15 Fresh and Ethereal Marble Nail Designs

Swirly perfection.

Marble manicures are one of those nail looks that transcends time. The swirly nail art first became popular in the early 2010s and has been a mainstay at many salons. We’re noticing more and more marble nail designs making their way onto our feeds. Where some folks stick to classic black and white marble nail art, others opt for the more magical route, gaining inspiration from their favorite crystals.

Meet Our Expert

• Mazz Hanna is a nail artist and the CEO of talent agency Nailing Hollywood.

• Hang Nguyen is a nail artist in Temple City, California represented by Nailing Hollywood.

Meanwhile, some people interpret marble nails to be less about stones and more about the unique watercolor technique that creates a similar, albeit less natural-looking swirled result. Not sure where you fall on the marble mani spectrum?

Ahead, find over a dozen marble nail designs to lead you in the right direction.

Short Rose Quartz

These are what we call classic marble nails—they’re neutral and subtle but undeniably chic. The pale pink, rose quartz-inspired polish makes them that much more appealing. To get the look, nail artist and Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna says to use ORLY Nail Lacquer in the shades Kiss Me, I’m Kind and White Tips.

Coral Marble

Love the idea of a crystal-inspired mani but prefer something a little less neutral? Opt for a coral marble mani. “This mani is inspired by the energetic and abundant vibration of iron quartz, a stone with a lively and constant energy that’s ideal for manifestation and stimulating creativity,” Hanna says. To create this look, Hanna says to start with a sheer nude base.

“Using a foil palette, create two small puddles of coral and brick red nail polish so that they are touching,” she instructs. “[Drag a nail brush] through the red polish and then through the coral. Begin painting two to three imperfect, squiggly lines [on] each nail. Try to make each nail slightly different for the most realistic, iron quartz-looking effect.” After applying your color, Hanna says to create depth by adding thin white lines.

Fire Opal

For a magical-looking marble manicure, copy this fire opal nail design by Nailing Hollywood artist Laura Malarkey. “Laura added gold foil and a pearlescent finish to her marble mani to give it an ethereal look,” Hanna says. “Adding metallic elements to your marble nails elevates the overall look and makes everything even more eye-catching.”

Jade Gold Leaf

More of a jade girlie? Consider this green marbled manicure by Nailing Hollywood artist Morgan A. Dixon. “Marbled nails look best with colors that you’d naturally see in marbled stones,” Hanna says. “Morgan created this beautiful jade marble manicure using a sheer green polish and gold leaf accents.” For a similar look, try using Cirque Colors Nail Polish in the shade Jade Jelly.

Evil Eye Quartz

Keep all the good, loving vibes near and dear while casting the bad vibes away with this rose quartz evil eye mani. “This marble look is perfect for short nails and an accent nail is a great way to add an interesting touch to your marble manicure,” says Nailing Hollywood artist Hang Nguyen.

Diagonal Rose Quartz

Marble nail designs might be neutral but they’re quite luxe-looking. For a more minimalist take on the nail art trend, consider a diagonal application that leaves half of each nail bare. “Adding negative space to your marble nails breaks up the design and really makes it pop,” Nguyen says. “It adds a nice modern twist.”

Gold Leaf Faux Marble

Hoping to DIY a marble mani but don’t have the steadiest hand to paint the design on? Nguyen says to use gold leaf for a metallic take. “Gold leaf art is an easy way to achieve a marbled look at home without having to do any painting other than a top coat,” she reveals.

Evil Eye Cobalt Water Marble

If you love the idea of an evil eye mani but want a bit more color in the mix, check out this cobalt marble nail design. It extends the rich blue hue across almost every almond-shaped nail for a bold, summery mani.

Malachite Marble

We’re suckers for malachite, so this rich green diagonal nail design, complete with gold foil, instantly caught our attention. For a similar look, try using Orly Nail Lacquer in the shades Pine-ing For You and Forever and Evergreen.

Neon Creamsicle Marble

While marble nails appear most natural-looking when painted in shades of white, black, pale pink, and green, we’re here to remind you that the design can be interpreted however you’d like. So, if you prefer vibrant colors, perhaps you might like to rock a neon marble mani. Here’s how it can look.

Matte Malibu Barbie Marble

Speaking of unnatural colors, turn your attention to this beautiful water-marbled manicure. The vivid pink and blue polish colors remind us of the 1991 Fashion Play Barbie and cotton candy (not to mention the divine Laneige Cotton Candy Lip Sleeping Mask, which was sadly a limited edition), making this marbled mani an especially fun and nostalgic pick.

Hot Pink Marble French Tips

Sure, pale pink makes for gorgeous rose quartz nails but if you want something a bit bolder, don't be afraid to pump up the saturation. You can create a similar look to the one above using Olive & June's Long Lasting Polish in the shades Wild Orchid and Brave Blush.

Subtle Pastel Marble

We're big fans of pastel neon nail looks, so this muted marble mani is right up our alley. Nail artist Brittney Ellen created it using Le Mini Macaron Gel Polish in the shades Crème D’abricot, Bleu Ciel, and Vanilla Milk.

Earthy Marble

This marble nail design looks like a work of natural art. It's giving amethyst, carnelian, and thulite with a smoky effect. To recreate this look, you'll need to get creative with layering sheer polishes. (Or make it easy on yourself by simply bringing this image as the inspo photo for your next nail appointment.)

Mermaid Marble

This bright blue and purple marble mani reminds us of crashing waves and the sea sirens that swim beneath them. You can coat every nail in the blue marbled design or opt to let it shine as an accent nail or two. You choose!

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