Acrylic Nail Designs
Acrylic nail designs are patterns painted on acrylic extensions, which come in shapes such as coffin, square, almond and stiletto. Tap one of six looks to see it drawn on five nails with its steps, level and time, then change the shape or the colors to try your own.
1 Nail shape
2 Base color
3 Pattern
4 Accent color and placement
Your design
You will need
Steps
Worked example: the coffin French
Tap “Coffin French”. The studio paints coffin nails in Nude with a White tip, and shows Easy and about 30 minutes. The studio times cover painting the design only, so they leave out the time it takes to build the extensions. The steps are:
- File nails to a coffin shape, push back cuticles and apply a thin base coat.
- Paint two coats of the sheer base color and let them dry.
- Use a thin brush or tape guide to paint a smile line along the free edge in the accent color.
- Fill in the tip, clean the edges with a small brush dipped in remover, then top coat.
- Finish with top coat and wrap the free edge.
Six looks, their levels and times
| Look | Pattern | Level | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffin French | French tip | Easy | 30 min |
| Stiletto ombre | Ombre | Easy | 30 min |
| Square marble | Marble swirl | Intermediate | 40 min |
| Coffin glitter | Glitter | Beginner | 30 min |
| Almond florals | Floral (accent nail) | Easy | 30 min |
| Square hearts | Hearts | Easy | 35 min |
The level and the time are our own estimate for a first-time painter, worked out from the pattern.
Acrylic shapes at a glance
| Shape | What it looks like | Looks in this studio |
|---|---|---|
| Coffin | Long and tapered, with a flat, squared-off tip | Coffin French, Coffin glitter |
| Square | Straight sides and a flat, squared tip | Square marble, Square hearts |
| Almond | Rounded sides that narrow to a soft point | Almond florals |
| Stiletto | Long and tapered to a sharp point | Stiletto ombre |
Tap a shape in step 1 of the studio to redraw any look on it. A flat tip, as on square and coffin nails, is easier for lines and French tips, while the point of a stiletto suits ombre and glitter that fade toward the tip.
Painting a design on acrylics
- Acrylic extensions are usually built and shaped by a trained nail technician. This page is about the design you paint on top.
- Let each coat of polish dry before the next, because thick or wet layers smudge on a long nail.
- Keep the pattern simple on a long nail: one accent nail with a design and plain nails around it reads clearly.
How we checked it
On 20 October 2026 we tapped each of the 6 looks in Chrome and compared the level and the minutes with the studio rules for pattern difficulty: 6 looks, no differences. The recipe card prints on one page.
Skin and safety
Test a small patch of skin before you use a new polish or remover, work in a ventilated room and keep products away from eyes and cuts. Stop if your skin gets red, itchy or swollen. This is design inspiration, not medical advice; see the disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
What are acrylic nails made of?
Acrylic nails are made from a liquid and a powder that are mixed and shaped on the nail, where they harden into a firm extension.
Which acrylic shape is easiest to paint a design on?
Square and coffin have a flat tip, which makes stripes and French lines easier to keep straight than on a pointed shape.
Can I change the look in the studio?
Yes. After tapping a look, change the shape, the pattern or the colors, and the steps and time update.
Do the times include building the acrylic nails?
No. The times are for painting the design on a finished nail and are our own estimate for a first-time painter.
Back to Painted Look nail art designs.
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