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.
#15: Dark Chocolate
A rich chocolate shade is our go-to pedicure shade because of how striking it looks in an open-toed shoe—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.
Another Nail Polish We Love
#14: 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.
Another Polish We Love
#13: Bright Green
Rich and verdant, this palm-leaf green is the perfect eye-catching pedicure color, in our humble opinion.
Another Polish We Love
#12: Denim Blue
Navy blue is a classic pedicure color, but a lighter denim-inspired hue feels fresher and modern.
Another Nail Polish We Love
#11: 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 above!)
Another Polish We Love
#10: Peaches 'n' Cream
This pedicure color is a subtle, charming alternative to your usual bright pink or coral. It also happens to flatter almost every skin tone.
Another Nail Polish We Love
#9: Go Buff
Nothing is more iconic than a 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.
Another Nail Polish We Love
#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!
Another Nail Polish We Love
#7: True Turquoise
A stunning compromise between blue and green, this is one of the ultimate shades to dunk your toes into.
Another Nail Polish We Love
#6: Baroque Purple
Plunge into a shimmering shade of violet or opt for a subtle smoky lavender. Shades of purple are always relevant when it comes to the best pedicure colors.
Another Nail Polish We Love
#5: Glossy Hematite
When in doubt, black is always the answer. Yep, even on your toes! 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).
Another Nail Polish We Love
#4: 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.
Another Nail Polish We Love
#3: 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.
Another Nail Polish We Love
#2: 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!
Another Nail Polish We Love
#1: Electric Cherry
You can't argue with the power and compliment potential of a bright-red pedicure. There are so many great shades, but these are our forevers.
Another Nail Polish We Love
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 four 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. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.
-
No Nail Polish Remover? No Problem—Manicurists Share the Best Tips (and What Not to Do)
The more you know!
By Jamie Schneider
-
Megan Fox's "Deep Red Jelly" Manicure Is the Coolest Way to Wear Holiday Nails
Edgy and untraditional.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
I Never Thought I'd Try Acrylic Nails, But This Manicurist Guide Has Me 100% Convinced
Now you know.
By Maya Thomas
-
J.Lo Wore the Crystal-Inspired Manicure Set to Replace Your Favorite Nude This Winter
BRB, booking a salon appointment.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
I'm a Pro at Spotting Nail Trends Before They Take Off—5 I Know Will Dominate Well Into 2025
An expert backed me up.
By Grace Lindsay
-
Sorry, French Tips—This Is the Chic and Very Cute Nail Trend I'll Be Wearing Throughout December
An Insta-worthy manicure.
By Grace Lindsay
-
Exclusive: Cynthia Erivo Shares the "Little Details" That Make Her Wicked-Inspired Nails Really Sing
"I love to think of Elphaba as someone who really takes care of herself."
By Jamie Schneider
-
I Quit Gel Nails After Discovering This $13 Product Keeps My At-Home Manis Chip-Free for 2 Weeks
I'm never looking back.
By Eleanor Vousden