21 Crocodile Print Nail Designs That Make a Statement

blue and silver chrome crocodile print nails — @overglowedit /Instagram

Animal print manicures are definitely trending, and lately, we've been gravitating toward a more reptilian take on the trend. We're talking about crocodile print nails. This scaly print is becoming popular amongst nail art aficionados for a few reasons: The print is easy to DIY at home and simple enough to layer alongside other manicure trends like mismatched nails and French tips. It's also endlessly adaptable—a monochromatic moment acts as a pumped-up neutral mani, while a bolder color scheme can make a major statement. Ready to give the croc mani trend a go? We've rounded up our favorite crocodile nail designs below.

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Monochrome Croc

Light blue and navy croc print nails. — @gotg0ld

If you're new to nail art, a monochrome crocodile print is the perfect way to dip your toe in the trend. The cool blue color palette helps give the typically bold look a softer feel.

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Glossy Green

green and brown croc nail design with charms and gems — @myprettyset

A green-and-black croc print is about as classic as it gets. Add an extra-glossy top coat for an added wow factor, and you're good to go.

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Croc, Cat-eye and Chrome

chrome, cat-eye nails with croc accents — @sierrasnails_

This mani features the trend trifecta: Croc, cat-eye nail polish, and chrome. It sports all the different textures harmoniously, and it looks seriously scaly and other worldly.

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Water Drop Croc

White croc print nails with water drops. — @bhambnails

For a more realistic take on the print, add some well-placed shadowing around the scales and top with 3-D water droplets throughout. The result is an optical illusion that's equal parts sleek and sophisticated.

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Mix and Match

Croc print nails in purple and green on one hand and orange and green on the other. — @yo_keshh

If you love bold manis, this mismatched, colorful croc print look is a must-try. While the inspiration opted for purple and green on one hand and orange and green on the other, feel free to switch things up as you please.

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Make It Matte

Brown croc print nails with matte scales. — @bhambnails

Instead of playing with color, why not switch up the finishes? This brown-on-brown croc mani with matte scales is the perfect example of how beautiful a contrasting texture manicure can look. Achieve the look by carefully swiping a matte top coat onto the scale designs.

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Rainbow Croc

Can't pick a color? No worries because croc print looks good with an unlimited color palette, as pictured here. Go for a long nail shape to let the design shine.

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Neutrals But Make It Maximalist

croc print nails with different colors on each finger: green on cream, white on pink, brown on nude, orange on nude, and pink on white. — @brushedbyb_

Croc print looks good in every color—even neutrals. Switching up shades on each nail creates the perfect maximal yet minimal mani.

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Croc Tips

Nude nail base with black croc pint on the upper half of the nail. — @swaknails

There's so much to love about this manicure: the perfect nude base, the super-thin white space between the scales, and the grayish-black hue. To recreate, start with a nude base color and start your croc scales about halfway up the nail, creating different-sized blobs to give a more realistic look.

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Tie-Dye Croc

Croc print meets tie-dye to give this colorful manicure a larger than life design that is sure to bring tons of compliments your way.

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Croc French Tips

Pearly pink nails with a light blue and light pink croc print French tip. — @phoebesummernails

For a more structured take on croc tips, opt for a classic French shape. Limiting the print to the French tips instead of all over the nail is another way to test the waters with this trend.

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Iced Croc

Silver and baby blue crocodile print nails. — @overglowedit

This manicure flawlessly combines two of the biggest nail trends of the year—croc print and chrome. Here, this nail look features a decidedly chiller take on croc nails with an ice-cold color palette. Think baby blues, bold silvers, and stark whites.

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Crocodile Barbie

nude nails with hot pink crocodile print tips. — @myprettyset

A hot pink manicure is stunning on its own. Add croc print into the mix, and it instantly takes your nail look to the next level.

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Black and White Croc

If you can't decide on a color, we're making a case for black and white croc nails because the contrast highlights the intricacy of the design so well.

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White Lines

Green and brown crocodile nails with water drops and white fine lines. — @angelsnailz

This mani is all about the tiny details. The two-tone green, two-tone brown, ultra-fine white line work, and 3-D dew drops all seem small on their own but come together for the ultimate hyper-realistic look.

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Acid Neon

This acid-neon take on the classic croc nails is so fun and fresh. It's edgy, bright, and absolutely mesmerizing.

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3-D Croc

For a more tactile take on croc nails, opt for 3-D scale accents. Between the intricate detailing and the green French tip, this manicure is an absolute stunner.

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Avant-Garde Croc

This is such a mesmerizing maximalist take on croc nails. Each nail features various colors and accents, giving this croc-inspired mani a truly unique feel.

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Poolside Croc

short blue croc nail design — @nailsbycanishiea

If you think short nails can't rock croc print, think again. This set uses a croc design to give a poolside look, fit with pops of neon accents to add some more color.

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Neutral Scales

This neutral mani features textured croc scales in the same color to give the coolest understated texture. Ask your nail tech to use dip powder to give the scales that matte, powdery look.

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