It's Time for a Manicure Refresh—These Are the Chic Nail Looks I'm Itching to Try This Month

I believe each month champions different beauty aesthetics, and where a trend's wearability and lasting impact is concerned, the easiest way to get an idea of what will be trending in the beauty space (particularly colors, patterns, and textures) is studying what's happening on the manicures of the most stylish people. When I'm not quizzing myself on how quickly I can ID a stunning nail polish shade with little to no visibility, I'm asking to see the nails of anyone with a manicure that makes me impulsively make an appointment at my nail salon to try it.

Now, I'm not saying I show my nail tech exactly what I'd like to wear, but I enjoy giving wide perimeters to bring my manicures to life. March has always been one of the more challenging months for me to land on a nail look to carry me into spring, but it's not impossible. I scrolled through hundreds of the best manicures to wear as March rolls around, and I'm sharing all my best finds with you below that feel especially lucky, plus some predictions from a nail artist.

Which manicures will trend in March?

All notable beauty trends start somewhere, and Evelyn Lim, chief educator at MiniLuxe's Paintbox Studio in New York City, recommends looking to the New York Fashion Week runway for pointers on what could be on the rise next. "Some trends I'm seeing for March are punk- and goth-inspired manicures with shades of silver chrome, black, and grays seen with long stiletto nails," she shares. Lim has also been spotting demure pastel colors as a rising trend, and powder blue, frosty pink, and butter yellow on short squoval nails are taking the lead. "I would love to see the soft pastel colors on a micro French tip. It brings a playfulness to a timeless, elegant look perfect for spring," Lim adds.

What are the best products to use?

If you'd like to try your hand at creating Lim's pastel-colored micro French tip, consider investing in a paintbrush that can produce smooth, polished lines. "The best part about the micro French tip is you can paint this by just using the brush from the bottle. Using a corner of the brush, paint a tiny French tip by gliding your brush along the free edge, following the natural shape of your nails," she says. For punk- and goth-inspired designs, pick up MiniLuxe's Pure Polish in Silent Night ($14).

To embrace the powder-blue trend that started in the winter but will be just as on-trend as we greet another season, consider an opaque, cool-toned blue with a whisper of white, such as MiniLuxe's Pure Polish in Fresh ($14). Why not also try your hand at Pantone's Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer? Lim's top pick for a perfect match is MiniLuxe's Pure Polish in Title Town ($14). Now that you know the shades, shapes, and finishing touches that look especially stunning in March, take a look below at how to wear them like a fashion person.

Shimmering Cashmere

Fabric-inspired manicures have been on the rise since NYFW, and these elegant taffeta nails are the best example of how light-catching nails can still be neutral. They're a quieter approach to the richness we saw last fall with velvet manicures and have a fine shimmer that adds a luminous finish.

Winter Skittles

While we may associate candy-colored manicure with pastel shades (purple, pink, and orange immediately come to mind), this manicure by San Sung Kim takes notes from the primary colors found within a bag of Skittles. While its rich jewel tones add intrigue, the pastel pink keeps these nails versatile.

Matcha Swirl

When I say I want matcha-green nails, this is exactly what I envision. The matcha effect was created with a marbling technique to blend DND's Gel Polish in Safari ($12) with a vivid white polish. The end result? A playful manicure that looks as if it's in motion.

Animalistic Tips

In case you were wondering, the animal-print trend that spiked in the winter will be taking us into spring with an unexpected twist: It's beginning to be spotted on the tips of French manicures. These nails by Queenie Nguyen combine grounding, rich shades of brown to create a dimensional effect that feels fresh.

Gilded Cat Eye

Gilded, ultra-defined manicures are making their long-awaited return just in time for March, and I can't wait to take notes from these playful nails by Kim. They combine two of the month's biggest trends, as cat-eye nails are also seeing a gradual uptick in popularity.

Opulent Structure

While maximalist nail designs have been dominating our feeds recently, it wouldn't be fair to ignore that today's minimalist nails are less about enhancing the look of negative space. Instead, they're playing with structure and using chrome in unexpected ways, like in this kintsugi-esque nail look by Nguyen.

Powder Blue

Powder blue is having a moment in beauty and fashion, and it happens to look good on all skin tones. Nail artist Mateja Novakovic created this elegant and understated nail look using Kinetics Beauty's Nail Polish in Digital ($12), which is a cool-toned blue with a hazy finish.

Eclectic Textures

It's confirmed that grunge and punk beauty have Gen Z TikTok users in a choke hold, but boho is right behind them with artistic, eclectic nails. Here, Nguyen combined an amber-tortoiseshell design with classic white tips, a green aura, and yellow tones—complete with a single gold stud. I'm obsessed with how effortlessly fashion-forward the finished result is.

Emerald Glass

Emerald green looks stunning year-round, but wearing it on Saint Patrick's Day is extremely chic and protects you from receiving any pinches. This manicure by Joanne Thomas gives the rich green the glass nail treatment using The GelBottle Inc. Nail Polishes in Jet Black ($19), Hourglass Magnetic ($21), and Glass Green ($19).

Punk Touches

Punk and grunge are officially back! According to Lim, using white, black, and chrome is an easy way to pull off both of the trends. This manicure by nail artist Stephanie Holland offers eye-catching texture with a futuristic design that mixes silver swirls and polka dots with negative space.

Pastel Play

Spring always calls for pastels, and I'm planning to combine a number of my favorite polishes that complement my deep skin tone and whatever I may wear. I'm especially drawn to this manicure by Oksana Zavora since it features every sweet nail polish shade I can't get enough of.

Green Leaf

This manicure by Paiwa Loves combines Y2K graphic nail art with minimalist space and gilded details. While its negative space puts the gold leaves front and center, eyes are also drawn to the pops of green and white against a milky, pink base.

Throwback Patterns

I took a break from almond nails after noticing breakage from back-to-back gel manicures. Four months later, I've returned to wearing almond-shaped nails with playful Y2K influences. The deep-brown polka dots are incredibly chic, and I love the white beads, but the playful wave design gives me a dose of nostalgia.

Subtle Shine

Here's another green manicure that would look stunning when you wear it for your Saint Patrick's Day festivities. For some added light-catching shine, Novakovic added a couple of pearls to the nails. The nail artist used Manucurist's Nail Polish in Jade ($14), a green with cool undertones, for an opaque finish.

Mix and Match

Looking for an easy way to up your nail game this March? Try mixing and matching colors and patterns. For this manicure, Zavora was influenced by the patterned looks included in Dolce Gabbana S/S 26 menswear collection.

Shop the Best Products for March Manis

Why TrustBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing

AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.