It's a Fact: These Best-Selling Nail Colors Look Better on Your Toes
We like to think pedicure season is year-round, which means it's never a bad time to plan your polish MO. (If you're a hot-pink person, these 20 shades have us feeling a certain type of way right now—just throwing that out there.)
Electric shades of neon or pastel hues like mint have been the pedicure prescription of choice, but this year, we're throwing some new colors into the mix just in time for your next salon appointment. Yes, scarlet reds and go-with-everything nudes will always be on the menu. But we'd also like to introduce you to some unexpected nail colors, like electric purple, dusty olive, denim blue, and shades of peach and pink. Ahead, we're highlighting the 15 best pedicure colors to experiment with, plus the polishes you should snap up before they fly off the shelves.
1. Dark Chocolate
A rich chocolate shade is our go-to pedicure shade because of how striking it looks with open-toed shoes. To be honest, we're probably also sporting this as a manicure at the same time. While this color seems cold, it actually adds a bit of warmth to your nails. It's elevated and chic and transitions well in between seasons.
"Much like how brown tones are trending in the makeup world, brown nail polish has made a massive comeback," Juanita Huber-Millet, founder and creative director at Townhouse, previously told Who What Wear UK. It adds a touch of sophistication to any look."
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2. Electric Purple
Bold, '80s-inspired colors are all the rage in beauty and fashion now. Why not bring these colors into your pedicures? We love electric purple in particular. It makes such a statement when it flashes in the light.
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3. Bright Green
This rich and verdant palm-leaf green is the perfect eye-catching pedicure color, in our humble opinion.
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4. Denim Blue
Navy blue is a classic pedicure color, but a lighter denim-inspired hue feels fresher and modern.
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5. Dusty Olive
Olive green might seem an unlikely pedicure color, but it's surprisingly flattering. It goes with pretty much everything, and it's a fresh alternative to the tired and expected mix of mints or neons. (We're especially obsessed with Essie's 8-free, quick-dry formula below!)
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6. Peaches 'n' Cream
This pedicure color is a subtle, charming alternative to your usual bright pink or coral. It also happens to flatter every skin tone.
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7. Go Buff
Nothing is more iconic than glossy nude nail polish. It makes your fingers and toes look sleek and elegant, and it fits any season or situation. It's truly a no-brainer. Celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik would agree. "People are loving a super-clean, high-gloss nude as just a very chic and elegant alternative to color right now," he previously told Who What Wear about nail trends.
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8. Hot Pink
Hot pink is having a comeback, and we are so here for it. This color can veer more pink-pink or purple-pink—pick your poison!
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9. Glossy Hematite
When in doubt, black is always the answer. Yep, even on your toes! "Like an LBD, it looks good on everyone and matches everything," celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec says about glossy black polish. It's unexpected and the superior color choice if you're looking to hide sand or any other inevitable damage your pedicure might accrue when you spend time outside. The key? Keep it ultra glossy with a durable topcoat (like Olive and June's formula below).
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10. Eggplant
While it might be recommended as a winter shade, we believe that this deep reddish purple shade works well all year round. Whether your polish has more of a matte finish or a sparkly one, this is an avant-garde, unique take on a classic deep red or funky purple.
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11. Pearl
Crisp white nail polish makes a big statement on your toes. Opt for a super-opaque, long-lasting formula like this one from Deborah Lippmann, or go a bit more whimsical with a soft, shimmery hue from OPI.
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12. Silver and Gold Metallics
Any color looks prettier on your toes when it's a glimmering metallic. We're suckers for the classics like gold or silver, but really, the world is your oyster with this one! Opt for bronze, rose gold—anything! You might consider metallics festive holiday hues, but trust us, they'll suit you year-round. "I wear my jewelry every day, so I think it's the same thing—nails are accessories after all," Kandalec says regarding gold nails. "I do think they are a timeless option for any and every season."
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13. Electric Cherry
You can't argue with the power and compliment potential of a bright-red pedicure. "Whether you are looking for a bolder manicure or one that can still act as a neutral to take on all from day to night, red is versatile, flattering, and a great color for anyone to choose," celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann once shared with WWW. Cherry-inspired beauty is certainly trending, from makeup to fragrance, so a juicy red pedi just makes sense. There are so many great shades, but these are our forevers.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over five years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor.
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