12 Cheerful Smiley Face Nail Designs to Brighten Your Day

While demure bubble bath nails and edgy metallic designs have their allure, there are times when you simply crave a touch of nostalgia, a splash of color, and a dose of happiness. Enter: smiley face nails. These whimsical creations exude cheerfulness and optimism, capturing the essence of sunny ’70s hippie culture, which experienced a resurgence in the ’90s and continues to make waves today. Ready to spread some smiles? Let these vibrant smiley face nail designs inspire your next manicure.

1. Classic Yellow Smiley Faces

Start with the iconic yellow smiley faces for a timeless and cheerful look. Adorn your nails with splashes of yellow, each featuring a single happy face.

2. Good Vibes Mani

Infuse your nails with positivity and good vibes with this adorable manicure. Butter yellow smiley faces on a soft pink background exude happiness, while the center nail spreads the message: “No bad vibes.”

3. Bright Colors and Smiles

Elevate your mood with this joyful manicure boasting bright colors and cheerful smiley faces. Glittery silver tips and white starbursts add texture and dimension to this playful design.

4. Tangerine Flower Smilies

Opt for sweetness with a tangerine-hued manicure adorned with pale yellow daisies featuring smiley faces instead of traditional centers.

5. Slime Green Smiley Face Nails

Make a bold statement with slime green nails sporting chrome-like finishes and golden undertones. Simple smiley faces in inky black complete this eye-catching look.

6. Pink & Orange With Negative Space

Embrace the groovy vibes with this pink and orange manicure featuring hidden smiley faces, flower power accents, and swirling designs.

7. Melty Smiles

Put a twist on the classic smiley face nails with melted smiley faces reminiscent of the famous melty emoji, adding a touch of cheekiness to your look.

8. Melting Rainbow Smiley Faces

Explore another variation of the melty smiley face trend with this groovy manicure featuring dripping rainbow faces and outlined stars, combining happy colors with whimsical designs.

9. Happy Smiley Stars

Add a playful twist to your manicure with smiley face stars in a fusion of vibrant colors, evoking nostalgic ’90s vibes.

10. Minimalist Smiley Face Nails

Keep it simple yet stylish with clear-based nails adorned with round smiley faces, allowing you to experiment with different colors for a rainbow effect.

11. Hot Pink & Yellow Smiles

Make a bold statement with this high-contrast combination of hot pink and bright yellow, outlined in black to make the smiley faces pop.

12. Neutral Toned Smiley Mani

Opt for a sophisticated take on smiley face nails with a neutral color palette featuring greige and cream hues, accented with playful patterns including squiggles, checkerboards, and of course, smiley faces.