Finally, it’s ideal weather for cocktails al fresco. It’s so relaxing to sip a cool beverage outside in the summer. No wonder everyone’s vacation photos have drink selfies! The right nails can even add to that mood of all’s right with the world. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated. A fresh manicure can be flattering without any fuss. We found simple designs that are made for backyard BBQs, lazy beach days, picnic spreads, and poolside hangouts. Have a look.
Simple Nail Ideas To Pair With Al Fresco Summer Cocktails
It’s Always Happy Hour Somewhere
What’s your favorite cocktail? There are dozens of popular drinks to celebrate on your nails. You don’t even need to hand-paint the design like this artist did. Instead, apply a base coat, place stickers or decals, add a top coat, and enjoy. Then you’ll have a fun conversation piece to discuss over a mojito or martini.
Nail Stickers
Aperol Spritz Orange Nails
Before dinner, it’s time to cool off with an aperitif based on soda water, sparkling white wine, and Italian orange liqueur called Aperol. It’s a top-secret blend of orange, spices, and herbs that’s over a hundred years old. When you combine the Aperol with wine and soda water, you get the famous spritz drink that so many love.
Just as a tasty cocktail requires the correct ratio of syrup to base, your summer nails need a flattering shade under those cute drink stickers. We have sheer nail color collections like Lavis Bare With Me that ensure that everyone can find a base color that instantly beautifies their nails.
Lavis J03 - Bare With Me Collection
Piña Colada Striped Nails
There’s an even simpler idea than putting tiny cocktails on your fingertips. Instead, pick a color that coordinates with your favorite beverage and run with it. Create swirls, dots, or stripes to decorate your nails and show off your drink. For example, these white stripes go great with a piña colada or caipirinha. They would be lovely for a day at the beach, too.
Since a piña colada contains coconut cream, rum, and pineapple juice, you could paint pale yellow stripes. Or add green stripes for a caipirinha, which has Brazilian rum, sugar, and lime. The good news is that if you’ve already had a few sips and aren’t up to drawing straight lines, all you need are stencils or striping tape.
Nail Art Brush
Martini Nails
Last year, martinis inspired a nail art mini trend. As you may know, the drink consists of vodka or gin, vermouth, and an olive as garnish. If you add the liquid in which the olives are bottled, it becomes a dirty martini. But you don’t have to craft tiny 3D fruit for your nails when you can capture the essence of a dirty martini with polish and soft gel nails. This see-through design is guaranteed to get compliments.
Apres Soft Gel
Sangria Summer Nails
Sangria is a summer favorite on hot summer evenings in Spain. It’s based on red wine and brandy with sugar and fresh fruit. If you’ve ever seen it served in a glass pitcher, you’ll recognize how the slices of orange, lime, and strawberries make for a beautiful collage of color. This ombre set feels like a homage to the beverage.
If you shied away from gradient designs in the past, now’s your chance to master the technique. We have Pat Pat Gel Palettes with super pigmented colors so just a little goes a long way. Plus, we have sets of sponges with a grabber for the ultimate no-mess experience.
LAVIS 3 In 1 Pat Pat Gel - P06
Strawberry Daiquiri
What happens when you combine sugar, lime juice, and rum? You get a daiquiri. Throw in strawberries and it becomes an irresistible al fresco cocktail!
Builder gel creates a sturdy structured manicure like this so that short nails can grow out safely. Top it with a red jelly polish and embellish with leaves and seeds for an absolutely delicious finish. Now your fingertips look good enough to eat.
LAVIS Builder Gel in the Bottle Version 2 Collection
Mojito Nails
Out of all the cocktails to enjoy on a summer day, mojitos hold a special place. They are a seductive blend of mint, lime, sugar, and rum. Certainly, the mint is a big part of why they feel so refreshing. So why not cap your nails with mint green polish and get out there to enjoy the rest of the day!
Tequila Nails
You couldn’t have a margarita without tequila, and tequila wouldn’t exist if someone hadn’t tried making alcohol from the blue agave plant, a desert succulent from Mexico. Mexicans often prefer tequila served neat with no other ingredients, so why not honor the drink with a classic French manicure.
LAVIS Poly Gel
Limoncello Nails
Did you know that limoncello is the second most popular liqueur in Italy? It’s produced near Naples and Sicily as an after-dinner digestif that contains lemon zest and essential oil. If you combine it with sparkling white wine and club soda, you’ll have a limoncello spritz. It’s just that easy to do a summertime lemon manicure with a perky yellow gradient.
DND DV Gel Nail Polish Duo - 124 Canary Crush
Watermelon Margarita
Fruit nails are always a big hit for summer and watermelon designs are pretty easy. This one looks like blush or aura nails with the pink concentrated in the center. Swipe the green around the cuticle and add a few spots for seeds. Isn’t it amazing how a few simple details make all the difference?
Have you ever had a watermelon margarita? You’ll need tequila, lime juice, chopped watermelon, and salt for the rim of the glass. It’s just that simple, too.
Conclusion
A comedian named Ron White said, “I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka and have a party.” The same goes for nail art. Mix what you’ve got, make it fun, and enjoy it with people who know how to celebrate!
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Sources:
https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/modern-summer-cocktails
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/ron_white_393779