“Striped Voyage” on Nails

In nail art, everything genius is simple. Want to create painterly masterpieces? No need for an art school diploma — you just need to learn how to draw lines. Especially now, since stripes are trending.

Thanks to their strong contrast, stripes have a visual impact far beyond what you might expect.

Line after line — and an ornament is born, attracting more attention with its rhythm than any complex pattern. Stripes are volume champions.

Their potential is limitless. Rhythmic lines can be fun, luxurious, sporty, energetic, fragile, touching, naïve, or aggressive. Elegant ones calm you; soft contours bring comfort; bold, clear stripes create a sense of speed and vitality.

A stripe expresses a delicate balance between sharpness, strength, and finesse.

Stripes can simultaneously be eye-catching and meaningful. Just look at sports team uniforms for inspiration.

Rhythmic stripes are valuable because they help something stand out from its surroundings and emphasize focus.

With the right direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), stripes can visually correct nail shape.

Harmony, where are you?

The key to elegance is proportion and visual logic. When painting “lanes” of polish on nails, follow basic color harmony rules:
– Contrasting combinations (red + green, orange + blue, purple + yellow) create energy and youthfulness.
– Related shades (cornflower + plum, raspberry + pink, emerald + malachite or billiard green) express refined taste and a longing for serenity.

A Rainbow of Stripe Ideas.

Striped nail design comes in many forms. Here are just a few.

“Business Gangster”

Inspired by pinstripe suits: ultra-dark base + ultra-thin parallel white lines.

“My Sailor Girl”

Navy and white stripes = marine classic. Symbol of freshness and movement. Or red and white — pure cruise style. Perfect for dynamic personalities.

“Hero’s Daughter”

Resembles the medal ribbons of decorated heroes. Vary stripe thickness — thick, thin, extra thin, repeat.

“Tie-Inspired Style”

Ideal: replicate your companion’s tie pattern at the party — just miniaturized.

“Striped Candies”

Pick bright colors and mix freely.

A manicure to uplift both client and artist.

“Safari, Jungle & Wild Bees”

Channel the stripes of a zebra, tiger, or fluffy bee.

In nature, lines aren’t perfect — that’s part of their charm.

“Optical Illusions”

Search “pop art” for inspiration — stripes that bend space, shape, and color. On nails, it’s both fun and stylish.

In short — fall in love with stripes as I did. Try, play, and bring rhythm to your designs!

Author: Tatyana LARINA – artist

Editor: Nataliya CHAYKA – Editor-in-Chief of ESTportal

First published: 2015
Updated in 2025 based on the latest professional recommendations and industry trends