St. Patrick’s Day Acrylic Nails: Gorgeous Designs to Rock the Holiday

Rosie in Beauty & Fitness Feb 18 • 15 min read

When March rolls around, it brings with it the fun and excitement of St. Patrick's Day—a time for celebrating Irish culture, wearing green, and indulging in festive traditions. While most people focus on their outfits or shamrock-themed decor, one trend that has been gaining popularity in recent years is St. Patrick’s Day acrylic nails. These gorgeous nail designs are the perfect way to show off your holiday spirit, whether you’re attending a parade, partying with friends, or just sipping on a pint of green beer.

Acrylic nails have become a go-to for those who want to add extra length and durability to their nails while sporting unique and creative designs. For St. Patrick's Day, the possibilities are endless. From sparkling emerald greens to gold accents and playful shamrocks, your acrylic nails can truly be the star of the show.

Here are some inspiring St. Patrick’s Day acrylic nail ideas to get you in the holiday spirit.

1. Classic Green and Gold Designs

Green is, of course, the color that dominates St. Patrick’s Day, and when paired with shimmering gold, it creates a luxe and festive look. For a timeless and elegant design, try a simple base of green acrylic nails with gold accents.

Green Ombre with Gold Tips: An ombre effect that fades from a deep green to a soft minty shade will add a playful touch to your nails. To make it even more festive, finish the look with a delicate gold tip at the end of each nail.
Gold Shamrock Accent Nails: Add a little sparkle to your green nails by incorporating gold shamrocks on one or two accent nails. A gold foil or glitter polish can be used to create the shamrock design, making your nails pop with holiday charm.

2. Glitter and Sparkles

If you want your nails to truly shine and stand out, consider a design that incorporates glitter and sparkles. These types of designs not only look beautiful but also give you that festive vibe that’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.

Glitter Green Gradient: Start with a solid green base and gradually add glitter that transitions from dark green at the base to lighter green at the tips. This design is perfect for those who want a subtle yet eye-catching nail look.
Full Glitter Nails: For those who love a bold look, cover your acrylic nails completely in a green glitter polish. You can use various shades of green for an ombre effect, or go all out with a single vibrant hue.
Gold Glitter Stripes: If you prefer a mix of green and gold, consider thin gold glitter stripes that run vertically or diagonally across your nails. This design adds just the right amount of glam to your St. Patrick’s Day nails.

3. Shamrocks and Clover Designs

Shamrocks and four-leaf clovers are classic symbols of St. Patrick’s Day. These designs are often featured in nail art to capture the essence of the holiday.

Hand-Painted Shamrocks: For a unique and custom look, ask your nail artist to hand-paint small shamrocks on one or two accent nails. You can opt for a delicate, minimalist approach or go all out with bold, colorful clovers that cover the nail.
4-Leaf Clover Nail Art: Incorporate four-leaf clovers into your acrylic nails for good luck! You can use stickers or stamping plates to create the design, or go for a more intricate hand-painted approach for a more detailed effect.
Negative Space Shamrocks: If you prefer a more modern design, you can try a negative space shamrock. This design uses the natural nail as part of the design to create a subtle but striking look.

4. Rainbow Nails

What better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with a burst of rainbow colors? Rainbows are a fun and cheerful design that can be used to add some playful flair to your acrylic nails.

Rainbow Streaks: For an elegant take on rainbow nails, consider creating subtle streaks of the rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple) across the nails. This design looks great when done on nude or clear acrylics.
Mini Rainbow Designs: Use each nail as a canvas to feature one color of the rainbow. This minimalist approach keeps the design simple while still being festive and fun.
Rainbow Ombre: Combine the soft ombre effect with a rainbow design by gradually transitioning through each color of the rainbow across your nails.

5. Irish Flag Nails

Show your Irish pride with an acrylic design inspired by the Irish flag. This bold and patriotic look will instantly elevate your St. Patrick’s Day outfit.

Vertical Stripes: Use green, white, and orange to create vertical stripes down your acrylic nails. Each stripe can be equally sized for a symmetrical look, or you can make the stripes of different widths for a modern twist.
Diagonal Flag Design: Instead of using vertical stripes, create a diagonal version of the flag by painting each nail with alternating green, white, and orange colors. This look is slightly more abstract but just as striking.
Flag Accent Nail: For a more subtle take, you can create a flag design on just one accent nail, leaving the others in a simple solid green color for balance.

6. St. Patrick’s Day Characters

Add a fun and whimsical touch to your acrylic nails by incorporating popular St. Patrick’s Day characters like leprechauns, pots of gold, and rainbows. These playful designs are sure to bring a smile to anyone who sees them.

Leprechaun Faces: Have your nail artist paint tiny leprechaun faces on your nails. You can go for a traditional leprechaun look with a red beard and green hat, or make it more cartoonish and fun.
Pots of Gold and Coins: Design a nail that features a pot of gold and tiny gold coins. This theme works especially well with black or dark green acrylics as the base color.
Lucky Horseshoe: Horseshoes are another symbol of good luck and can be easily incorporated into your nail art. Try a metallic gold horseshoe design, or go for a hand-painted version to give it a personalized touch.

7. Geometric St. Patrick’s Day Designs

If you like more modern and edgy designs, consider mixing St. Patrick’s Day themes with geometric shapes for a unique look.

Diagonal Green and Gold: Use gold and green acrylics to create diagonal shapes that intersect, adding a geometric edge to your holiday nails.
Triangular Shamrocks: For an abstract yet recognizable St. Patrick’s Day design, create triangular shamrocks that point in different directions. This geometric spin on a traditional symbol is both fun and fresh.
Minimalist Green Lines: If you prefer a more understated look, you can paint thin green lines across your nails, leaving some of the nail bare or adding in geometric shapes like squares or triangles.

8. Matte St. Patrick’s Day Nails

Matte nails have become increasingly popular, and they can look especially chic for St. Patrick’s Day. A matte finish adds sophistication to any design and allows the colors to stand out.

Matte Green with Gold Foil: A matte green base with gold foil accent nails is an elegant yet festive option. The matte texture provides a modern feel, while the gold foil adds a touch of luxury.
Matte Shamrocks: Use matte green acrylics as a base and add hand-painted matte white or gold shamrocks for a subtle, chic St. Patrick’s Day design.

9. St. Patrick’s Day French Tips

French tips have always been a classic, and you can make them festive for St. Patrick’s Day by using green and gold. This design works well for those who want a more sophisticated look but still want to incorporate the holiday’s colors.

Green and Gold French Tips: Instead of the traditional white tips, opt for green or gold to create a unique twist on the classic French manicure.
Shamrock French Tips: Add a small shamrock on each nail’s tip for a fun and cute take on the French manicure.

Final Thoughts Acrylic nails are a fantastic way to embrace the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day while showcasing your personal style. Whether you prefer elegant designs with green and gold, fun shamrocks, or playful rainbows, there’s a St. Patrick’s Day acrylic nail look for everyone. So, gather your supplies, find your favorite design, and get ready to show off your St. Patrick’s Day nails in style!