The soft but chic nail colour all of the minimalists are wearing this summer

If you're seeking a manicure that is summery but understated, please turn your attention to sage green nails...

A close up of a hand with sage green nails by nail artist @gel.bymegan/ in a beige and cream gradient template
(Image credit: @gel.bymegan)

For those who desire a summery update to their manicure, without straying too far into the season's typically bright and pastel colour palette, sage green nails offer the perfect subtle pop...

While we concede that green nail designs for summer are hardly revolutionary, sage is proving to be the unexpected go-to for manicure lovers everywhere, perfectly combining two themes from the list of 2024 nail trends; minimalism and pastels. Sage green, like its namesake, boasts a herbaceous but muted finish, adding just the right amount of summeriness, without being too vibrant or distracting.

It's understated and certainly deserves to be counted among the most expensive-looking nail colours. So, with that in mind, we've rounded up four stylish ways to sport the hue - along with all our sage green nail staples for the perfect at-home mani...

Why sage is the versatile and oh-so-chic nail colour we're wearing this summer

As mentioned, sage offers the best of both worlds - a wash of pastel that translates perfectly to summer, whilst also remaining subtle and under-the-radar. It offers a stylish compromise for minimalist nail lovers, who may not wish to part with their milky and neutral nail colours, regardless of the season.

It's also not just a summer nail colour, in fact, we'd go as far as to call it an evergreen well...green - as it's ideal for spring, autumn and winter alike, thanks to its cool, grey-ish undertones.

Our sage green nail staples

For perfectly polished talons, we recommend starting your routine with one of the best nail strengtheners and finishing it with a drop of cuticle oil on each nail. And if you want an ultra-pampering moment, exfoliate your hands pre or post manicure, with a body scrub - like this Jo Malone Vitamin E scrub, (available at John Lewis).

Our favourite sage green nail ideas

1. Squoval sage green nails

A post shared by M e g

A photo posted by gel.bymegan on

If sage is the perfect summer colour for minimalist manicure lovers, than squoval is the perfect nail shape. It's refined and subtle and when combined with this muted shade, you've got quite the stylish look on your hands (literally).

2. Sage French tip nails

A post shared by WE△THERED PENNY

A photo posted by aweatheredpenny on

French tip nails are also all the rage right now, so it only makes sense to pair the two together. For a really elevated look, we recommend pairing your sage hue with either a milky nude or clear base coat (as seen above).

3. Sage square nails

A post shared by

A photo posted by beautybybethsmith on

Square nails are back and they pair beautifully with this cool-toned green, for a polished and sophisticated manicure.

4. Glazed sage

A post shared by Fliss Alton

A photo posted by gelsbyfliss on

When in doubt, add a wash of chrome! If you're already sporting a sage colour, refresh it with an icy shimmer or else, opt for this combination for summer events and holidays - for glamourous and elevated look.

Naomi Jamieson
Digital Beauty Writer

Naomi is a Digital Beauty Writer from woman&home, where she covers everything from skincare to fragrance but specialises, particularly, in makeup and nail trends. Through her work, Naomi gets to share her trend expertise and share her own shopping recommendations and product reviews. Previously, she worked as a Lifestyle News Writer for My Imperfect Life magazine, where she used her savvy for TikTok to bring readers the latest beauty buzzwords, fashion movements and must-have products. 

Before that, Naomi split her time between both GoodTo and My Imperfect Life, whilst training for her Gold Standard diploma in Journalism with the NCTJ, for which she earned a Distinction. Interestingly though, Naomi actually has a background in design, having studied illustration at Plymouth University but leapt into the media world in 2020, after always having a passion for writing. Now, when she isn’t reporting on the best perfumes and latest beauty releases, you can find her drinking copious cups of coffee, drawing and probably online shopping...