The 25 Prettiest Nail Colors Fashion People Won’t Stop Wearing

Selecting the right nail polish shade can be challenging, especially when standing before a wall of shade selections. Do you want to go bold and bright or quiet and versatile? Is it complimentary to your skin tone? Does a higher price always mean a high-quality product? Luckily, there’s a group of highly visible people who’ve built a career or based their hobby around the very notion of style: the fashion crowd. Today, we’re diving into the world of street-style bloggers, cool girls, and off-duty models with an eye for aesthetics when it comes to anything from the perfect wash of their denim to camera-ready manicures.

Who better to ask what nail polish shades fashion people are wearing now than the talented nail artists behind them? According to celebrity nail artists Gina Edwards and Sonya Meesh, fashion-forward clients have recently requested bright orange (particularly in jelly polishes), lavender with blue tones, vibrant fuchsia, rosy pinks, and electric greens. You’ve heard it here first; it’s time to retire your sheer shades and break out the eye-catching pigments. For fashion people this season, the brighter, the better.

PHOTO: 

@BETINA_GOLDSTEIN

Take Time to Prep

The secret to the perfect manicure? Prepping your nails before you ever reach for the polish. “You will never have a smooth, long-lasting manicure if you don’t put in the proper work and maintenance—that means exfoliating and hydrating,” explains Meesh. “Hydration and treating your nails as well as you treat your face will set you up for a long-lasting manicure.” Their favorite products to ensure gorgeous nails are Orly’s Cutique Cuticle and Stain Remover to remove stains and exfoliate dry skin and Dermelect’s Revital-oil Nail & Cuticle Treatment.

For smooth and easy application, Edwards encourages using a ridge-filling base coat to effectively smooth out ridges and help lock in the base coat and nail polish. She also recommends carefully wiping the brush with a paper towel or pad to remove lint or air particles. Ready to paint? Scroll on for some inspo from our nail artists and favorite fashion people. Believe me: you’ll want to screenshot these!

Fashion-Forward Nail Polish Shades

Tangerine Orange

PHOTO: 

@LAURENCROWE88

According to celebrity nail artists, orange is in for spring and summer. We’ll reach for this creamy tangerine shade inspired by Lauren Crowe’s manicure.

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Essie Nail Polish in Check Your Baggage
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Matcha Green

PHOTO: 

@DEVAPOLLON

It’s important to eat your greens, but more fun to wear them. New York City-based content creator Devin Arielle shows us how by matching her vibrant matcha nails to her outfit.

Vivid Magenta

PHOTO: 

@AMAKA.HAMELIJNCK

Above, Amaka Hamelijnck sports magenta nails with delicate floral detailing on the pinky and index fingers. Edwards says she’s seen a major rise in fuchsia shades.

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Essie Nail Polish in Play Date
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Mellow Yellow

PHOTO: 

@BETINA_GOLDSTEIN

What better way to celebrate the arrival of warm weather than by diving into sunny hues? A color like Essie’s All Fun & Games compliments all skin tones.

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Essie Nail Polish in All Fun & Games
Playful Peach

PHOTO: 

@NAILSBYZOLA

It’s been months since Kylie Jenner was spotting with this sweet peach manicure, and I’m still in love with it. I’ll definitely be recreating it with ILNP’s Sunny Days.

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ILNP Nail Polish in Sunny Days
Milky Pink

PHOTO: 

@LAURENCROWE88

Don’t worry, neutral lovers. Barely-there polish shades are also on the rise. Crowe’s pretty pink manicure is a simple and effective way to keep your nails looking chic.

Mocha Brown

PHOTO: 

@BETINA_GOLDSTEIN

Bright nail colors may be everywhere among the fashion crowd in the coming months, but so will earth tones as the coastal Cowgirl aesthetic is having a moment on TikTok. If you’re not ready to don a cowgirl hat quite yet, brown-orange nail polish may be the way to go.

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Essie Nail Polish in Warm Cognac
Daisy Yellow

PHOTO: 

@NAILSBYZOLA

Spotted: Hailey Bieber upgrading her signature glazed donut nails for a neon mani. While iridescent nails aren’t out of style yet, yellow nails are definitely making a long-awaited comeback.

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Orosa Nail Paint in Lemon
Moss Green

PHOTO: 

@THATSALEAF

Another shade on the rise? Earth green. Elif, the founder and creative director of Iriss Studio, shows us how a stylish green manicure is done.

Iridescent Cream

PHOTO: 

@SAMANTHEA

Fashion people across all social media platforms are leaning hard into the mermaidcore trend this summer. Try it yourself by opting for a shimmering manicure in neutral hues for a classic touch.

Electric Cyan

PHOTO: 

@NAILSBYZOLA

While I normally gravitate toward manicures in neutral shades, I have a soft spot for bright blue once warm weather finally hits. Here, celebrity nail artist Zola Ganzorigt pairs a blush base with minimal blue nail art.

Crushed Silver

PHOTO: 

@BUFFCS

Looking for a fun way to upgrade your everyday French manicure? The fashion people on my Instagram Explore page have been spotted with metal-toned tips.

Olive Green

PHOTO: 

@BETINA_GOLDSTEIN

This one’s for the people who love their nails clean and short. Take a cue from celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein and give them a splash of color with a classic green shade.

Off-White

PHOTO: 

@BROWNGIRLHANDS

Versatile manicure looks are easier to achieve than you think—and won’t clash with your outfits. A shade like Duri’s White Cream is a must-have to capture all the neutral vibes.

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Duri Nail Polish in White Cream
Pastel Pink

PHOTO: 

@DANAOZIME

Break out the pastel! Powdery-pink polishes will be flying off the shelves this season, so you better grab your own just in case.

Poppy Red

PHOTO: 

@BETINA_GOLDSTEIN

Whether or not you believe in the red-nail theory that’s gone viral on TikTok, red manicures are popular with the fashion crowd. Hermès Nail Enamel in the shade Orange Poppy looks nearly identical to what model Camila Morrone wears in the shot above.

Sugarplum Purple

PHOTO: 

@NAILARTBYQUEENIE

I’ve always been a fan of iridescent nails, especially when the polish shade deviates from creamy whites or blush pinks. I’ll be using Londontown’s Sugarplum to bring this look to life.

Nearly Nude

PHOTO: 

@NAILARTBYQUEENIE

Nude pink nail polish is the manicure equivalent to the “no-makeup” makeup look. I love this look celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen created for Kaley Cuoco.

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OPI Nail Polish in Bubble Bath
Ocean Blue

PHOTO: 

@AMAKA.HAMELIJNCK

How gorgeous are these nails on Hamelijnck? As proven by this Amsterdam-based content creator, vibrant blue nail polish looks especially good when you match it to your makeup. 

Gold Varnish

PHOTO: 

@NAILSBYZOLA

Fashion people have embraced gold and silver as the finishing touch to any look. Ganzorigt created this effortlessly glam manicure for Vanessa Hudgens at last year’s SAG Awards.

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Essie Nail Polish Good as Gold
Soft Lavender

PHOTO: 

@AMYLE.NAILS

Is it any surprise Edwards’ celebrity clientele is in love with lavender nail looks? Try Static Nails’ polish in Lavender Fields to create a playful and stylish mani.

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Static Nails Lavender Fields
Orange Marmalade

PHOTO: 

@BETINA_GOLDSTEIN

Here’s a great example from Goldstein of how to update a simple orange manicure with minimal details. I can’t wait to try a delicate French tip during my next trip to the salon.

Juicy Plum

PHOTO: 

@NAILARTBYQUEENIE

Don’t wait until fall to play with purple shades for your manicures. Take this daring nail look from Nguyen, for example. Its shiny, textured, and edgy in all the best ways.

Dusty Rose

PHOTO: 

@DANAOZIME

If you’ve been searching for the perfect rose polish to pull off the “quiet-luxury” trend that’s taken over TikTok following Sofia Richie‘s wedding, Essie’s nail polish in Final Stretch is a good place to start.

Desert Orange

PHOTO: 

@BROWNGIRLHANDS

Bring the intrigue and mystery of the desert with you wherever you go with this dusty, earth-toned orange. Our top pick to pull this look off? OPI’s No Tan Lines polish.

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