These Smiley Face Nail Art Looks Are Giving Us Something to Grin About

May 13, 2021

By: Caitlyn Martyn | Makeup.com by L'Oréal

Between holographic nails to ’70s-inspired looks, there’s no shortage of creative ways to spice up your mani. If you’re in pursuit of good vibes, we can’t think of a better option than adding smiley faces to the tips of your fingers. Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of the cutest smiley face nail art designs on Instagram to serve as inspiration, whether you take it to the salon or attempt to DIY.

Simplistic and Smiley

If you like to keep things minimalistic or are just dipping your toes into the world of nail art, this simple smiley nail look is the one for you. For a glossy, clear base like @cheercharlie’s, coat your nails with the Essie Expressie Quick Dry Nail Polish in Always Transparent.

Gleaming and Grinning

To say we’re obsessed with this opulent nail look by @nuka.nails is an understatement. Between the technicolor smiley details and the iridescent finish, it would be hard not to crack a smile each time you catch a glimpse of your hands.

Ombre Acrylics

Warning: it would be nearly impossible to stop yourself from staring at these ombre nails all day long. Make like @springwithfriends and lay your smileys down on pastel acrylics for a look that radiates good vibes.

Up the Ante

Amp up your go-to nail polish color by adding a cheery detail to every other nail. Start with Essie’s Fiji, a creamy light pink, before adding on bright yellow smiley faces, which we guarantee will take the look up a notch.

Moody Mani

Let’s be honest, who’s really happy all the time? Add a little bit of *spice* to your smiley mani by including frowning faces — which are equally as adorable, we promise. To get the multi-colored look, we recommend using four to five bright nail polish colors (Essie’s 2021 Summer Collection has plenty of good options to choose from), to create dots on each nail. Once dry, create faces by using a small nail art brush to draw both happy and sad expressions.

Photo: Charlotte of @cheerscharlie