The Prettiest Nail Polish Colors For Spring 2024
Spring breathes new life into everything from the greenery you see outside to beauty trends. We are especially excited about the upcoming crop of spring nail polish colors, which sit largely outside the usual shades for the season. Expect to see fewer pastels and more striking hues like fire engine red and taxi-cab yellow. (Now that’s groundbreaking for spring.) And if you hadn’t already guessed, the Pantone Color of the Year “Peach Fuzz” will be everywhere.
Anytime you’re feeling stuck in a manicure rut this season, Los Angeles-based nail artist Chaun Legend and Lottie London artist in residence suggests just taking a quick walk in the blooming nature (ideally a flower garden, if you have one nearby) for ideas. Since many of this spring’s polish trends pull from the great outdoors, you can’t go wrong with matching your mani to a plant that catches your eye.
Ahead, find nail lacquers that will have you collecting compliments through April showers, May flowers, and well into summer.
- Chaun Legend is a Los Angeles-based editorial nail artist and Lottie London artist in residence.
- JinSoon Choi is a New York City-based editorial nail artist.
Classic reds
If you thought red nail polish was reserved for the holidays, allow us to shift your perspective. “Classic reds are the rage for spring,” says editorial nail artist Jin Soon Choi who painted her brand’s blue-red Coquette and warm Crimson onto the nails of the models in the recent Proenza Schouler and Brandon Maxwell runway shows. Celebrities have also worn classic red polishes on 2024 red carpets. (Dua Lipa's manicure at the Golden Globes was especially hot.)
If you're eager to try the trend yourself, we also suggest Dior Nail Vernis in 999 Rouge, a blue-red similar to what was seen on the runways, or Zoya nail polish in Alyssa, a glossy cherry cola.
Glossy sheers
Milky manicures were one of 2023’s biggest nail trends and the “your nails but better” look isn’t going anywhere this year. After creating glossy nude manicures for the Michael Kors and Proenza Schouler spring 2024 shows, Choi predicts sheer milky nails will be one of the spring’s biggest nail color trends. “The delicate and sophisticated look is akin to a natural manicure with a glossy, gel-like finish,” says Choi.
Choi recommends her nail color JINsoon Dew, a sheer, buildable alabaster. (Multi-time Allure Readers’ Choice Awards winner Essie Ballet Slippers gives a similar look.) Allure editors also love OPI Bubble Bath, a baby pink with a touch of shine, and Beauty Pie Wondercolour Nail Polish in Le Milk , a dainty pink with a translucent finish.
Fiery fuchsia
It’s been months since the premiere of the Barbie movie but the pink hype doesn’t seem like it’ll die down anytime soon. Los Angeles-based editorial nail artist Elle Gerstein says Barbiecore will continue to dominate nail color trends. There's no better time to lean into pretty, punchy pinks like OPI Nail Polish in Blame The Mistletoe (a fuchsia swirled with finely-milled glitter), Gucci Glossy Nail Polish in Valentine Fuschia (an opaque hot pink), and ILNP Nail Polish in Showstopper (a glittery, dark, magenta).
Taxicab yellow
Make a statement this spring with this jovial shade. “This refreshing and dynamic yellow, reminiscent of the iconic taxi color, adds a playfulness to any look,” says Choi. The JINsoon team chose to adorn models in the Helmut Lang spring 2024 show in this color to “reflect a keen sense of contemporary New York style, infusing a burst of energy.”
Even if you’re not in the big city, swiping this eye-catching shade (try Côte No.57 Dandelion for its creamy finish or Ella + Mila Wheels On The Bus for its vibrancy) on the fingers, will give you a boost of NYC boldness.
Sage green
Green tends to be popular year-round, but this particularly calming hue will be everywhere this spring. “This shade is gorgeous and trending mainly because there is so much room to experiment,” says manicurist and brand founder Deborah Lippmann. The nail artist says sage green French tips are one of the trendiest ways to wear the color along with marble and swirl nail designs. Mineral Fusion Olive You (a neutral olive with grey undertones) and Londontown Sedona (a jade with a gel-like finish) are the perfect polishes to pull off your sage green manicures.
Garden tones
As icy hues melt away, all eyes are on earthy tones. “Leafy greens and burnt orange tones — anything that can be found in the garden — will be doing the rounds on the nail inspiration accounts,” says Legend. The nail artist predicts people will lean into texture when exploring these colors, with croc and leather-inspired patterns leading the way. Nails Inc. Keep It Tonal nail polish set comes with mellow shades of dark brown, khaki, and neutral beige polish in a compact set, making it easy to create your garden-inspired mani on the go. If you’re looking to add brighter shades to your earth-toned mani, the red and blue polishes in the Static Nails Bohemian Liquid Glass Nail Lacquer Palette pack a punch of rich color that will make your nails stand out.
Peach fuzz
This creamy orange has a permanent place in spring (and even summer) manicures, but after being minted this year’s Pantone Color of the Year, it'll be bigger than ever. If you’re looking to hop on this trend, try Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in City That Never Peach, a muted orange with a no-streak lacquer formula. If you’d rather have a gel manicure, ask for Aprés Gel Couleur in Caribbean Sunset at your nail salon.
Discover more nail trends:
- 44 Cute and Easy Valentine's Day Nail Art Ideas
- These Winter Nail Colors Pair Perfectly With Your Hot Coffee Cup
- The 15 Best Pedicure Colors and Nail-Polish Inspo for Winter 2023
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