Don’t let “uncontrollables” hold you back.
Summer is the season of bright nail hues, and if you’re searching for inspo for your next manicure, you’ve come to the right place. Butter yellows, iridescent pearls, bright blues, and quiet luxury neutrals are dominating fingers everywhere this season, and we spoke with multiple nail experts and celebrity artists to find out exactly why. Read on for what to look for when choosing a summer nail color this season, plus the very best nine nail colors to shop, from glitter to stark white, holographic, and more.
Our top nine summer nail colors, at a glance:
- Best overall: ILNP Summer Nights Collection, $60
- Best butter yellow: Zoya Bee, $12
- Best blue: Gelish Sweet Morning Breeze, $18
- Best peach: Chanel Sun Drop, $32
- Best white: OPI As Real As It Gets, $12
- Best glitter: Essie Glossy Shine Nail Polish in A Cut Above, $8
- Best neutral: Mineral Fusion Nail Polish in On Pointe, $10
- Best chrome: Olive + June Frosted Gloss, $9
- Best mint: Orly Morning Dew, $10
Shop the best nine summer nail colors
Size: 12 ml | Type: Regular | Finish: Holographic/jelly
“This summer, nails should be all about transparency and texture,” says Kandalec. “Think no flat surfaces for a dynamic and engaging look.” That’s what makes this holographic jelly set best overall: it has six eye-catching shades: a vivid violet, iridescent deep purple, and teal, plus a holographic purple, soft pink, and hot pink. It only takes 2-3 layers to achieve a textured, glittering look so good you’ll catch yourself staring at your hands all season long.
Pros:
- Can be worn alone or layered on top of another color
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons:
- Some reviewers share that it takes a few coats to fully saturate the nail
Size: 10 ml | Type: Regular | Finish: Creamy Matte
Butter yellow is a must-have mani this summer, according to Miss Pop. “Yellow is a tough shade to get pigmented enough to only need two coats, but this one nails it—pun intended. Zoya Bee is a gorgeous, creamy butter color,” she says. Apply it on its own, or add a chrome top coat to catch more light.
Pros:
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons:
- Some reviewers share that this shade chips easily
Size: 15 ml | Type: Gel | Finish: Glossy
“Wherever you’re enjoying summer, blue is there too,” says Miss Pop. The experts are fans of a sky-baby blue hue for this reason, like Morning Breeze. It pairs well with wherever you may be this summer season near water, an ocean, or a lake, and looks stunning on a variety of skin tones.
Pros:
- Long-lasting
Cons:
- Requires soak-off removal
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Size: 12 ml | Type: Regular | Finish: Glossy
“Inspired by Pantone’s color of the year, peach shades add a sunny pop of color to any outfit, which I think compliments a wide range of skin tones,” says Kandalec. Sun Drop does just the trick with its vibrant, pink-peach finish. “It’s a go-to choice for effortless summer chic,” she says.
Pros:
- Luxurious finish
Cons:
- Pricey
Size: 15 ml | Type: Regular | Finish: Matte
Miss Pop shares that bright white nail polish is always a staple in summertime, and once you try this one, you won’t be able to get enough. “In the past, white polishes might have been hard to apply or needed a few coats, but this one offers an impressive amount of coverage in one coat,” she says.
Pros:
- Chip-resistant
Cons:
- Some reviewers share that the formula is a little thin
Size: 13.5 | Type: Regular | Finish: Glossy/glitter
Glitter is always a great choice for summer, and this mesmerizing polish proves it. “For a simple, unfussy twist, swipe a coat or two of A Cut Above over a bare nail for a playful, yet chic manicure that is impossible to tell if and when it chips,” says Miss Pop.
Pros:
- Can be worn alone or layered on top of another color
- Vegan
Cons:
- Some reviewers share that the glitter is a little too chunky
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Size: 10 ml | Type: Regular | Finish: Glossy
Quiet luxury isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, especially when it comes to nails, according to Gerstein. “To get the look I love On Pointe for lacquer,” she says. This creamy nude enhances your natural nail color and is long-lasting and chip-resistant.
Pros:
- Made with natural ingredients
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons:
- Some reviewers share that the polish peels off quickly
Size: 14 ml | Type: Regular | Finish: Iridescent
To make certain shades pop, Gerstein recommends adding a chrome hue on top for a frosty effect. This gorgeous pearl polish will get the job done and can be paired on top of a solid color or a French tip for extra dimension. “Chrome accents are a perfect add-on to any nail look, this adds a touch of glamour and is perfect for special occasions,” Huber-Millet adds.
Pros:
- Can be worn alone or layered on top of another color
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons:
- May take a few coats to show up
Size: 18 ml | Type: Regular | Finish: Glossy
Gerstein’s recent clients have been requesting mint greens, which is why she’s loving this vibrant minty-turquoise hue. And there might be some psychology behind it, too: “Brights make you feel cooler in your mind—they evoke your senses,” she says.
Pros:
- Vibrant
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons:
- Not suitable for a sheer nail look; the pigment is very saturated
What to look for in a summer nail color
“Nail trends [this season] are all about vibrant colors, cool textures, and eye-catching designs,” says Julie Kandalec, NYC-based celebrity manicurist and Educator. Chromes, magnetic nail polishes, and iridescent sheers all fit the bill for these reasons. Summertime is also the perfect season to experiment with bold hues, says Juanita Huber-Millet, founder and creative director at Townhouse. She recommends opting for coral, turquoise, bright pink, sunny yellow, and electric blue shades. And when it comes to shopping or choosing your hue at the salon, the experts advise keeping the following in mind:
The pigment
“It is important to select nail polishes that are highly pigmented, a good pigment ensures that the color is vibrant and requires fewer coats to achieve full opacity,” says Huber-Millet. This means opting for colors that will fully saturate the nail in two coats for best results.
The longevity
Chip-resistant polish is important to keep in mind, especially in the summer months. “As summer activities often involve water, sand, and sun which can be tough on nail polish, you want to look for long-lasting formulas that are chip-resistant to keep your manicure looking flawless,” says Huber-Millet.
Miss Pop, a NYC-based editorial nail artist, also shares a genius hack for hiding a chipped mani: go for a glitter polish! “Not only do glittering shades catch the light like no other—they also are your best option for appearing chip-free even after a weekend at the beach or pool,” she says.
The texture
3D nail texture will elevate your mani’s look, according to the experts. Look for a polish with iridescence or shimmer to achieve this, and you can even add some dimension to a solid hue with a shimmering top coat. “One of my favorite techniques to make nudes more 3D and not so flat is to layer a really sheer color nude over a metallic or another metallic nude to give it a micro-fine shimmer,” she says.
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