Heading to the nail salon ahead of Independence Day? Consider some patriotic Fourth of July nails. Perfect for barbecues, cookouts, and beyond, these seasonal pairings will have you ready for the holiday in no time, plus, incorporating some of the best nail designs of 2025 will have you on trend and on theme. In the words of Jennifer Coolidge’s iconic character in Legally Blonde, these nails “look like the Fourth of July” and make us “want a hot dog real bad.”
You can go with the standard classics, like blatant American flag designs (think back to those classic Old Navy T-shirts), but you can also go for a more interpretive take: Your holiday nail art doesn’t have to be too literal. Plenty of nail artists are taking a nod from trends like mismatched nails and Popsicle polish with just enough of Americana to keep your mani timely.
Ahead, we’ve found the coolest Fourth of July nails to try: From new takes on stars and stripes to ombré designs and jelly nails, there’s an option for everyone. But it’s not all about the nail art designs—we also have plenty of summer polish colors to choose from that’ll make any nail minimalist happy (bonus: they’ll look just as good with a beer and sparkler in hand as they will back in office). Scroll on for all the 4th of July nail inspo, and get ready to show your nail tech these photos at your next appointment (or prepare for some DIY fun).