25 4th of July Nail Ideas That Are Actually Chic

Close up of red, white, blue, orange, and purple swirl nails with accent French tips. — ï»¿@disseynails / Instagram

Summertime is in full swing, which means one thing: the Fourth of July is right around the corner. And while we're excited for beach vacations, dips in the pool, and BBQs, those of us who love a festive nail moment are looking forward to deciding what manicure we'll be wearing when watching the fireworks go off most. So, in celebration of America's Independence Day, we've scoured social media for the best patriotic nail designs that run the full gamut of red, white, and blue shades and stars and stripes styles. Whether you fancy mismatched French tips, abstract art, or lots of polka dots, you'll find an option worthy of screenshotting below.

Keep scrolling for our 25 favorite nail designs for the Fourth of July.

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Gold Star Appliques

Light pink manicure with gold stars — @oliveandjune / Instagram

Shine bright with these pink nails featuring gold star stickers, which feel celebratory long after the fireworks end.

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Classic Red French

Close up of a short v-shaped French manciure. — @nailtherapy.co / Instagram

You can never go wrong with a bold red French manicure (especially one that's done in a sweet "V" shape).

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Contrasting French

Negative space manicure with bright red and pastel blue split tips — @amyle.nails / Instagram

This look is so easy to DIY before your festive BBQ. Simply paint blue on one side and top it off with red on the other. Extend the end of one color a touch longer than the other and finish with a topcoat.

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Blue Gingham and Cherries

blue gingham and pink nails with cherries — @lolo.nailedit / Instagram

When paired with a baby blue gingham print, these cherry nails get a very American picnic-like update. So adorable.

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Stars, Stripes, and Snacks

Close up of mismatched nails with red, white, and blue gingham, star, and stripe patterns. — @nailsby.hails / Instagram

Summertime's favorite fruit gets a spot among the classic stars and stripes with this perfectly kitschy-cute manicure.

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Red and Blue French

Double-layered French manicure with red and pale blue tips — @aliciatnails / Instagram

Double up your French design with red and baby blue for a minimalist mani that pairs especially well with all-white outfits.

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Patriotic Patchwork

Close up of long nude nails white red and blue checkered print design. — @nailsby.hails / Instagram

Like the pattern of a patriotic quilt, this design reimagines the classic checkerboard print for the 4th of July.

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Subtle Stripes

This groovy swirl nail design sneakily incorporates orange and purple for a look that doesn't read too patriotic once the fireworks are over.

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Red, White, and Blue Tie-Dye

How pretty are these patriotic water-marble nails? Learn how to create your own with our water-marble tutorial.

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Mismatched Mani

Close up of mismatched fourth of July French manicure, with gingham, cherry, and daisy print. — @nailsby.hails / Instagram

Ride the mismatched manicure trend all through July with this adorable set of French nails. Try a different look on each nail, or if you fall in love with one design in particular, paint it on all five fingers.

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All-Over White

almond shaped nails with white polish — @lolo.nailedit / Instagram

If you want to keep it simple, go for an all-white look—it fits right in with whatever you're wearing and is a classic look all summer long.

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Minimalist Moment

Negative space manicure with red base and pale blue faux stiletto tip — @amyytran / Instagram

Rocking patriotic nails doesn't have to be extravagant or overly kitschy. These negative space standouts are all the proof we need.

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Stripes and Space

Negative space manicure with bright red and pastel blue diagonal stripes — @amyytran / Instagram

You can rock a patriotic manicure without dousing your nails in white. Simply opt for a negative space French design like this striped option.

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Glittery Fade

Square-shaped nails with red and blue gradient and glittery overlay — @melanated.mani / Instagram

Remember what we said about glitter making everything more festive? For a real fireworks spectacle, throw a glitter overlay over the aforementioned red-and-blue ombré manicure.

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Turquoise Trade

Minty turquoise, red, and white nails with star and stripe accents — @nailedbymal / Instagram

This turquoise swap proves that you can flaunt a patriotic nail look without royal blue. If you don't believe us, take a peek at it.

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Starry-Eyed French

Almond shaped nails with classic French manicure and gold star decals — @overglowedit / Instagram

Stars automatically have a patriotic feel, so you can pick whatever color you want for your Fourth of July manicure. This classic French base is oh-so chic.

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Red and White Triple Tips

Almond shaped nails with neutral pink base and red and white openwork french tips — @nails_and_soul / Instagram

If you prefer a festive Fourth of July nail look that's just as stylish after the celebrations are over, look no further than this gorgeous triple French manicure.

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Negative Space French

Negative space manicure with navy top half and red center stripe — @paintboxnails / Instagram

Navy tips lined by negative space and thin red lines make for a modern French design we can't take our eyes off. Bonus: They'll last you a long time, and thanks to the forgiving clear at the base, no one will be the wiser during the grow-out phase.

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Patriotic Aura

Long almond-shaped nails with red and blue aura mani — @afreshset / Instagram

Show off your true colors with a patriotic twist on the aura manicure trend. We're obsessed with the way the red fades into the blue, creating a delicious plum shade.

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White and Blue Daisies

white with blue flowers — @phoebesummernails / Instagram

Florals, but make it for the Fourth. If you want to inject even more festive energy into your mani, swap the white middle dots of the daisies for a bright red shade.

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Polka Dot Print

short red polka dot manicure — @YO_KESHH / INSTAGRAM

Nothing screams classic Americana quite like an itty-bitty red and white polka dot print. This design is great for short nails, as you can modify the dot size to fit any length or shape.

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