Basketball fever is intense when March Madness is in full swing! Teams battle on the court while nail artists compete with basketball-inspired manicures. These fun sports designs reveal loyalties and show support for teams and players while scoring style points. The excitement doesn’t stop with college ball, either. NBA action is heating up, with the playoffs and the draft to keep basketball energy alive. Let’s look at slam-dunk art with basketball nails!
Basketball-Inspired Manicures
Happy It’s B-Ball Season!
This vibrant manicure blends smileys into the unmistakable lines and texture of a basketball. It’s a colorful spin that doesn’t choose sides. Instead, it’s a playful look for any fan of the game regardless of what team they cheer for.
LAVIS Gel Polish Matte Top - 0.5 oz (New)
Lavis LX4 Urban Lightning Collection
Classic Basketball Nails
Why are basketballs orange? Before the 1950s, they were brown because of the leather used to make them. But the head coach of Butler University instigated the change to orange so that players and spectators would see the balls more easily. Moreover, he asked for a dimpled texture with ribs to make the ball less slippery. And there you have it, the reason for basketball-inspired manicures with orange nails.
As you know, orange isn’t one of the most popular polish colors and sometimes it’s downright difficult to find. However, we have an impressive selection of orange shades from top nail brands. You’re sure to find the perfect match for any basketball nails design!
March Madness Nails
Did you know that March Madness wasn’t originally a college competition? It got its name from a high school basketball competition in 1939. Later on, the NCAA adopted the term for the single-elimination contest between sixty-eight colleges across the nation.
If someone starts talking to you about brackets and you’re not a college basketball fan, you might feel lost. In a nutshell, just under half of the teams (31) competing earn their places in the competition by winning a championship in their conference. Then, slightly more than half (37) depend on a special selection committee to pick them to compete.
This adds an extra element of excitement as underdog teams who have shown promise still have a chance to join in March Madness. Plus, it means sports fans can try their hand at guessing which teams will be selected to play and which will win.
Line Art Gel
Basketball Shoes
Every sporting goods store carries basketball shoes, and now you can paint them on your fingernails, too. What’s the big deal with this footwear? The very first basketball shoes created by Converse came out in 1917. But it wasn’t until 1934 that former basketball player Chuck Taylor’s name was added to them.
Most of us picture high top sneakers for basketball, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wore low top Adidas. They must’ve been some comfy shoes because he’s the second highest all-time scorer in the NBA.
Nike got into the game with green suede high tops in the 70s and graduated to Air Jordans in the 80s. The very first Air Jordan pairs were available in nine colors, but it was black and red that Michael Jordan wore with his Chicago Bulls uniform.
Duke Nails
This blue chrome basketball nails design perfectly suits the champion team.
It’s hard to imagine March Madness without Duke’s Blue Devils participating. Its basketball team has been scoring points since 1905 and has been NCAA champion five times so far. Out of forty-seven years total playing in the NCAA tournament, they’ve made it to the Final Four seventeen times.
Chrome Nail Powder
Knicks Nails
Everyone says that if you go to New York, you should see a Knicks game. Did you know that the original team name was Knickerbockers? The name came from the style of rolled up pants that the original Dutch settlers in New York used to wear.
Granted, the Knicks haven’t won many NBA championships, but they’ve made a lot of money and had a lot of fun over the years. They are currently ranked as number two on the Forbes list of most valuable teams.
Score Points with Stickers
You probably know that close-up shots earn one point while shots from outside the three-point line earn three points. If the player gets fouled, the point total increases. So, how does that translate into basketball nail art?
Not everyone has time, supplies, or the skills yet to accomplish all the designs they would like. That’s when nail decals and stickers come in handy. It’s never cheating to do b-ball nails with an assist like that.
The Nba’s First Game Was In…Canada?
Nowadays, basketball players come from all over the world and compete all over the world, too. In fact, the very first NBA game ever was played between the New York Knicks and the Toronto Huskies at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Canada. On November 1, 1946, the final score was Knicks 68, Huskies 66. We heard it was a pretty intense but friendly competition.
What’s more, you can catch pro basketball games in Germany, Portugal, China, Greece, Türkiye, Korea, Australia, Lithuania, Spain, and many more locations!
Swoosh: Nike Logo Nails
Just like Jerry West’s silhouette on the official NBA insignia, Nike’s swoosh symbol has come to symbolize sports excellence. This artist came up with a fun way to combine metallics on a springtime pastel palette with a flocked texture and the famous logo. This is a conversation piece if ever we saw one!
WNBA Love
The Women’s National Basketball Association is finally getting the love it deserves. After two decades of taking a backseat, attendance numbers have reached an all-time high.
The WNBA was founded in 1996 and currently has twelve teams. There are plans to add another team based in Canada in 2026.
The WNBA in-season tournament is called The Commissioner’s Cup, and it’s held in June when the sports calendar has fewer big events. Then, the Playoffs and Finals are held in September and October, respectively. At the moment, the Houston Comets, Seattle Storm, and the Minnesota Lynx are the most-winning teams.
For the Love of the Game
While fans are looking forward to the next game, nail artists are looking forward to the next design challenge. Which of these basketball-inspired manicures got your creative juices flowing?
Conclusion
Are you ready to play? Stock up on the supplies you need for basketball nails and springtime manicures in our store. Give us a call or contact us if you’d like to know more about the nail products we carry or how to benefit from our rewards program.
Sources: