Manicures For Prom That Are Anything But Basic

Prom is the perfect occasion to get a little extra — or a lot. It's a major event that only happens a few times in your high school career, and gives you a solid excuse to go all out with your outfit. If you're not looking to spend hundreds on a unique dress, there's still a way to make your look special with an at-home manicure. Prom manicures are a great way to show off your personality. No matter where you rank on the list of a little extra to completely quirky, there's a nail style out there for you.

Now, you should know that we're not talking about a $100 manicure at the leading salon. Trendy nail designs for 2022 can be affordable. You could even get a plain pair of press-on nails from Amazon and try some of these designs yourself. Also, anything but basic nail designs can be the ultimate equalizer when it comes to your prom outfit. Whether you're practicing before the big day or having a group of friends over to celebrate the occasion, giving yourself an at-home manicure is just plain fun. 

Either way, these fun prom nails designs are the perfect way to amp up your traditional manicures to be something special. We're talking inspiration from *that* television show, at-home 3D nail add-ons, and so much more. 

People are not taking any chances since 2020. From bracelets to clothing items, the evil eye has been everywhere lately. Vogue even calls it a "trending symbol of our times." Whether you're looking to stay super trendy or just giving yourself a little added protection, this evil eye nail art is the perfect way add a noticeable design to your nails for prom. 

The bonus point of the evil eye design is that you could do it right at home. All you need to do is add a neutral background or a colorful one — the choice is yours — and pop on a little white to the bottom of your nail bed. Fill in your eye with a blue and black pupil and you have the perfect trendy yet achievable nail design for your big day. 

After all, you never know what will happen at prom and these nails will support you no matter how wild your night gets. 

Tired of the same old French manicure that you see at every formal event? Take the traditional and double down in the most Y2K way possible. All you have to do is add a little twist instead of a straight-across line the top. Make it as thick or as thin as you want it, because you can't possibly mess it up.

Gone are the days of everything having to be perfectly matching. It's all about standing out and being the real you — talented nail artist or, well, not. 

You will need more than just polish to get this look, though. The easiest way to nail the unconventional French manicure is with some nail brushes. Cosmopolitan names TEOYALL's double-sided nail brushes as one of the top sets on Amazon. Customers are agreeing too. At around $5, this nail brush set has a whopping 4.6 out of 5 stars and over 4,000 rave reviews. 

Does this design look familiar? If there's one thing that we learned from Cassie on "Euphoria," it's that there's always time for a strong nail game. (And maybe not to fall in love with your friend's boyfriend, but that's a lesson for another day.) The bedazzled look that she wore on the show is perfect for prom. Let's be honest, it's also extremely simple to create.

All you need to nail this look is a neutral shade of polish and some jewels. You can get an entire set of all different sizes, including the tool to put it on, for under $10 on Amazon. Once you have that, add a little bit of nail glue and you have quite possibly the easiest way to get your nails to stand out for prom. 

And stand out they will. According to Allure, Natalie Minerva is the nail artist who created all the "Euphoria" nail looks and designed them to do exactly that. "Rhinestones just look good on film. They give a little extra glitz and glamour," Minerva tells the publication. "Based on Cassie and her shift in her character, we felt like adding a little extra glam was important for her nails." This might be one of the only times you'll want to follow in her footsteps. 

If all of those other nail designs are a bit too out there for your liking, this stand out nail design is just for you. It's a quirky way to not only give your nails a little something special but it can also draw in all the different colors of your dress. Whether you're all about the cool-toned patterns this year or opting for something more warm, you can totally rock this trend. 

All you have to do is dip the tips of your nails into a different shade and you've got your look. Of course, that all sounds easy until you try it yourself. There is some strategy to the look. "Using a fine brush, start from points of growth and make a line as a 'smile' towards the free edge from the left side and right side," Natalia Bychkova, founder of Nail Art House, tells Byrdie. "Then, get them together and provide a 'smile' line on the free edge."

This nail art is also a great way to make a solid color dress pop as well. Either way, you can't go wrong with this quirky twist on a classic. 

If the sparkle isn't for you, pearls are a great alternative. They're dressy but also very trendy at the same time. In fact, pearls are having a major moment right now thanks to "Bridgerton" and the rise of Regency core (via Glamour). Basically, pearls are a great way to make your nails standout without drawing too much attention to yourself. Let's face it, whether it's prom or not, some people don't want to be too noticeable.

This specific 3D pearl design is perfect no matter what level of look at me you want to achieve for your big night. Heck, you could even opt for the set of 3D nail art pearls from Amazon and play around with the perfect sized accessories for you. Not to mention there will also be plenty to go around for any other occasion you might be dressing up for afterwards.

No matter how you're bringing your nail art to life this year, there's a way to put a twist on the traditional manicures for an anything but basic look. You may even love these designs so much that you make them a staple all year long!