Baddie Nail Ideas You Can Try At Home

Erin Bailey's avatarBy Erin Bailey
Baddie Nail Ideas You Can Try At Home
Credit: via Pinterest

We're all about the baddie aesthetic, and the perfect baddie look wouldn't be complete without the perfect set of nails. Whether you're a coffin or almond girlie, and regardless of if you prefer long or short, we've collected all the greatest looks that are popular right now for you to try.


Y2K inspired

Nothing is more trendy than the Y2K aesthetic right now, and we've absolutely fallen in love with it. Leopard print, Juicy Couture, Louis Vuitton prints, glitter, rhinestones - it's any girl's dream. Adding some serious length and bling will help you bring a bit of a baddie edge to your look


Corset inspired

Corset nails are so beautiful, and they're a great way to balance the girly and the gothic look. What makes this style even better is that it's super easy to try at home - you don't need to go to the salon and get acrylics.

Instead, look online for some thin nail art brushes, or even some sticker decals. Top everything off with some tiny pearls or rhinestones, and you'll have the perfect baddie manicure to show off your elegant but tough side.


Short chains

If you want the baddie manicure look but you don't want acrylics, don't panic! It's totally possible to achieve even with the shortest of nails. We love this look that combines a real 3D chain wrapped around the nails, giving them dimension and shine, as well as some serious edge! It's another look that you can achieve at home, just make sure that the chain you use isn't too bulky, and that you're using a glue specifically made for nails.


Give nail piercings a try

Nail piercings are one of the coolest accessories out there, but they're not for everyone. They can take some looking after, and you really need to be gentle when using your hands. That being said, absolutely nothing can compare to this look in terms of the way that it blends sophisticated elegance with edginess.

Just a quick note - we don't recommend that you try and do this one by yourself. It can take some pretty specialized techniques and experience, so you should speak to your usual nail tech or look online to find someone in your area who can create them for you.


Cat eye polish

Cat eye polish is a pretty new product to the market, but wow, we really have been waiting for it our whole lives! The effect this polish gives is totally out of this world. It's almost holograph-like, shifting in color and texture depending on the lighting or the placement of your hands.

This look is made using a magnet, which shifts the pigment in your nail. It can take some practice to get right on your own, so we recommend trying it out from your nail tech first!

Cat eye polish
Credit: via Reddit

Take inspiration from your favorite artist

Who is the top artist on your Spotify? Is it Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Charli XCX, or someone totally indie that we won't have heard of? (Try us!). Why not let them influence your next manicure? Show your love for your favorite artist by having their album covers, favorite colors, or even faces painted on your nails! If your go-to nail tech isn't Van Gogh, then there's always decals!

For a subtler look, try picking just one or two colors that you associate with your artist and use those to build a totally unique and cool look.


Think pink

Who said baddies can't be girly? Pink is a color that stands out, so it's perfect if you want to show off your individuality. We love this combination of different prints and images all in different shades, with added bling for good measure! Speak to your nail tech about what sorts of designs you like - get as creative as you want with it!

If you're feeling the pink look but want something a little more understated, we think this pink tortoiseshell is a great option. It's more interesting than just the plain pink base, but it will do a great job at showing off your personality, and can be paired with any length or shape of nail.


Go matte

Choosing a matte top coat instead of a shiny one is a great way to make your manicure stand out from the crowd. The matte effect makes your color look so much deeper, so it's great if you lean towards colors like black, navy, or burgundy. When paired with long pointed nails, they give off an other-worldly, witch-esque vibe that really lets people know that you're not to be messed with!

For some extra dimension, why not blend the two by creating a French tip design with the shiny top coat on a matte base?


Flames

This look is on fire! Bring a bit of warmth to your manicure with this super edgy and fun look. There are so many ways to make it unique to you - it works on any length or shape, and you can pick whatever color you like for the design, whether it's the traditional red and orange, a gothic black, or a girly pink!

This is a great option if you want to get the baddie look without spending money at the salon. If you're just getting started with nail art, or even if you've never tried it before, it's an easy-to-learn design that looks great on everyone.


Keep it simple

Keep it simple
Credit: via Reddit

Being a baddie is not always about being out there and attention-grabbing - sometimes, it's important to know when to turn it down! That doesn't mean abandoning your style and personality completely, though. It can be possible to find the best of both worlds.

For example, we love this super simple French manicure with added gothic letter decals. Send a secret message by picking letters that mean something to you- whether they're your initials, or your significant other's.


Dark florals

Florals? For a manicure? How innovative.

Spice up this classic trend and bring a whole new baddie vibe to it by picking darker colors like black, grey, red, and purple for a goth-inspired look that is sure to wow. We love how this design incorporates 3D elements to really bring the flower designs to life, mixing them with other textures for a multi-dimensional manicure.


Go gothic

We know, we know, we've already said the word gothic about a thousand times in this article. But we won't apologize for that, it's for a good reason! The baddie aesthetic takes a lot of inspiration from classic goth styles, so it's a great idea to utilize them in your look. Try dark, muted colors, and go for motifs like crosses, skulls, and flowers to blend the aesthetics together.

There are so many different types of goth - from pastel, to soft, to romantic, and lots more - so if you do your research you're sure to find one that you want to take inspiration from!

Go gothic
Credit: via Pinterest

Try nail jewelry instead

Finally, if you really want to get the baddie aesthetic but your nails need a break from harsh gels and acrylics, we really love the look of nail jewelry. Made from thin metal and tiny stones, these pieces are worn on the fingers like rings, and give a stunning, elegant effect. We promise that whatever event you go to, nobody else will be wearing these. You'll be the talk of the party!