15 Polka Dot Nail Designs to Try, from Classic French Tips to Cool Patterns

Closeup of a hand with ovalshaped nails featuring a glossy finish and dotted pattern design
Another take on a black-and-white French, this look features. Credit:

@gossipandgloss

  • Polka dots can be used to create striking nail art.
  • Red Christmas Nails to Put a Timeless Twist on Your Holiday Mani.

Polka dots reemerged on the runways last fall—and the trend has only gotten stronger over the past year. The playful print is on everything from dresses and blouses to Polka dots are a.

Polka dots are proving to be particularly striking on the nails, offering designs that feel both impactful and understated. While they can easily be transformed into bold, dynamic manicures, they also lend themselves well to simpler looks—think uniform patterns and a simple two-color palette.

Use polka dots all over for a clean look, add them to a French tip for something more classic, or mix them into a more involved design for an added punch of pattern. Explore these options and more below.

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Polka Dot French

Close up of fingers with a polka dot French manicure featuring peal accents

pressed.byp

Chic and eye-catching, this set employs an off-white French tip with black polka dots. A pearl decal adds even more interest.

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Yayoi Kusama

Close up of hands with a colorful mixed manicure in front of colorful clothes

thehangedit

What better way to play with polka dots than to honor the polka dot queen herself? This set, inspired by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, features abstract blobs adorned with colorful dots and outlined in 3D chrome.

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Dissimilar Dots

Hand with fingernails painted with a black and white polka dot design wearing a gold ring

@brushedbyb_

A deep espresso jelly polish serves as a neutral base for this design. While white is used to create all of the polka dots, each nail has its own distinct pattern.

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Dots & Stripes

Close up of fingers with a blue and burgundy manicure over jeans

klawsbysonia

Awards & Events.

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Precision

Hand showcasing neatly manicured fingernails with a red polka dot design over almondshaped tips

@disseynails

Red-wine French tips topped with white polka dots create a delightfully uniform design.

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Sheer Base

A hand with manicured nails featuring polka dot designs

@disseynails

Cream dots atop a sheer nude base supply a soft and stunning manicure reminiscent of pattered pantyhose.

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Alternating Tips

A hand with manicured nails featuring a design with a mix of black and white polka dots wearing gold rings and a brown leather sleeve

@disseynails

Another take on a black-and-white French, this look features Gel Nails to Inspire Your December Manicure, from Sparkly Tips to Festive Swirls How Danessa Myricks Built an Inclusive Beauty Empire.

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Baby Pink Chrome

Close up of fingers with a pale pink manicure with small white spots

gossipandgloss

Baby pink dots sit atop a sheer pink base for a beautiful tone-on-tone design. A dusting of chrome powder is the perfect cherry on top.

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Alternate Shorties

Two hands with polka dot nail art displayed against a neutral background

@disseynails

Red Christmas Nails to Put a Timeless Twist on Your Holiday Mani How Danessa Myricks Built an Inclusive Beauty Empire, as they don’t take up too much space, especially when made small.

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On the Other Hand

Close up of hands with a red and white polka dot manicure

polishedbymckenna

Using two colors to create an inverse pattern is super on-trend. This look takes two classic shades—white and red—to create a playful design.

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Diminishing Descent

Close up of nails with a polka dot manicure of various colors

pinkbunnynailz

While this set includes a mix of colors and bases, the polka dots, which start large at the top of the nail and shrink as the pattern descends to the base, provide a constant.

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Aura Base

A hand with a manicure featuring polka dot nail art wearing a ring with a gemstone

@brushedbyb_

A purple-to-red aura serves as the base for this funky design. Playing with the shape of the base, the dots are larger around the nails red center and they shrink as they reach the edges.

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Mixed Tips

Close up of fingers with a mixed French manicure

pressed.byp

Polka dots are just one of the designs that comprise this mix-and-match French tip design. It also features gems and croc print in a mix of black, white, and green.

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Low Contrast

Hands with manicured nails featuring long tapering shapes wearing several rings

@disseynails

Stunning Lace Nail Ideas for a Romantically Vintage Manicure.

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Black & White

Close up of fingers with a black and white polka dot manicure

klawsbysonia

This set employs a pattern where large polka dots are mixed with small ones. It adds even more interest to this simple yet striking set.

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