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Animal Nails

Animal nails sound exactly like nail art designed with animals or animal prints in mind. These designs can include everything from cute little bunnies to bohemian elephants, so there's something for everyone. Overall, animal nail designs are a fun and creative way to show off your love for animals and add a unique touch to your nail art.
Animal nail designs are flexible in terms of design and color. You can choose a specific animal or even mix up different animals to create unique art. Some popular designs that go well with animal nail art designs include paw prints, scales, stripes, and spots. Animal faces or silhouettes can also be incorporated into the design for a more dramatic effect. You can pair the artwork with glitter or rhinestones for a glam effect or combine it with floral or tribal designs for a more eclectic look. General motifs include paw prints, fangs (like an alligator), claws (like a cat or tiger), feathers, horns/antlers (like a deer), and scales (like dragons). A good color combination for animal nails is one where the base color is similar to the animal's natural habitat—for example, yellowish green for frogs or brownish green for turtles. You can also add splashes of contrasting colors. Metallic colors, such as gold or silver, can also add a stylish touch to animal nail designs.
If you've never tried an animal nail design, now's the perfect time! Whether looking for something cute, cuddly, or edgy and fierce, animal nails can help you get there. We'll share some of the best animal nail designs so you can get inspired!

The Best Animal Nail Art Ideas

The Most Popular Animals for Nail Designs

Panda Nails
Bear Paw Nails
Tortoise Shell Nails
Butterfly Wing Nails
Ladybug Nails
Fish Scale Nails
Dragonfly Nails
Eagle Claw Nails
Bee Nails
Spiderweb Nails
Cat Nail Designs

Bat Nails
Owl Nails
Peacock Feather Nails
Flamingo Nail
 Octopus Nails
Jellyfish Nails
Dolphin Nails
Seahorse Nails
Crab Nails
Lobster Nails
Dog Nail Designs

Animal-Inspired Toe Nail Designs

Qashqai Nails | Persian | Tribal - NB242
Qashqai Nails | Persian | Tribal - NB242

Tropical Parrots Minimal Toenail Design |Tropical-NB-D-451
Tropical Parrots Minimal Toenail Design |Tropical-NB-D-451

Tropical Parrots Matte Pedicure Nail Design |Tropical-NB-D-444
Tropical Parrots Matte Pedicure Nail Design |Tropical-NB-D-444

Easter Bunny Pedicure Design | Easter Nails - NB3786
Easter Bunny Pedicure Design | Easter Nails - NB3786

Easter Pedicure Nail Design with a Bunny | Easter Nails - NB3782
Easter Pedicure Nail Design with a Bunny | Easter Nails - NB3782

What Nail Designs Go Well With Animal Patterns?

How to Choose the Best Colors for Animal Nails

When it comes to animal nail design, the best are those that complement the animal's natural coloring while also accentuating its unique features. First things first: what kind of animal are you going for? Do you want something that looks like a tiger? A lion? A dog? A cat? For example, if you want to paint a lion or an elephant on your nails, you may want to use shades of orange because they are both animals that live in warm climates. If you want to paint a dog or cat, you could use bright colors like green or blue because these animals have short hair, and it will make their coat look even shinier than it already is. It's also important to consider your animal's color naturally before choosing one for them.

Animal Nail Designs for Long Nails

Matte Zig Zag Nails with Reindeer | Christmas Nails - NB1378
Matte Zig Zag Nails with Reindeer | Christmas Nails - NB1378

Pumpkin Nails | Halloween - NB648
Pumpkin Nails | Halloween - NB648

Peach Fuzz Shimmer Nails with Butterflies | Color of the Year 2024 - NB1829
Peach Fuzz Shimmer Nails with Butterflies | Color of the Year 2024 - NB1829

Peach Fuzz Butterfly Nail Design | Color of the Year 2024 - NB1782
Peach Fuzz Butterfly Nail Design | Color of the Year 2024 - NB1782

Glitter Ombre Nails with Easter Peeps Design | Easter Nails - NB3512
Glitter Ombre Nails with Easter Peeps Design | Easter Nails - NB3512

101 Dalmatians and Paw Pattern Nails
101 Dalmatians and Paw Pattern Nails

Nna_naomynailart_official

Decorated Christmas Tree and Silhouette Reindeer Nails | Christmas Nails - NB1372
Decorated Christmas Tree and Silhouette Reindeer Nails | Christmas Nails - NB1372

Tips for Animal Nail Designs

Use thin nail art brushes to create intricate details and textures, such as the spots on a leopard pattern or the scales on a snakeskin pattern.

Don't overdo it with animal patterns. Instead, incorporate them into your overall style in a subtle and tasteful way.

Choose colors that complement each other and the animal pattern you are trying to create.

Start with simple designs and gradually move on to more complex ones as you gain experience.

Use reference images to ensure accuracy and attention to detail.

Use glitter or rhinestone embellishments to add dimension and sparkle to your animal nail design.

Animal Nail Designs for Short Nails

Retro Stripes with Animals
Retro Stripes with Animals

Daimondhand

Ojibwe Animals-inspired Nails | Tribal - NB840
Ojibwe Animals-inspired Nails | Tribal - NB840

Forest Animals Nestled Among Leaves | Love the Forest Nails - NB2789
Forest Animals Nestled Among Leaves | Love the Forest Nails - NB2789

Bright Nails Winnie the Pooh Design | Cartoon Nails - NB2883
Bright Nails Winnie the Pooh Design | Cartoon Nails - NB2883

Animals-inspired Ojibwe Nails | Tribal - NB845
Animals-inspired Ojibwe Nails | Tribal - NB845

Tropical Parrots Matte Pedicure Nail Design |Tropical-NB-D-444
Tropical Parrots Matte Pedicure Nail Design |Tropical-NB-D-444

Butterflies Silhouette Design with Rhinestones
Butterflies Silhouette Design with Rhinestones

Mari_mari_nailart

Pop Art Bulldogs of Andy Warhol
Pop Art Bulldogs of Andy Warhol

Daimondhand

Nail Design and Art / Animal Nails
Nails with Penguin Chicks Playing on Ice | Polar Wonders Nails - NB3157
Nails with Penguin Chicks Playing on Ice | Polar Wonders Nails - NB3157

Blue Life Underwater Nails | Save the Ocean Nails - NB2818
Blue Life Underwater Nails | Save the Ocean Nails - NB2818

Haida Gwaii Salmon Motif Nail Design | Canadian | Tribal - NB1849
Haida Gwaii Salmon Motif Nail Design | Canadian | Tribal - NB1849

Easter Polka Dot Nails with Lamb Accents | Easter Nails - NB3507
Easter Polka Dot Nails with Lamb Accents | Easter Nails - NB3507

Blue Easter Nails with Cute Lambs | Easter Nails - NB3499
Blue Easter Nails with Cute Lambs | Easter Nails - NB3499

3D Bunny on Blue Easter Nails | Easter Nails - NB3583
3D Bunny on Blue Easter Nails | Easter Nails - NB3583

Ocean Conservation French Nails | Save the Ocean Nails - NB2822
Ocean Conservation French Nails | Save the Ocean Nails - NB2822

Abstract Salmon-inspired Haida Gwaii Nails | Canadian | Tribal - NB1848
Abstract Salmon-inspired Haida Gwaii Nails | Canadian | Tribal - NB1848

Pastel Blue Nails for Easter | Easter Nails - NB3584
Pastel Blue Nails for Easter | Easter Nails - NB3584

Blue Easter Lamb Nails with Flowers | Easter Nails - NB3506
Blue Easter Lamb Nails with Flowers | Easter Nails - NB3506

Spongebob | Cartoon Nails - NB54
Spongebob | Cartoon Nails - NB54

Plastic Waste Danger for Marine Life | Nail Art | Save the Ocean Nails - NB3100
Plastic Waste Danger for Marine Life | Nail Art | Save the Ocean Nails - NB3100

Spongebob | Cartoon Nails - NB40
Spongebob | Cartoon Nails - NB40

Blue Cow Print Nails Design | Animal Print Nails - NB4381
Blue Cow Print Nails Design | Animal Print Nails - NB4381

Ombre French Nails with Marine Animals | Save the Ocean Nails - NB2760
Ombre French Nails with Marine Animals | Save the Ocean Nails - NB2760

Ombre French Nails with Dolphins | Save the Ocean Nails - NB2819
Ombre French Nails with Dolphins | Save the Ocean Nails - NB2819

Blue Nails with Cow Design | Animal Print Nails - NB4376
Blue Nails with Cow Design | Animal Print Nails - NB4376

Blue Nails with Egg Design Accents | Easter Nails - NB3586
Blue Nails with Egg Design Accents | Easter Nails - NB3586

Cute Bunny on Easter Blue Nails | Easter Nails - NB3585
Cute Bunny on Easter Blue Nails | Easter Nails - NB3585

Tropical Parrots on White Nails with Tulip Nail Art|Tropical-NB-D-504
Tropical Parrots on White Nails with Tulip Nail Art|Tropical-NB-D-504

French Aurora Nails with Snowshoe Hare | Polar Wonders Nails - NB3121
French Aurora Nails with Snowshoe Hare | Polar Wonders Nails - NB3121

Reindeer in a Snowy Day Nail Design | Christmas Nails - NB1390
Reindeer in a Snowy Day Nail Design | Christmas Nails - NB1390

Nature in Blue with Confetti
Nature in Blue with Confetti

Beauty_nail_kostroma

Silver Teddy Nails
Silver Teddy Nails

Nails_by_evelyn9

Alice in Wonderland-themed Nails
Alice in Wonderland-themed Nails

Nna_naomynailart_official

Red and Pink Nails with Leopard Spots | Animal Print Nails - NB2569
Red and Pink Nails with Leopard Spots | Animal Print Nails - NB2569

Winter Bling Nails
Winter Bling Nails

Project_paznokcie

Butterfly Season Matte Nails
Butterfly Season Matte Nails

Hnnailsbyhoney

Pastel Pink and Deer
Pastel Pink and Deer

Fasia.nails

Cheetah Twist Nail Art
Cheetah Twist Nail Art

Hnnailsbyhoney

Halloween Black Cat and Witch Hat on Nails | Halloween Black Cat Nails - NB5784
Halloween Black Cat and Witch Hat on Nails | Halloween Black Cat Nails - NB5784

Black Cat Nails | Halloween - NB654
Black Cat Nails | Halloween - NB654

Half Butterflies on Black Nails
Half Butterflies on Black Nails

Merkyri.nails

Tropical Parrots with Nature-inspired Details Nail Design|Tropical-NB-D-503
Tropical Parrots with Nature-inspired Details Nail Design|Tropical-NB-D-503

Black Matte Tropical Parrots Nail Design|Tropical-NB-D-497
Black Matte Tropical Parrots Nail Design|Tropical-NB-D-497

White Easter Bunny on Black Nails | Easter Nails - NB3571
White Easter Bunny on Black Nails | Easter Nails - NB3571

Easter Black Nails with Silver Accents | Easter Nails - NB3575
Easter Black Nails with Silver Accents | Easter Nails - NB3575

Halloween Powerpuff Girls
Halloween Powerpuff Girls

Project_paznokcie

Donald Duck Glitter Nails
Donald Duck Glitter Nails

Nna_naomynailart_official

Black Nails with Rose Gold Jaguar
Black Nails with Rose Gold Jaguar

Korelviktoria

FAQs:

Animal nail designs can be suitable for all ages if they are age-appropriate and done safely and hygienically. Some animal nail designs, such as a cartoon or cute animal designs, can be suitable for children and young adults, while more sophisticated designs featuring animal prints or patterns can be appropriate for older adults.
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