From party girl makeup to low-rise jeans and braided tendrils, Y2K style is currently dominating fashion and beauty — and nail art. As Brittney Boyce, celebrity manicurist and founder of press-on brand Nails of LA, previously told Bustle, the things that defined the late ’90s and early 2000s are regularly showing up in nail art designs. One such example: butterfly nail art designs are popping up on manis everywhere.
It totally makes sense. Alongside designer logos, gothic hearts and camo print, the era was all about the butterfly. The cute creatures were everywhere: t-shirts, notebooks, lockers, you name it. Celebrity nail artist Britney Tokyo notes that butterfly nail art interpretations can be as varied as the winged insects themselves.
You might spot manicures donned with sticker-like decals, bedazzled charms, whimsical drawings, or something else — all nod to the ultra nostalgic Y2K wave, but are made modern by on-trend almond- and coffin-shaped nails, or modern takes on the classic French manicure. The vibe could be soft and subtle, or extra in all the best ways.
Ahead, take a trip down memory lane, and discover 15 pretty butterfly nail art designs that are sure to inspire a passionate convo with your manicurist.