SEASONAL NAIL STYLES
CUPID couture
Quiz your clients to find their perfect mani match & indulge in lust-worthy art inspo, expert tips & product picks
BY JESS WATTS
Roses are red, nails can be too... which Valentine’s manicure is best suited to your client? Whether they love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day offers up adorable nail ideas. From sweet to sassy and romantic to rebellious, invite your clients to take
Scratch’s
quiz and create a tailored style to suit.
Mii Cosmetics Pro ambassador, Hayley McColm, notes: “You can’t go wrong with classic red nails for Valentine’s Day. This year, red French-style tips will trend, with heart-shaped iterations providing a way to elevate the look.” She created this French mani twist using Mii Cosmetics Statement Gel in Super Survival.
1
Your ideal Valentine’s Day date is…
a) A picnic in a park, surrounded by nature.
b) A fancy candlelit dinner at a restaurant.
c) Exchanging heartfelt love notes over coffee.
d) An evening stroll to a romantic and historic spot.
2
Which Valentine’s gift would make you happiest?
a) A bouquet of hand-picked flowers.
b) Something glamorous – such as jewellery or a designer accessory.
c) A handwritten letter or handmade token.
d) An elegant silk scarf or cashmere clothing.
3
In terms of colour, you tend to choose…
a) Pretty pastels.
b) Gold, silver or bold shades.
c) Soft, subtle hues.
d) Neutrals and earth tones.
4
What’s your Valentine’s Day vibe?
a) Whimsical and wonderful, like a fairytale.
b) Bold, dazzling and dressed to the nines.
c) Sweet, romantic and personalised.
d) Chic and sophisticated.
5
Which treat are you most likely to enjoy?
a) A vanilla cupcake with strawberry icing.
b) Decadent chocolates and sparkling Champagne.
c) Heart-shaped sweets featuring cute messages.
d) Classic chocolate truffles.
6
Your Valentine’s playlist is...
a) Upbeat and fun – it’s time to jive to Jason Mraz.
b) Pop perfection – Sabrina Carpenter is your soundtrack.
c) Lyrical and emotional – Lewis Capaldi is your go-to.
d) Full of timeless classics – you can’t go wrong with Unchained Melody.
Discover how your answers translate to nail styling...
Mostly As Flirty florals
Playful, sweet and fabulously flirty, you enjoy the little things in life, like long walks, chocolate-covered strawberries and watching the sunset. Your ideal Valentine’s nail style focalises fabulous florals, blooming from your fingertips with a fresh colour palette and delicate details.
Texas nail tech, Jasmine of @notorioushandjobz, embraces Valentine’s Day with a romantic pink colour palette. She pairs a soft aura style with delicate flowers, created using a dotting tool.
Nail Order Nail Art Pigment Palette in The Essentials £15 + VAT
www.nailorder.co.uk
Stamping plates can help craft floral details to enhance loved-up looks. Here, Doncaster-based nail tech, Brigi Botos of @bbnailsuk_official, uses Moyra UK Stamping Plate in 079 Green Leaves over a nude base.
HONA Detail Paint in White £12.50 + VAT
www.homeofnailart.com
Cuccio Veneer Soak Off Gel Polish in Piazza Del Peonies £8.99 + VAT
www.cuccio.co.uk
HD Pro Nails Core Acrylic Powder in Crystal Clear from £9.99 inc VAT
www.hazeldixonnails.com
Moyra UK Stamping Plate in 079 Green Leaves £9.90 + VAT
www.moyra.uk
Nail artist, influencer & brand owner, Kirsty Meakin, says: “Fine line florals will be a popular nail trend for Valentine’s Day 2026.”
Glitter Planet Dried Flowers Nail Art Wheel £3.36 inc VAT
www.glitterplanetuk.com
Who doesn’t love a floral bouquet? Be inspired by Portland nail pro, Tilly of @tillydidthat, who encapsulates dried flowers within enhancements.
Sara Pinto, nail product & academy director at Andreia Professional, comments: “This Valentine’s season, clients will lean into subtlety and dimension with soft-focus aura nails in romantic tones.”
Lianne Burgess, owner of Killer Queens nail salon in Kidderminster, creates a floral French up twist. She combines classic Valentine’s shade, burgundy, with pastel green.
Andreia Professional Gel Polish in 230 Red £5.99 + VAT
www.andreiaprofessional.comwww.salon-services.com
Halo Gel Polish Plus in Matcha £10.95 + VAT
www.purenails.co.uk
Glitterbels Love Letters Hema Free Gel Polish Collection £44.99 inc VAT
www.glitterbels.com
Mostly Bs Gilded glam
Graceful, glitzy and dripping in gold, you appreciate the luxe things in life. You make a statement wherever you go and delight in turning heads. Metallic manis with shimmering gold and silver chrome, as well as captivating cat eye finishes, are your obsessions. Your nails are a canvas for opulence: intricate, dazzling and utterly show-stopping.
Kansas nail artist & salon owner, Nat of @nailsby_nnat, crafts a glamorous manicure perfect for date night, featuring gold chrome details that highlight cat eye effects.
Magnetic Gel Polish in Juicy £17.95 + VAT
www.thegelbottle.com
The Manicure Company Gold Nail Shadow Palette £11.60 inc VAT
www.themanicurecompany.com
Luxury press-on nail artist, Laura Gilbert-Anderson of @basicwitchnailz, turns the heat up on Valentine’s nails, with flame effects and a classic crimson shade.
Lecenté Red Chrome Nail Powder £6.95 + VAT
www.lecente.com
OPI GelColor in Red Hot Rio £19.90 + VAT
uk.wella.professionalstore.com
Artistic Chrome Pen in Holographic Silver £5.45 + VAT
www.sweetsquared.com
Bluestreak Crystals Serinity Flat Back Crystals Non Hotfix in Crystal Pine Green Ignite, Dark Sapphire & Siam (50pk each) from £2.15 + VAT
www.bluestreakcrystals.com
Embrace cosmic claws this Valentine’s Day using Aberdeen-based nail artist, @i.katie.ru’s galaxy look as inspiration. Match the gem colours to a loved one’s birthstone for a personalised finish.
Cat eye creations will never go unnoticed. Nail artist & content creator, Aistė Haas of @heygreatnails, elevates this negative space heart pattern with a mesmerising berry hue.
Roxi Cat’s Eye Gel Polish in Nova from £6 + VAT
www.roxinails.co.uk /
www.nsinails.co.uk
Gelish Cat Eye Magnetic Reflections Magnet Gel Polish in Let’s Glow Girls £16.95 + VAT
Mostly Cs
Love letter luxe
Empathetic and passionate, nothing makes you feel more seen than a personalised gift or sweet handwritten note. Translate your adoration of love onto nails with swoon-worthy finishes and custom designs.
xoxo, Scratch
Passing notes to your crush might just be the height of romance. Notebook paper-inspired French-style tips and personalised doodles take centre stage in this design by North Carolina nail salon, Nail Lab (@naillabraleigh).
Hara Professional Gel Polish in Cloud White £6.50 + VAT
www.astonandfincher.co.uk
NSI Tech-Gel Colour in White Lace £7.95 + VAT
www.nsinails.co.uk
Katie Barnes Long Liner Brush 02 £21.99 inc VAT
www.katiebarnesacademy.com
Glitterbels Glitter Acrylic Powder in Lovebug £7.99 inc VAT
www.glitterbels.com
CND Shellac
TM in In Lust £14.95 inc VAT
www.sweetsquared.com
This love-ly look by Hayley McColm gets our stamp of approval! Scan for a step-by-step guide to creating these first-class fingertips.
Each nail is a love letter in this style by Bianka of @nbnailart, who used a matte top coat to mimic the paper texture of envelopes.
Morgan Taylor Professional Nail Lacquer in Arctic Freeze £5.50 + VAT
www.gelishmorgantaylor.co.uk
Mostly Ds Classic claws
You adore timeless, chic and classic styles, and see magic in the everyday details, embracing an elegance that elevates every moment. You own traditional nail looks – from French-style manicures to one-colour overlays, adding a touch of sophistication with patterns such as lace and animal print.
Kirsty Meakin Gel Polish in Clare £14.99 + VAT
www.kirstymeakin.com
Lace looks are a flirty yet sophisticated way to style nails for Valentine’s Day. This delicately detailed design by @nailsbyheather.errington captures the class of a French manicure, while weaving in fabric features for a subtle nod to romance.
Gel Junkie Gel Polish in Blood Diamond £7.95 inc VAT
www.geljunkie.co.uk
Mii Cosmetics Statement Gel in Super Survival £15.50 + VAT
www.gerrardinternational.com
Roxi Fine Line Brushes in 7mm, 12mm & 20mm £9.50 + VAT each
www.roxinails.co.uk /
www.nsinails.co.uk
Certain colour combinations ooze elegance: including brown and gold. Swansea-based nail artist & salon owner, @iolapallade_beauty, pairs sophisticated tortoiseshell print with French-style tips and a heart outlined in chrome.
The GelBottle Inc Tortie Nail Art Kit £65 + VAT
www.thegelbottle.com
Glitterbels Unbelievabel Gel in Black £9.95 inc VAT
www.glitterbels.com
Light Elegance ButterCream in Flamin’ Hot £15 + VAT
www.lightelegance.co.uk
Pinterest Predicts 2026 reveals that lace looks are set to make an impact on this year’s trend cycle. The rise is linked to Gen Z and millennials ‘gently reminding us that more is more’.
Halo Gel Polish in Malice £5.95 + VAT
www.purenails.co.uk