Top 5 Celebrity Nail Icons – Katy, Zooey, Rihanna & More!

One trend that has clearly been making a statement this year– and we mean literally–is over-the-top, intricate nail art! Boring manicures are passé, so try decorating your nails with cool patterns, crazy colours, or whatever is on your mind.  While it will obviously look great and is a great conversation piece, nail art has also become a way for women to express themselves and embrace their individual personalities. From patriotic nail art to declarations of love it is clear that nothing is off limits. Here is our list of some of the best celebrity nail art designs we’ve seen to date! Plus we have included some tutorials on how you can achieve a salon quality nail design without the professionals.

No one does nail art better than Katy Perry! She is definitely our top pick for her innovative and always unconventional design choices. Katy Perry has always been one to speak her mind, but this past year most of it has been done via her bold manicure choices. From photos of her then soon-to-be husband at the VMAs to motifs of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, she never fails to deliver with wacky, out-of-the box nails. What do you think of her most recent twit pic featuring her blooming manicure? We think its safe to say that things are looking rosy in Katy’s life and the artistry is just beautiful!

Related Link: The Artist Behind Rihanna And Katy Perry’s Bold Nails

Creepy or cool? Alexa Chung always manages to be a trendsetter with her fashion choices and her nail designs are no exception. From patterns that are a little more conventional like hearts and palm trees, to designs that are borderline frightening, she is definitely not one to shy away from having a little fun with it. Her “evil eye” manicure is one that she has flaunted a few times now and has definitely been the most buzzed about. Whether you love it or hate it this is definitely a nail art that stands out and one that is actually quite easy to replicate. Check out this tutorial on how to achieve Alexa’s eye-catching nail design!

This actress is always on our radar when it comes to quirky nail art. She offset her glamorous gown at the Golden Globes with tomboyish tuxedo nails, celebrated the summer with nautical nail designs, and most recently flaunted a lemon yellow 3-D manicure for the Critics Choice Awards. If you ever wondered how she comes up with her crafty nail choices, we can tell you that they are always spontaneous and based on her current mood. While Zooey does come up with the cute ideas, she admits to getting the help of a professional to relay her vision. If you want to recreate her Golden Globe nail look but don’t want to hit up the nail salon, here’s how to do it at home: Copy Zooey Deschanel’s Nails.

Style guru, fashion designer, author, and TV personality, Lauren Conrad is no stranger to fashion and beauty trends. She is always experimenting with the hottest looks and fads, but what sets her apart is that she often attempts them all by herself! With a plethora of tutorials and advice columns posted on her two websites, Lauren Conrad is an expert at DIY beauty and fashion looks. While she sometimes enlists her beauty team to create picture perfect nails, she also has created some amazing ones on her own. Check out this mix-and-match manicure featuring polka dots, stripes, and florals in a pastel colour palette. We think she nailed this pretty summer mani!

Rihanna is constantly pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable in the public eye, and she never fails to shock her fans with her fearless personal expression and risqué style choices. While we aren’t crazy about the Obama motif that she sported on her pinky fingers for the NFL Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert, she is definitely making a statement about her allegiance to the USA. Most recently she showed off a humorous design of some happy face nails and one finger that was—well not so happy. We are not sure that we’re dying to try this one at home, but if you’re looking for something that will draw in attention this design is definitely hard to miss.