53 Fourth Of July Nails You Can Do At Home For Under $20
Embody the spirit of the red, white, and blue with these Fourth of July nails!
The Fourth of July holiday is right around the corner. In addition to the hot dogs and sparklers, one thing that we always look forward to is the endless array of red, white, and blue. From home decor to dresses to picnic tablecloths, these bright colors lend themselves to a wide variety of patriotic displays.
One thing that we can’t forget on this day of independence? Using the same red, white, and blue in our nail art! In fact, July 4th might just be one of the best times of the year to try out a new nail design, whether that is a color that you never wear or a uniquely festive design.
However, if a trip to the local nail salon is an additional expense that you don’t have in the budget right now, you’re not alone. These Fourth of July nails can be easily obtainable at home, often for less than $10. Not only is it a great way to save time and money, but by doing your own manicure at home it gives you the flexibility to change your polish or design more often and with less guilt.
And, as a lover of short nails myself, this list is full of Fourth of July nail designs that are ideal for many different nail lengths and shapes—no long nails required. So if you’re looking to get inspired for a fun, festive holiday design, or you’re just wanting to try out a new style for your summer nails, this post is for you.
Note: If doing your own nails at home isn’t something that you enjoy (or have time to do), just show your local nail artist one of the designs in this post!
Nail Designs & Press-Ons
One of the quickest (and easiest) ways to get great nail designs at home without the expense is by picking out a set of press-on nails. It takes all of the hassle out of the manicure—no spilled polish, no waiting impatiently for your nails to dry, and no need to shape your natural nails. Many press-on nail sets also come with multiple sizes to make them easy to apply to your nail, as well as everything that you need to make them last.
However, if you have often strayed away from press-on nails because you find that they don’t last or quickly fall off, make sure to use the following tips.
Prep Your Nails:
Make sure that you have removed all polish, gel, lotions, or oils from your nail because this can cause the glue not to adhere as strongly.
Take a buffing nail file to each finger to smooth out the nail and prep the area for the glue.
Wash your hands before applying the nails to ensure that all of the fine dust from the file is gone from the nail. This step is very important to making sure that the press-on nail has the best bond possible.
Once your nails are completely dry, use a small amount of glue on both your nail and on the back of the press-on nail, specifically focusing on the edges of the nail. More is not better in this case, so applying extra glue can actually have the opposite effect and make the nail more likely to come off.
Don’t press the nail onto the glue immediately. Give the glue 10-15 seconds to start to become tacky and then apply the false nail, pressing it back into the cuticle as you apply pressure. This ensures that you get a more snug, natural fit to your nail.
Hold the nail in place for approximately 15-20 seconds, pressing down on all areas of the nail to make sure that the glue has the best chance of being evenly applied.
Bonus step: Apply a clear top coat layer. Water and other liquids can affect the glue’s strength, so adding this top coat helps to seal the nail and make the press-on last longer.
And perhaps the most crucial step: Use a good glue. As much as we love our press-on nails, the glue that comes with many nail sets is simply…well, not good. (And it’s likely the reason you gave up on press-on nails in the first place.)
Our Press-on Nail glue recommendation: NYK1 Super Strong Nail Glue
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Clear Glitter 4th of July Nails (Short Squoval)
This clear nail design has just the right amount of red, white, and blue.
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Stars & Glitter Nails (Medium Almond)
Quintessential red, white, and blue nails, this almond shape is perfect if you’ve been wanting to try out a longer length.
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Silver Glitter Stars Nails (Short Oval)
For a more simple 4th of July nail, consider only painting one or two of the nails on each hand with a design and pick your favorite color for the rest.
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Clear Heart Flag Nails (Short Oval)
Another colorful design for those that prefer more subtle nail art.
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Red White & Blue Nails (Short Oval)
As classic as they come for red, white, and blue nails, they’re also short!
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Silver Glitter French Tip (Medium Square)
Add a little sparkle to your French tip manicure with silver glitter.
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Bright Red USA Nails (Medium Square)
These bright red and blue nails use a graphic design to pop against the white.
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Clear Painted Tips & Stars Nails (Short Squoval)
These look just like you painted them yourself. (In a good way.)
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Clear French Tip Nails (Short Squoval)
Want simple Fourth of July nails? It can’t get much easier—and chic—than this!
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White Fireworks Nails (Short Oval)
Red, white, and blue fireworks against a white background make these nails stand out.
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French Tip Stars (Short Square)
Another nail design that you can paint yourself at home, these elevate a French tip manicure with festive stars.
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White Stripe Glitter Nails (Medium Coffin)
Red and blue glitter for anyone who wants extra sparkle.
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Red White & Blue Dots Nails (Short Square)
Another festive, yet simple July 4th nail design that you can wear all month long.
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Red & Blue Swirls (Short Squoval)
A little abstract nail art? Do it with patriotic colors.
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Red White Blue Stripe Nails (Short Squoval)
A nail design that uses a darker red, we love the stars and stripes on the middle nails.
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Red Flag Nails (Medium Coffin)
The essential holiday colors with a simple 4th of July nail design.
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Glitter Stripe Nails (Short Squoval)
Make silver the star of the show with a ton of sparkle!
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Navy Blue French Tip Nails (Medium Squoval)
We love how the deep blue makes this design bold and interesting.
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Airbrush Flag Nails (Medium Almond)
These look like an airbrushed design that you would get at a local nail salon!
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Stars & Stripes Nails (Medium Squoval)
Bright colors and bold designs for this July 4th nail set.
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Patriotic French Tip Nails (Short Almond)
Another way to make a French manicure festive, the light blue is a more subdued hue of blue, but no less fun.
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Checkered Independence Day Nails (Short Squoval)
A great design for anyone who loves their nails extra short.
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Floral Independence Day Nails (Medium Squoval)
Love intricate nail art? This floral set is for you.
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Gold Glitter Nails (Short Square)
These Fourth of July nails have a little of everything so that you can mix and match on your fingers.
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Dark Glitter Flag Nails (Short Oval)
We love the deep reds and blues in this dark design.
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Fourth Of July French Tip Nails (Short Almond)
Another simple 4th of July nail design that we simply love.
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Red & Blue Fireworks Nails (Short Square)
Each nail shimmers just like the fireworks painted on.
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Stars & Stripes Nails (Medium Coffin)
Want to be bejeweled? These festive nails are ready for you.
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Red Glitter French Tip Nails (Short Square)
A thicker, bolder French tip manicure for the holiday.
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Red & Blue Stars Nails (Short Squoval)
No stripes? No problem. We’ll take all the stars instead.
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Clear Stars Nails (Short Oval)
Perfectly simple, an ideal way to use red, white, and blue on your nails.
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Blue Glitter French Tip Nails (Short Square)
Swap the classic white tip for a bold, sparkly blue.
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Matte Independence Day Nails (Medium Almond)
Most polish has a glossy finish. But have you tried matte?
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Blue Painted Flag (Short Squoval)
A blue nail polish design that looks like the paint is still wet.
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Independence Day Stars & Stripes Nails (Short Squoval)
The simple red lines are clean, yet bold enough to get noticed.
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Red White & Blue Tie Dye Nails (Short Squoval)
The tie dye effect is a unique twist on these red, white, and blue nails.
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Independence Day Ice Cream Cone Nails (Medium Square)
If July 4th doesn’t already make you think of ice cream, these nails surely will.
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Light Red & Flag Nails (Short Oval)
The ideal design if you prefer a lighter shade of blue…
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Sparkle Fireworks Nails (Medium Coffin)
Another July nail set when you can’t decide which design that you like best.
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Blue Stars & Stripes (Short Squoval)
A similar design as above, but with more blue and less red.
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Light Blue Stars & Glitter Nails (Short Squoval)
Light blue or dark blue? If you can’t decide, do both.
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Clear French Tip Flag Nails (Short Oval)
A fun way to incorporate a flag design into a French tip manicure.
Stickers + Glitter
If you aren’t ready to go fully into the press-on nail world, then get creative with stickers, glitter, or gems. You can easily apply any of these designs to an existing manicure or paint your nails yourself and add a little sparkle or design after.
Nail wraps can also create July 4th nails in no time at all. Instead of being applied on top of polish, these stickers cover the whole nail itself, creating a design that mimics press-ons. You can trim the stickers to fit your natural nail and, with a quick clear top coat, they can last over a week without peeling.
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4th Of July Nail Stickers
A simple Fourth of July design that makes it easy to try nail stickers for the first time.
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Nail Wrap Stickers
A variety of different colors and designs to mix and match your nail stickers.
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Independence Day Stickers Set
Another fun sticker set to add to your red, white, and blue nails.
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Puffy Nail sticker Set
Give your nails a little 3-D feel with these stickers.
Nail Polish
Want to keep your July 4th nails as simple as possible? Upgrade your home polish collection with a bright red, white, or blue.
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Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Polish in Augmented Red-ality
Nothing beats the speed of this quick drying polish.
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ILNP Studio Color in Stars & Stripes
Need all three colors for your red, white, and blue nails? This set makes it easy.
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Beetles Nail Polish Set In Midnight Fireworks
A 4th of July nail polish set with a little sparkle.
Gel Nail Polish
If you’ve had a gel polish manicure at a salon, you know that it can last much longer than traditional nail polish. However, that manicure also comes with a heftier price tag, too. While it takes a few more steps than regular polish, it can be easy to do at home. And the best part? The cured polish won’t chip!
Pro Tip: You can’t use these gel polishes on their own. Without a base coat, top coat, and a UV light, the polishes will not fully cure and remain sticky.
Watch This Tutorial: Do Your Own Gel Manicure (Previously Live)
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Fourth Of July Gel Polish Set
Red, white, and blue nails, with a bonus black polish for designs.
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Beetles Gel Nail Polish In Candy Cane
Just need red polish? This set gives you multiple shades.
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Blue Nail Polish Gel Polish Set
Just need blue? We love the variety of hues in this set.
