Ice Cream Nails with a Lilac and Lime Ombre: Summer Nail Art Tutorial

Nothing says summer quite like a sweet treat, and these ice cream nails bring that fun straight to your fingertips. The design starts with a sprayed ombre of Little Lilac and Tangy Lime, then adds a chunky glitter ice cream cone and a swirly white scoop. It's finished with colourful confetti sprinkles and a glossy top coat.

Ice cream nails are playful, colourful and full of personality. The soft sprayed background gives the design a dreamy, pastel feel, while the sparkly cone and bright sprinkles add texture and fun. It's a great choice for summer holidays, birthdays or simply whenever you fancy something cheerful on your nails.

This design combines a smooth ombre background with simple, bold nail art on top. The spray gun creates a soft blend of lilac and lime that would be tricky to achieve with a brush, and the glitter cone instantly adds sparkle without any detailed painting. The white swirl is built from repeated teardrop shapes, so it looks impressive but follows an easy pattern.

The finishing sprinkles are where you can really have fun. You choose three of your favourite colours and scatter little confetti pieces over the scoop, so every set of ice cream nails can look slightly different. It's a design that feels light-hearted and summery while still showing off a range of techniques.

• Top Coat - Gel Polish 15ml - Urban Graffiti – Product ID: 8961392345423
• Snow White - UGGP-A0001 - Urban Graffiti Gel Polish 15ml – Product ID: 8961783202127
• Trixie - UGGP-PA032 Urban Graffiti Gel Polish 15ml – Product ID: 8961387856207
• Fine Detail Brush – Product ID: 8961744339279
• Tangy Lime - UGGP-A0564 Urban Graffiti Gel Polish 15ml – Product ID: 8961812103503
• 24 Karat - UGGP-XS002 Urban Graffiti Gel Polish 15ml – Product ID: 8961392509263
• Sherbet Lemon - UGGP-A0427 - Urban Graffiti Gel Polish 15ml – Product ID: 8961806893391
• Amethyst Fall - UGGP-A0710 Urban Graffiti Gel Polish 15ml – Product ID: 8961820066127
• Little Lilac - UGGP-A0968 Urban Graffiti Gel Polish 15ml – Product ID: 8961371603279

Using a spray gun and Little Lilac, create an ombre from the tip upwards. Keep your distance and gradually build the colour up in layers as you work up the nail. Two coats of the lilac are used here.

Go in with Tangy Lime, starting from the base and working your way down, repeating over the nail until you're happy with the blend. The two colours meet in the middle for a soft, dreamy fade.

Pick your favourite glitter (24 Karat is used here) and create the ice cream cone. This glitter is chunky, with little circle pieces, so put the base in and then push the circles around for even coverage. Apply two layers, then cure.

With Snow White, start from one side with a thicker end and drag it out thinly towards the opposite side, like a sideways teardrop. On the opposite side, create the same shape upside down. Repeat this three times, then add a very small top section, keeping it smooth and in line with the others.

Still using Snow White, paint diagonal lines across the cone one way, then go back over in the other direction to create a waffle pattern. Cure.

Pick three of your favourite colours and add little confetti and sprinkles all over the ice cream.

Finish with top coat and cure for 60 seconds.

• Do a practice run. Test the spray gun first, then keep your distance and build the colour gradually.
• Wear a mask. Particles get into the air when spraying, so make sure both you and your client wear a mask correctly.
• Use a base colour on clients. On a client you would likely get better coverage over a base colour of acrylic or gel, rather than the clear tip used in the video.
• Push chunky glitter into place. With a glitter like 24 Karat, apply the base and then move the circle pieces around so the cone has even coverage.

Ice cream nails are ideal for anyone who wants to try a spray gun ombre and add some simple nail art on top. The ombre is built gradually, so you stay in control of the blend, and the white swirl uses one repeated teardrop shape. If you've not used a spray gun before, a practice run is the best way to get a feel for the distance and amount of colour.

For nail techs, ice cream nails are a fun summer design that clients love. Remember to use a base colour of acrylic or gel for better coverage on clients, and make sure both of you wear a mask correctly while spraying. You can put the cone on one feature nail and keep the ombre on the rest for a quicker service.

Once you've got the hang of it, try these variations using the same techniques:

• Keep the ice cream cone to one or two accent nails and wear the lilac and lime ombre on the others.
• Choose a different trio of colours for the sprinkles on each nail.
• Add an extra layer to the white swirl for a taller scoop, keeping each section smooth and in line.
• Swap the 24 Karat cone for your own favourite glitter.

A little aftercare helps any gel or acrylic set last. Apply cuticle oil regularly to keep the skin around your nails hydrated, and wear gloves when cleaning or washing up to protect the finish. Avoid using your nails as tools, and don't pick or peel at the product, as this can damage the natural nail underneath.

Glitter and sprinkle details sit under the top coat, so treat the free edge gently. When you're ready for a change, have your nails removed properly rather than peeling them off, so your natural nails stay healthy for your next set of ice cream nails.

Spray Little Lilac from the tip upwards, keeping your distance and building the colour gradually in layers. Then spray Tangy Lime from the base downwards until you're happy with the blend.

With Snow White, paint a sideways teardrop from one side, thick at one end and thin at the other, then repeat it upside down from the opposite side. Do this three times and add a very small top section.

Yes. Particles get into the air when spraying, so both you and your client should wear a mask correctly.

The video uses a clear tip, but on a client you would likely get better coverage over a base colour of acrylic or gel.

With a dreamy lilac and lime ombre, a sparkling glitter cone, a swirly white scoop and colourful sprinkles, these ice cream nails are the perfect summer treat. Watch the full video tutorial above, gather the products listed and give ice cream nails a try for your next set.