No matter when the warm summer weather arrives in your city, you can get a head start on welcoming it with some fresh nail polish. While your summer wardrobe can't be debuted until the temps rise, your nails can offer you a pick-me-up until then. Summer nail polish is a personal preference but something bright and cheery is always a good idea.
Whether you want to mix it up from your usual or you just need some inspiration, nail artist Monique Magnaye weighs in. She says that when clients are unsure what color to go with she likes to point them towards greens "because green always seems to have a quality that is grounding and also welcomes abundance." Her most favorite shade for summer as of late has been pistachio. Other shades she loves: vibrant chartreuse, light purple, and butter yellow.
On the flip slide, nail artist Christine Doan loves to have fun with her summer nails and opts for sheer, shimmery shades—reminiscent of jelly shoes—as well as color changing options.
It might not be swimsuit season just yet, but you can still get ready for summer by embracing one of these bold new nail trends. Turn your fingertips into the main attraction with these show-stopping summer nail color trends you’ll want to start wearing ASAP.
Not quite purple, not quite blue, this in between shade is soft enough to not be distracting but fun and different from your usual go-to pink hue. Doesn't it make you want to say ommmm?
This muted orange is giving off those retro 70s vibes that will go perfect with that floral summer sun dress you've been waiting to pull out of the closet.
Coral for summer nails? Groundbreaking. No, it's nothing new but it's tried and true and still very much on trend. This one in particular uses a 73% plant-based formula and swapped out the usual plastic cap for a more sustainable wooden one instead.
"The theatrics, the drama, this girl deserves an Oscar -- truly. Let me tell you when the cyan changes to a crisp white, JAW DROPS. The first time I used this I painted some white clouds over it and to just see it disappear into warm waters was like watching a magic show (lol, I know.. I'm three). This is great for mismatched manis that will probably come into trend again, we love a multi-faceted girl!" - Christine Doan
Another sustainable pick, this plant pots collection from Ciaté is made from recycled glass and recyclable cap. Plus, this neutral blush hue works all year 'round.
"The 90s kid in me sings whenever I use this color after the summer sand is finally warm enough between my toes. Reminiscent of the glittery jelly shoes we all had at one point in time (I think you know which ones I'm talking about), dense or fine glitter on top of this shade is just *chef's kiss*. I also like to pair it with fun lemon painted nail art or pastel grid lines to give it some flair." - Christine Doan
Cajun Shrimp from OPI is possibly the unofficial nail polish shade of summer and now it comes in press-on form so you can score a fresh mani in minutes without the salon.
"Perfect all year round but even more fitting during the summer heat! It's a well rounded blend of neon, coral and red all in one -- I've used this on all ranges of skin tone and it never fails. If bright and neon could be considered a neutral, this color would be the last one standing. The viscosity is medium so whether you're detailing nail art or painting the nail full coverage, the buttery texture is a hit for novice or advanced enthusiasts." - Christine Doan
Having a hard time picking just one color? Show off a slew of summery shades with this cool confetti that’s bound to stand out. If you've been waiting to wear confetti nails ever since you saw them on the runway at Anna Sui, now's the time to embrace the trend.
Yellow nails offered up an unexpected twist at the Alice + Olivia show, and you'll love the way you can infuse some sunshine vibes into your look (even if you’re stuck at your desk all day).
Chelsea Burns is the Beauty Director for Women’s Health and has been writing in the beauty and wellness space for over six years with her work appearing in Real Simple, Health, Fitness, and Byrdie.com. She’s an expert at testing products and is always on the hunt for the best tinted moisturizer.