows and '60s throwback-inspired looks are everywhere lately.
These styles use everything from pastels to chrome powder to glitter. The one thing they don't do is follow a set design. Strike out on your own and follow your muse. If painting straight lines gives you trouble, create wavy ones instead. There's no right or wrong here — only creative inspiration at its finest.
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Quick vertical stripes
Want to make your nails look longer? Vertical stripes trick the eye, so even short nails look lengthy when painted properly. This manicure is perfect for beginners because you paint a series of pastel, royal and glittery lines to form a one-of-a-kind manicure. Get the tutorial here.
Pastel rainbow stripes
When the weather or your mood is gloomy, a rainbow can always make things a little better. Multicolored rainbows usually feature bright colors, but this pastel rainbow has a softness to it that seems both calming and inspiring. Get the tutorial here.
Wavy blue stripes
Let's face it: Living the straight and narrow life can get a little dull. Have you ever driven a mountain road just to enjoy the curves and turns? If so, this is the manicure for you. Gather a variety of blue polishes and start at the center. The first wavy line sets the tone for the rest of the design, which has a "go your own way" vibe. Get the tutorial here.
Peppermint stripes
The winter holidays may be days or months away, but that doesn't mean you can't sport a manicure inspired by those tempting sugary treats. Build your own candy stripes by combining red and white polish along with a sprinkle of iridescent glitter for the finishing touch. Get the tutorial here.
Pink chrome ombré
If you're feeling that '80s vibe and want to upgrade your basic ombré manicure, grab a bottle of hot pink gel polish and some chrome powder. Apply the powder just to the tip to achieve a slightly darkened effect. The thin turquoise vertical line creates the illusion of length, and you'll see that it even appears to change color near the tip. Get the tutorial here.
Vibrant 1960s stripes
Feeling groovy? This psychedelic manicure has all the feel-good vibes you need to get you through a busy workweek. The beauty of this manicure is that every nail will be a little different. Just paint a series of wide wavy stripes, outline them with black gel and your nails will be outta sight. Get the tutorial here.
Drippy colorful stripes
If you're having a hard time picking one or two shades for your next manicure, throw caution to the wind and create a sequence of colorful stripes. The finished result looks complicated, but when you watch the video, you'll learn to add one color at a time until you have a vibrant, retro style like none other. Get the tutorial here.
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