It’s a pretty agreed-upon notion that limoncello is an acquired taste. For some, the Italian lemon liqueur is the perfect after-dinner digestif, but for others (myself included, contrary to my Italian heritage—sorry mom) the alcohol tastes more like a counter cleaner than a dessert beverage. But, no one can deny that the fresh, lemon color limoncello creates is absolutely to die for.
If you’re not a fan of drinking limoncello but want to incorporate the beverage’s quintessential summer energy into your life, limoncello nails might just be the way to go. A fruitier, more summery take on the viral butter yellow nails, limoncello nails play off of the citrusy color palette while adding notes of shimmer and shine to evoke that Italian coastline, shiny-waves feeling. Ahead, expert nail techs share their favorite limoncello nails.
Featured Experts
- Rachel Joseph is a celebrity nail artist and Nailing Hollywood nail expert
- Hang Nguyen is a celebrity nail artist and Nailing Hollywood nail expert
- Olivia Van Iderstine is Olive & June’s mani trend expert and VP of content
Limoncello Nail Colors and Designs
“The shades of an Italian summer are so on trend for this season,” says Olive & June’s mani trend expert Oliva Van Inderstine. “We all love a Spritz, but a zesty Limoncello is our favorite mani inspo right now. Butter yellow is such a trend, and this is a brighter, punchier version that feels extra fun. An easy way to play into the trend is to go for a Limoncello french for a little accent of yellow.”
If you’re looking for a simple limoncello nail look you can do at home, Van Inderstine has you covered. “For a full on Limoncello mani, choose a bright yellow shade like Olive & June’s Bright & Focused ($9). From there, you can wear it solo or add a coat of Pink Goldfish ($9) to give it that chrome-glaze effect. We’re obsessed with layering, so applying a bright semi-sheer yellow jelly polish like Lemony Lemon ($9) over JLR ($9) gives the coolest depth and bounce—almost like looking through a glass of the drink itself!”