Cow Print Nails Are The Go-To Animal Manicure For 2024

If you've been feeling the cowgirl copper hair trend and return of western boots, do we have the nail trend for you... cow print nails! The black-and-white design is finally giving one of the most familiar, yet overlooked animal prints in history some time in the spotlight. And let's just say it has us ready to yell 'yee-haw.'

Now, we totally get that the idea of cow print on your talons is a bit polarizing. However, animal print has been sneakily making its way back into nail designs since 2019 with the likes of leopard print, cheetah print, and even tiger print popping up all over Pinterest boards and in nail color booklets. The new version of the manicure trend though is about one animal in particular, and we're sure you'll find it all pretty a-moo-sing. That was the first and last cow pun, we swear. Cow print nails have already been highlighted as one of the biggest (and arguably most out there) nail trends for 2024, and they may be more versatile than you might think. To prove that, we're sharing some of our favorite ways to wear rock the cow print manicure you may not have thought of. And there really is a version for everyone, whether you're looking to shout your cow love from the rooftops or keep things a little more subtle.

There are countless ways to put your own twist on the classic French manicure — and incorporating cow print is one of them. For a slightly more understated, yet straightforward take on the cow print trend that doesn't stray too far from a traditional look, take a standard white french tip manicure and carefully add black dots to the edge. To make the pattern look realistic, vary up the size of each dot. 

Cow print doesn't have to mean black and white. Definitely not. If you're someone who likes to have a lot of fun with their nails, a cow print manicure in shades of purple, orange, yellow, and pink can be a great way to have some fun with the trend. The combination of different bright hues creates a rainbow gradient effect that's perfect for wearing into spring. 

A super vibrant and colorful look is no doubt a little more difficult to do at home, so you may want to trust the process with your nail tech, but it's no doubt all eyes will be on you with a bright and bold cow manicure.

No one said a cow print has to take over the entire nail. A splotchy gradient effect on square edges in shades of brown, black, and white make for a new wearable neutral that upgrades your usual french tips. Use over a neutral, nude brown base to keep the look office appropriate. 

If you're still not quite over 2023's Barbiecore moment, you can carry the trend into your cow print manicure. A simple, light pink base with magenta and hot pink spots adds a quirky, feminine twist to the animal print design. Best of all, you can go as bold or as subtle as you like with your pink shades here, or vary up the pink tones on every other nail to make things interesting.

If you're not quite sold on all-over cow print and want to balance it out with something more traditional, then try only applying the nail art to select nails. Having a single color on your other nails will help make the manicure trend more wearable, while also giving you an anchor color to potentially match your outfits. As for what shade to choose, it's up to you, but an earth tone like olive or sage green can add to the pastoral vibes, while making the black and white cow print pop.