The Best Pedicure Colors And Designs For An '80s Inspired Look

A retro pedicure, inspired by the aesthetics of the 1980s, is so back. The '80s were wild; the high-energy decade was famous for larger-than-life fashion in bright shades, electric shapes, and synth-pop sounds. 1989 was the year that Dolly Parton had the biggest hair, and that tells you everything you need to know about the decade. This peppy era is back in a big way, as fashion is getting nostalgic for the bold, retro styles that defined the '80s. While this renaissance is infiltrating its way into fashion, hair, and makeup, it's also influencing nail designs, particularly pedicures. 

The dazzle of the '80s is lending its charm to bold, bright pedicures that put an extra zing in your step. While red nails were the leading trend from the decade, other shades (think neon) and bold geometric shapes are quintessential throwbacks from this era. The '80s often gets lampooned as a tacky era, thanks to the frizzy perms and leg warmers, but it was actually a decade rich in bold, maximalist style that's worth exploring. Hairstyles from the '70s and '80s are making a huge comeback, as are other styling features, like shoulder pads and power suits. The same goes for pedicure shades, and the '80s is a great source of inspiration. 

Neon shades might be the most quintessential '80s color family. Take this concept and modernize it with a playful chrome pedicure in a rainbow of neon tones. Bring together pink, orange, blue, and teal shades to create a dazzling rainbow of multi-colored chrome. These unicorn toes bring an unexpected pop of color in a wave of neon nostalgia, while the chrome element makes them modern and fresh. 

The combination of a grid background interspersed with squiggles is a key '80s design move known as the Postmodern "Memphis" style. The grid detail, frequently seen throughout the decade, captured the culture's obsession with futuristic technology and high-tech modernity. While it seems so obsolete now, the aesthetic is still so fun. Play with line drawing in your '80s inspired pedicure with a touch of neon green in jazzy shapes, stripes, and squiggles. Incorporating this in a pedicure is a nice way to give a nod to the '80s. 

Sparkles, glitter, and sequins were huge in the '80s. Just look at the celebrities who ruled the era. From Prince, to Madonna, to Dolly Parton, rhinestones and glitter were hugely popular as a way to add glamour to the dance fever of the decade. Incorporate this energy into an '80s-inspired pedicure with a multi-colored base; use orange, green, blue, and silver to add energy, and finish it off with a coat of sparkle.

Remember how people would get pranked with green slime in the 1980s? It seemed to be a favorite recurring event in '80s pop culture, so why not play with it as a pedicure idea? No other color is as iconically '80s as neon green, so when in doubt, opt for a pedicure in the classic jelly slime shade. It's like bringing the Nickelodeon slime prank to your toes and is sure to add a smile of nostalgia for all the wacky TV ideas that made the '80s so unforgettable.  

3D graphic art was huge in the 1980s, with the onset of the software evolution, so play into this "Silicone dreams" aesthetic with 3D shapes and designs in a playful, textured pedicure. The incorporation of geometric and abstract art in oranges, purples, greens, and blues make for a pedicure that feels retro and nostalgic, while still capturing the showstopping qualities of color and design that makes winning pedicures stand out. 

The '80s was a decade of confidence, with people stepping out in fearless prints and designs that stole the show without remorse. Tap into this wild side of the decade with a leopard print pedicure. The print was hugely popular in the 1980s because it spoke to a bold, rebellious spirit. Add a modern touch by using gold, black, and white as the color palette for a lively leopard print mix. 

Abstract art was a huge part of the 1980s aesthetic. Splattered paint designs shot through with neon colors captured the loud, energetic and unapologetic energy of the era. Lean into this confident love of bright colors with a dual-tone pedicure. Go for bold big toes but keep the rest of the pedicure only slightly more tame with bright pink polish everywhere else. It's energizing, nostalgic, and bold all at once. 

For a Nickelodeon-inspired pedicure, bring the fever for leopard print together with the neon saturation of color-rich greens and purples. The black outlining gives the pedicure a crisp finish that brings it into the modern conversation. But the truth is, a green and purple leopard print pedicure is just so much fun. It's a little too garish and a little too loud, which is really what made the '80s what they were. The decade's beauty standards were all about bigger, brighter, and brasher, so tap into that with a fun pedicure. 

For an aesthetic that's dialed into the MTV music video scene of the 1980s, go for a combo of hot pink toes with a neon lead in black and multi-colored designs. It's so unapologetically retro that it passes for fresh and outrageous even by today's standards. Bright and bold nail polish colors help to reference the era, as do the subtle detail of black nail art animal prints in a combination of leopard spots and zebra stripes. 

Play with retro designs in a pedicure via black and white paint art with subtle touches of color. By keeping the base of the pedicure nude, you're still keeping with the simple, minimalist nail trends that are dominating now. But the touch of play and color brings new life to these dated designs, making them fresh all over again thanks to creative ways of incorporating French tips on your toes that have an '80s throwback quality.