Couples That Wear Matching Nails Together, Stay Together
Prepare for trouble and make it double, because matchy-matchy vibes are ready to take over 2025—and besties don’t copy, they match. We’re coordinating on fits, accessories, and so much more. “From collaborating on festival fits to aligning on date night looks, Gen Z and Boomers will be all about staying in sync (in a chic way),” notes the Pinterest Predicts 2025 Trend Report.
As if matching date night getups weren’t enough, couples are cranking the trend up a notch by sporting matching nails. Even guys are having fun with their manicures now more than ever, and celebrity manicurist Queenie Nguyen seems to understand why. “Male celebrities are seen on the red carpet and award shows with nail art as part of their fashion statement. It encourages men to get adventurous with their nails besides just a clean-up and classic shiny buff,” she tells IPSY.
Beyond the aesthetics of it all, Nguyen notes the matching nails for couples trend allows partners to strengthen their bond in more ways than one. “Spending time in the salon together is also viewed as loving time spent together. I also think the idea of matching nails elevates intimate and creative connections among couples,” she shares.
Read on to discover more about the matching nails for couples trend and for some of our fave designs we’ve seen on IG!
Meet the Expert
Queenie Nguyen is a Los Angeles–based celebrity and editorial manicurist who has worked in the nail industry for over 13 years and specializes in natural nails and contemporary nail art. She has worked with Halsey, Margaret Qualley, Barbie Ferreira, Kiernan Shipka, and many more. Nguyen’s trendsetting work has also been featured in eminent publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Refinery29.
Matching Couple Nails 101
Matching nails may lead you to believe the trend requires you and your partner to wear nails that are 100% alike, but that’s not necessarily the case. While you can absolutely go that route, matching nails for couples is all about creating designs that complement each other. They don’t have to be identical, only similar.
Nguyen shares she’s seen this trend worn a million different ways but does “love the idea of men wearing a particular solid color to match with their girlfriend or wife’s nail art.” A solid color may also be an easier sell for your BF, especially if it’s his first time partaking in the trend. You can always choose your next salon visit to try something a little more intricate, whether that be a daring color or dramatic decals.
Former flames Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox were previous pioneers of the trend, “often rocking similar nails to each other for events and award shows,” shares Nguyen. “I love that they are experimental with different elements of nail art, such as 3D-sculpted designs, chrome, nail jewelry, and hand-painted.” These are all great options for couples of every type to try out.
Our Fave Matching Nails for Couples
1. Initials on Couple Nails
Keep things simple by sporting each other’s initials on your nails, similar to the couple sporting this nail design. We love the matching white shade and blue designs the couple uniquely rocked on their own digits.
2. Couple of Stars Matching Nails
French tips are classic and not going away anytime soon. They’re made even more striking in this design with the addition of chrome stars. Have your partner sport a star on their nails and leave the rest clean with a clear coat over them.
3. Ombré Matching Couple Nails
There’s something so seductive about these deep-red-to-black ombré matching nails for couples. Nguyen appreciates how this matching set showcases “how certain nail designs can be executed on different nail lengths.” Long nails are not always required for intricate designs, we promise.
4. Hearts on Your (Couple) Nails
Showcase your love for one another with this heart nail art. We love how the colors are switched for each of the duo’s nail designs to echo our point that matching nails don’t need to be exactly the same. And while hearts feel very Valentine’s Day, you can sport these designs any time of the year.
5. Two Halves Make a Whole
How adorable are these bestie nails? Consider this the new BFF necklace, with you and your day one sporting one half of a butterfly to make a whole. Of course, you can rock it with your partner as well, but we’re partial to rocking it with your BFFL.
6. Get Lucky Couple Nails
Feeling lucky? You will now with these detailed designs on your nails. Again, we love how simple the guy’s nails are while still fitting the theme of his counterpart’s ornate mani.
7. Turn up the Heat Matching Nails
The heat map nail trend is all over TikTok. With its dynamic, multidimensional design, it creates a striking visual that looks great on every nail length.
8. Shapes and Colors Matching Nails
While these designs may be different lengths and colors, they still complement each other and are another fun example of matching nails for couples. You can wear the other’s fave color on your nails, coordinate based on the color scheme of an event/holiday, or even sport your fave sports team’s colors.
9. Pinky Out Couple Nails
Even if your partner won’t get a full mani, we bet you can convince them to paint a pinky.
10. Go Chrome Couple Nails
We’re still mourning Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox’s breakup, but we do live for their matching chrome nails done by manicurist Brittney Boyce.
11. Wild Child Matching Couple Nails
For couples who want a matching design that dares to stand out, might we suggest this rock star-inspired look? There’s nothing subtle about this matching nail design.
12. Flower Power Matching Nails
Play with your go-to French tips in favor of these brown tips with a sweet floral design. If your partner isn’t much for manicures, they’ll be sure to appreciate the restraint in their design with the neutral brown hue and dots (which can always be omitted).
13. Minimalist Couple Nails
Dots and stripes: designs that never go out of style. You can play with any color combination with this matching nail art, which is one of the reasons we find it to be a great place for couples to start.
14. Maximalist Couple Nails
Once you’ve graduated from the minimalist design, you can max out your mani with this maximalist nail art. This is the perfect set for the artsy couple.
15. Yin and Yang Matching Nails
No matter which one of you is the yin or the yang, this matching nail design is a classic that works for just about every couple. With the yin and yang symbol only taking up one nail, you have the rest of your nails to play with and make a design that’s as unique as your relationship.
16. Written in the Stars Couple Nails
Wear your or your partner’s zodiac sign symbol on your nails, and they can wear yours. Because that symbol takes up just a single nail, you can use the rest of your nails for recreating this couple’s flower design, or come up with something all your own.
17. ’Til Death Couple Nails
Show off how long you intend your love to last with these matching nails. The best part about this design? Each of you gets to sport nail art of your choosing while still showcasing how much you love each other.