18+ 70s Nails That Have A Groovy Yet Elevated Vibe

Get ready to rock and roll with these 18+ 70s nails with a groovy yet elevated vibe. Channel your inner disco diva with bold colors, funky patterns and shimmering metallic accents. From psychedelic swirls to geometric designs, these nails will take you back to the era of bell-bottoms and platform shoes. Whether you’re hitting the dance floor or just want to add some retro flair to your look, these nails are sure to make a statement.

Ready to brighten up your look with a beautiful retro manicure? Check out our list of 70’s inspired nails And Nail art from the 70s for a hip new nail design you’ll want to try!

Chic + retro 70s nails to copy

The 1970s were an iconic time when people embraced natural beauty, individual expression, psychedelic patterns and bold colors. This era will always be remembered for its free-spirited fashion and vibrant aesthetic that has remained trendy throughout the decades.

We’ve rounded up over 18 beautiful ’70s-inspired nails to show you how to add retro yet sophisticated styles to your everyday looks.

How to get 70s inspired nails

Creating beautiful retro-inspired nail looks can be done easily by adding a few key elements to your manicure. Use cream or nude nail polish as a base and choose a vibrant, colorful palette for the vintage details.

Classic prints from the 70s also give your nails an instant retro feel. Add the iconic flower power pattern to your nails, or try waves, checkerboard prints, hearts or cheerful faces. Below are our favorite 70s nails from great nail content creators.

Almond pink nails with daisies

Pink nails with white flowers are a timeless style, but this ’70s-inspired nail art puts a fun twist on a classic design.

We love the combination of deep orange and pastel pink, and the retro daisies add a groovy vintage touch. This 70s nail art has a flirty and feminine look, making them perfect to wear on a girls night out.

Retro Rainbow French Tips

Vibrant colors and swirling patterns create an iconic ’70s look. We love the bold look of these nails, and the beautiful mix of colors adds such a playful touch.

This twist on the classic ’70s French manicure is perfect for bold trendsetters who love to show off their funky style and colorful personality.

Pink, orange + blue waves

Waves are another classic pattern from the ’70s, and the colorful waves in this manicure definitely give off a retro vibe. These nails are so simple and easy to recreate because you can paint the waves however you want.

We love the color combination used here, the white brightens up the nails while the pink, orange and blue add to the 70s aesthetic.

Pink Flower Power Nails with Wave Accents

Nothing says the 70s quite like a retro floral pattern, and this adorable manicure features a fantastic combination of the flower power print and swirling accents.

We love the soft and feminine vibe we get from the different shades of pink used here. The green and yellow accents make this manicure stand out, although you can easily swap the colors for different shades to create a unique look.

Cream and brown 70s inspired nails

We love the vibrant and fun retro patterns on these nails. This manicure has the ultimate 70’s look with so many vintage patterns and neutral earth tones.

These cream and brown nails are perfect for a fall look or if you prefer neutrals to brights. Even with simple colors, this is still a bold and stylish look.

Brown waves with cream accents

Here’s another gorgeous look with neutral tones, and we love the addition of cream nail polish. The dark brown and cream tones add the classic, earthy tones that the 70s are known for, and the French tips add a modern twist.

These beautiful acrylic nails are a great way to add a retro vibe to your everyday look. These nails look great on a night out, at a wedding or even at the office.

Did they have acrylic nails in the 70s?

Yes! Not only did acrylic nails already exist in the 1970s, but they also became a popular staple in nail salons at the time. This nail style allowed nail technicians to create beautiful designs that were long lasting and had a glamorous, colorful look.

Brown + orange nails with retro flowers

Flower power patterns are a must for retro-inspired nails, and this stunning manicure features a beautiful floral motif and rich shades that give off the ’70s vibe we love.

These nails have a refined look and still give a vintage feel. Orange and brown match the white nail polish perfectly, or you can change the colors for other classic ’70s shades, like mustard yellow or avocado green.

Naked nails with pastel waves + geometric accents

We love the combination of a retro aesthetic with beautiful pastel shades. The light shades used here make this manicure a perfect 70s look to wear in spring.

This manicure has a stylish and sophisticated look that we can’t get enough of, and the beautiful wave details and geometric patterns add a fun vintage touch that will brighten up any look.

Orange and red negative space nails

This design is a modern and elegant take on 70s themed nails. The rust red and vibrant orange quickly evoke the hippie vibes we’re going for, but the clean lines and negative space in this design create a sleek and sophisticated look.

We love the warm tones on these nails, and the combination of nude, orange and red has a gradient effect that takes this retro look to the next level.

Pink nails with orange + white nail art from the 70s

If you want a vibrant and youthful 70s look, this is a fantastic choice for you. The light pink polish on these nails gives a young and flirty feeling, while the cheerful flowers, yin and yang nail art and checkerboard print give us that retro look.

This beautiful design is a top choice for a cute and playful vintage manicure. And this intricate style would look great in both a longer and short length.

Peach nails with waves + floral details

This warm-colored manicure has a cheerful and fun look that we’re obsessed with. The dainty daisies and wavy line details scream ’70s fashion, and we love the free-flowing look of each wave.

These bright and beautiful nails have serious summer vibes, so pair this gorgeous manicure with a 70s-style dress on your next beach trip.

What color nails were popular in the 70s?

Earth tones were commonly worn in the ’70s and these colors were also a popular choice for nails. Rich, nature-inspired tones are very reminiscent of this era, so opt for muted tones rust, burned orange, mustard, vegetable, brownAnd cream.

Some people also use bright and vibrant shades orange, pinkAnd turquoise to get that same 70’s style. These colors are excellent if you prefer bright colors in your nail looks.

Bright pink and orange nails with swirls

Pink and orange are a chic ’70s color combination, and the swirling accents certainly add to the retro vibe.

We love the fun and youthful feel that these bright colors add to this look, and these vibrant shades also have a summery feel, making them perfect to wear during the warm, sunny months.

Green + Teal Mani with Wave Accent Nail

This combination of dark green and vibrant teal is so stunning. We love the subtle nod to 70s style paired with a classic manicure.

These nails have an elegant look and the wavy accent lines add that vintage vibe we are going for. If you want a more retro look, you can easily add more wave details to this manicure.

Pastel pink and orange with 70s psychedelic nail art

This beautiful 70’s look is one of our favorites! The pastel colors and heart-shaped nail art give this manicure a soft and romantic feel, making it a perfect groovy look for your next date night.

We love the dreamy retro look of this manicure. The pastel shades give these peach nails a more subtle 70s look, so this is a good choice if you want a sophisticated vintage look.

Hot pink + lime green nails with floral accents

We are in love with the bright colors used for this look. Bright pink and lime green are a beautiful combination, and the floral nail art definitely adds a retro feel to this manicure.

These nails have a youthful look and the different design on each hand makes them a fun and playful choice for your next manicure.

Flowers and waves in earth tones from the 70s

Since earth tones were all the rage in the 70s, this combination of earthy green, red and orange is perfect for a vintage look when it comes to 70s nail art.

The colorful retro patterns look so beautiful and chic in combination with the neutral shade of the nude-colored polish. This combination of 70s colors and neutral almond shaped nails gives these nails the perfect mix of modern and vintage.

Geometric prints + floral details

If you can’t decide which ’70s pattern is your favorite, why not try them all with this beautiful multi-pattern manicure?

Nude polish is the perfect base for this retro look and the vibrant red tones make it so striking. You can mix and match the different patterns and colors to create your own look.

Black and cream retro nails with colorful accents

We’re obsessed with the psychedelic vibe of this ’70s nail art! They have a funky and bold look that makes them so eye-catching and fun. The black and cream color combination creates an edgy and bold look, but the yellow and red accents combined with classic 70s patterns add the retro look to this nail design.

You can easily add more color to this manicure if you prefer a colorful design, but the contrast of black and white makes the smiley faces, waves and flowers pop.

There are so many ways to rock ’70s nail art, from gorgeous retro shades to trendy patterns. A vintage look can be done in bright and bold colors or neutral tones, and it can be as complicated or minimal as you want.

Use this guide as inspiration to find your perfect retro look and add beautiful 70s-inspired nails to your everyday style.

More nail inspiration you’ll love:

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