9 Y2K-Inspired Manicure Ideas That’ll Take You Right Back to the Year 2000

Our collective 2000s obsession just won’t let up, and perhaps that’s because the decade’s biggest beauty trends really do reign supreme — I mean, let’s be honest: There are few things more iconic than butterfly hair clips, velour sweatsuits, and bedazzled everything.

Although we may not want to bring back every trend of the early aughts — looking at you, razor-thin eyebrows, micro-skirts, and Von Dutch trucker hats — our manicures can be the perfect, subtle way to help teleport us back to the times we sat on hot-pink inflatable chairs in our childhood bedrooms listening to Britney Spears on our CD players. 

The best part about trying Y2K-inspired nail designs? They’re all about creative freedom (like decorating your middle or high school locker). Maybe you use your favorite music video, brand logo, or prints from that time — maybe even all of them — for inspiration. The early 2000s pushed us to mix and match colors, try new hairstyles, and be adventurous in the beauty and fashion departments, so nothing is off limits.

We asked nail artists what they would recommend to anyone looking to try their hand at a Y2K-inspired manicure. They all agreed: Don’t be afraid to freestyle, which means get creative. Nail artist Temeka Jackson, known for her ornate designs, recommends creating a mood board of fashion styles and other things from the 2000s that inspire you. Keep in mind this rule of thumb by which Jackson lives: “Nail art has no rules.”

Keep scrolling to find nine nostalgic nail-art ideas, plus the products and tips that will be sure to give you the Y2K fix you’ve been craving.

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