15 Leopard Print Manicure Ideas To Try At Home

Prowling the internet for manicure inspiration? If statement nails is what you seek, look no further than one of the biggest fashion trends of the year: leopard print.

What Are Leopard Print Nails?

As the name suggests, a leopard manicure brings the signature animal print to life through nail art. Designed to make an impact, expect the trashy-chic aesthetic of the ‘mob wife’ movement, combined with the sleek, ‘clean girl’ look that has dominated the beauty scene over the last year.

And the print, which became a staple of the AW24 runway, has taken on a second life on our fingers. (And toes. We’re not picky.) Adding a playful, yet elegant, flair to the look, we’ve seen nail technicians flit from full prints to leopard tips, mix-and-match designs and, surprisingly, a strong Y2K cherry-cat combo.

@nikkimakeup_ Leopard tips with a matte finish by @nailsbymh What shall we do next? #naturalnails #nailart #nikki_makeup ♬ CUFF IT – Beyoncé

Can You Request Them At The Salon?

If your salon specialises in nail art, then you should be able to request a set of leopard print nails. (And if you’re not sure, you can always call or pop them a message to ask.) When requesting this look, come prepared with plenty of reference images for your nail tech. This will help make sure you’re both on the same page with the design.

How To Recreate The Look At Home

If you don’t fancy making the trek to the salon, you can try recreating the look at home. Since it can be quite fiddly (you’ll need a steady hand), this nail art design probably sits at a ‘medium’ when it comes to difficulty levels. But don’t worry, we’ll guide you through the process using our step-by-step method:

1. Apply A Basecoat: Start by applying a base coat and base colour. A light butterscotch shade will work well if you’re after a classic leopard print look.
2. Create The Spots: Base in place, it’s time to make some spots. If using the colour scheme outlined above, then use a darker shade of brown. Use a nail art brush to create freehand spots – they don’t need to be perfect – which will be layered under the final detailing. Make sure to vary them in size and shape, so they don’t look too uniform.
3. Add Definition: Now you can add the outlines and details that will make your print pop. Apply black polish around the leopard print spots using a nail brush, making sure the top and bottom of each spot is the thickets. Once again, they don’t need to look uniform, so you don’t need to be too precise here.
4. Top Coat: Seal it all in with a sheer top coat for a glossy finish.

Leopard Print Manicure Ideas For Every Occasion

Leopard Tips

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A post shared by Melissa (@nailswithmelissa_x)

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A post shared by Natasha (@nailsbloodynails)

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A post shared by Monika Mrózek (@monika__nails)

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A post shared by (@sophbnails)

Cherry Leopard

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A post shared by Courtney Lepik | Nail Artist (@ilus.nails)

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A post shared by ✭ (@daisydust_nails)

Mix & Match

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A post shared by | ✨ (@xnailsbypoppy)

Full Leopard

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A post shared by alice | nail artist | sunderland, uk (@thegelhouse)

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A post shared by Magdalena Susz (@magdula.es)

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A post shared by Eva (@evafinlaybeauty)

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A post shared by Jodie maguire (@beautyby_jodiex)

Featured image: @abirosebeauty_ on Instagram