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Though I consider myself quite tapped into the ever-changing ether of beauty trends, I must admit that the one category I seem to have a particular knack for identifying early is nails. Whether it’s the growing movement of tiger-striped nail art or Vivienne Westwood–esque plaid, I pride myself on being slightly ahead of the curve when it comes to manicures, and the trend cresting over the horizon as we inch further into spring is what I’m dubbing mixed berry nails.
We, as a beauty collective, have come up with nauseatingly saccharine names for beauty trends in the past few years—lest we forget “glazed donut” and “strawberry milk” nails. However, we’ve also simultaneously reached burnout when it comes to buzzy names and sheer finishes, though I don’t think salons should be stowing their chrome powders anytime soon. Compared to milky nails, this trend is less about the barely-there whisper of an indulgent color and more about the satisfactory clash of hues that shouldn’t work together but really do.
What is the mixed berry color combo, and why is it trending?
To be honest, I’m still a bit ahead of the curve on this one. Celebrity nail artist Natalie Minerva recently told Who What Wear that she predicts turquoise and berry will be on the upswing for 2026 in general, and she couldn’t be a bigger fan. “It will add some serious life and color to nails,” she previously explained. (Her ideal shade of berry? OPI’s new Lincoln Park After Brunch, a moody plum infused with magenta shimmer.)
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But I’m not only watching the rise of red and blue in beauty. Our fashion editors watched in awe as cobalt-and-scarlet ensembles dominated the spring 2026 runways, calling this color combo one to watch this season. So I present mixed berry nails: a combination of red, berry pink, turquoise, baby blue, and navy that’s popping up on the freshly painted tips of cool people everywhere.
Below, see a few ideas to take to the salon before everyone jumps on the bandwagon.
7 Mixed Berry Nail Ideas for Spring 2026
Burgundy-and-Blue Stripes
This is the first image that alerted me that a trend was a-brewing. Striped manicures (especially French tips!) are having a major moment this spring, and I couldn’t believe how beautifully these shades looked together and how surprisingly subtle the design felt at the same time. Deep burgundy and slate blue may sound like a daunting combo, but something about these simple, fine lines etched by professional manicurist Oksana Zavora looks soft while still making a statement.
Berry Faux French
A different yet equally chic interpretation of this color combo in a French manicure style is this delicious set by Nancy of The Nice Nails Club. These almond-shaped tips were shellacked in a black-cherry polish before being sliced with a thin turquoise crescent moon, leaning a bit bolder than the simple set above. If you want to experiment with unseasonal shades and spring accents (a cool move, if you ask me), this is the manicure to try.
Contrast Studs
Another nail trend that’s poised to take over spring and summer? Perimeter-lining studded nail art. No, I don’t mean literal studs. (Though, that would be really cool.) This reinvigoration of the polka-dot trend from yesteryear feels current and undeniably chic, and I’m especially loving it in contrasting black cherry and baby blue. I’d suggest investing in this particular trend before everyone else does this summer.
Moody Mash-Up
Mismatched nails with 3D art have been trending for quite some time, but the injection of oxblood red and slate blue kicks the cool factor up tenfold. Here, you can see another instance of the studded-art trend, which works beautifully as an accent nail if you don’t want to totally commit to the bit.
Color-Blocked Berry
One of the bolder iterations of this trend is this full-on color-blocked French manicure by professional nail artist Lauren, who is better known as @lolo.nailedit on Instagram. Starting with a base of Essie’s Expressie Word on the Street, a fast-drying turquoise, the manicurist created a bold canvas for carefully painted French tips in Spray It to Say It, a rich berry. It’s bold, it’s bright, and it screams summer, no?
Primary Polka Dots
For something on the primary color scale, try this red-and-blue manicure with contrast polka dots. Though they’re not the hues we’ve been seeing as of late, I painted this set last fall before knowing these deeper colors would soon set in as the crowd favorite, yet I still think these classic colors look fabulous when layered together.
Y2K Black Cherry
The most literal interpretation of the bunch might be this juicy set from N’Dao Shoreditch, which is lacquered in blue and berry and topped with merlot cherries. If this color combo is a growing trend, then the accompanying polka dots are just as essential to the look, and the scattered stars add a subtle Y2K touch to shake things up. This set is a sure statement maker for spring, but it feels perfectly ripe for summer getaways and beach days.
Shop the Trend
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Lincoln Park After Brunch
Essie
Expressie Nail Polish in Word on the Street
Essie
Expressie Nail Polish in Spray It to Say It
Chanel
Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Activiste
Gucci
Glossy Nail Polish in Lucy Baby Blue
CHANEL
Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Fugueuse
Essie
Nail Polish in Drive-In & Dine
Essie
Nail Polish in Wicked
Sally Hansen
Insta-Dri Nail Polish in Electric Feels
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