29 of the chicest pastel nail designs

Pastel nail polish is like a hug in a bottle. Even if you don't consider yourself a unicorn-loving, cute-nail-colour-wearing person - there's something about the allure of baby blue, mint green, dusty pink and lilac that's hard to ignore. Plus with spring on our heels, it might just be finally time to break up with your dark, wintry polishes.

It's a trend that sits somewhere between nude nails and more daring designs, such as glitter nails and golden nail art. The pros are proving it doesn't have to be sickly sweet, either. Give it some edge with a stiletto or coffin-shaped acrylic. Dial it down with a matte finish, or go glossy with a gel manicure. There are so many options to choose from and you don't have to go all out either as the negative space designs prove. Sometimes a pastel pop is all you need and if you can't decide on just one shade, a muted rainbow is always a winner.

We love the 90s vibe captured by Swoon Nails, and Dry By London knows how to make any trend look chic, whether it's some chic pastel French tips, or a tonal pastel ombre. If you're on a budget, don't panic. There are plenty of designs you can easily replicate at home with a simple dotting tool.

Scroll down to check out all the amazing pastel nails we found on Instagram, so you can take some inspiration to your next salon appointment.

Get ready to let the happy hormones flood in...