Looking for ways to get into the spirit for the Year of the Dragon? There’s no better place to start than with our nail art moodboard…

PSA: The 2024 Lunar New Year is officially a month away. You know what that means? It’s time to get your look sorted, from your qipao to your beauty beat and beyond. For us, we’re starting with the nails—specifically, we’re looking at all the fun ways to wear this year’s zodiac: The Dragon.

From minimalistic decals to vibrant, ornate and graphic designs, we’ve got it all ahead:

 

Go simple

You can never go wrong with a tried-and-tested, basic manicure. After all, it’s a timeless classic for a reason! This nude and black French tip is accented with a dragon stencil—low-key, elegant and perfectly on-point for Chinese New Year.

 

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PS: You could also try the look with a more festive scarlet hue!

 

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Go traditional

Want a way to honour the occasion without having to go red? Take some inspo from traditional Chinese pottery! This handpainted blue set is the perfect way to sport the dragon theme for the new year.

 

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PS: It looks even better in colour!

 

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Alternatively, rather than drawing inspo from pottery or tea sets, why not look to Chinese mythology?

 

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And, if none of these manis tickle your fancy, you could also go the tattoo route with this ink-inspired set!

 

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Go graphic

If you like your nail art bold, this is as good as it gets! This intricately illustrated set is the perfect way to give a nod to the festive season without looking too on the nose.

 

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Alternatively, you can take the same concept and run with it harder—this dragon nail art looks like it has come straight out of a painting!

 

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Go abstract

Of course, not everyone is keen on having a mythical reptile painted on their nails. So, instead, why not sport a more textural take on the trend? This dramatic, abstract take on dragon’s scales is a glamorous subversion of the classic Zodiac CNY manicure.

 

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Or, rather than scales, try the horn of a dragon on for size…

 

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If that isn’t working for you either, why not go more literal with the dragon theme and sport some scales?

 

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Go ornate

You know what’s very of the season? Going big and bold! Stay opulent and make every nail into a statement piece. We love the idea of etching festive details in gold and adding a pop of jade to the mix!

 

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A post shared by Noelle Fuyu Nails (@noellefuyunails)

Alternatively, skip the gold etchings and go straight for graphic decals!

 

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