nail polish colors 2021
If you’re like me, the way you get through an especially long and brutally cold winter is by planning all the spring outfits and new makeup trends you’ll be wearing soon enough (even if you’re the only one who’ll be seeing them this year). And that much is
True for nail polish. Something about swapping out moody winter nail colors for softer spring nail shades instantly changes my overall vibe, know what I mean?
Although you can definitely wear whatever color or design you want any time of the year, it’s still nice to have some ideas to inspire your nail selections each season. To help you out, I rounded up nine spring 2021 nail trends below to look forward to. And if you need a little pick-me-up, start wearing them now. Why not?! I won't tell anyone.
Current Trend In Nail Colours Spring/summer 2021
There’s a time and place for sheer, plain pinks, but that time is not spring 2021, and that place is not on your nails. Just kidding, pale pink nail polish is one of those colors that works year-round, but this spring it’s wayyy more fun than in seasons past. The bubbly shade is made even better when paired with an equally fun and playful design, like the organic shapes shown here.
This spring, bring out allll the color. No, seriously. Go grab your whole stash of nail polishes so you can try out a checkered look like this. Paint the pattern of your entire nail, or paint them in little waves along the edges of your nails, like this. Grab a couple of fine-tip striping brushes to 1) easily paint the tiny square shapes and 2) dip in nail polish remover to clean up and sharpen the edges.
Greens of all different shades will continue to be popular for spring 2021, so don’t put away those Christmas nail polishes and St. Patrick’s Day lacquers just yet. Earthy green (like this one), chartreuse, bright neon, classy emerald—should I keep going, or do you get the idea? The point is that spring this year isn’t just about mint and seafoam greens (although, yup, those will be big too).
Hottest Summer Nail Colors To Try In 2022
Prepare to see a lot of versions of this mesmerizing look in all different shades come this spring (if we all haven’t started wearing it already). You might need a special magnetic polish or gel polish to achieve this cool color-changing velvet effect (use this tutorial to get the exact look), or you can get a similar look with a little less effort by using a holographic nail polish.
Coming out of a long, dreary, gray few months (is it obvious how I feel about winter?), you’ll be thinking of blue skies ahead, so much so you’ll want to paint ‘em across your nails. Add a few white fluffy clouds with a white nail polish if you want to add a little ethereal nail art to your baby blue nails.
Speaking of blue nail polish—French manicures have been making a comeback in recent years—but with a twist, like this thin stripe of turquoise on a pastel blue base. If you prefer to wear a shorter nail length, this is one nail art look you can still definitely pull off.
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Animal print has been a fun trend for a while now, and it’s not stopping anytime soon. Remember that striping brush we talked about earlier? You’re gonna want to use that to create these organic stripes that resemble that of a zebra. I know what you’re thinking—black nail polish for spring? It’s unexpected, and that’s what makes it especially cool. But if you’re into bright hues, the stripes are just as good in rainbow shades.
This look right here is what you get when a handful of colors turns into a hand full of color. Alternate different shades in the same color family or throw in a few other spring nail polishes to make a custom color combination, like this pink and orange pairing, for a super-easy nail art look.
Pastels are about as groundbreaking for spring as florals, but if you’ve already got a pretty serious collection of pastel nail polishes and just need a design idea that incorporates them all, a tie-dye nail look like this one is a fun way to change things up. When you use faded shades instead of bright, vibrant colors, you get a finished look that feels worn-in in the best way—like your favorite comfy tie-dye T-shirt.
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TikTok Loves These Wacky Water-Catching Bracelets FYI, Your Scalp and Hair Need UV Protection Does This Red-Light Wand Leave Your Skin Glowy? Shop Sephora’s Sitewide 20% Off Sale Rn!Of all the pockets of the beauty world that changed the most dramatically over the last year, the nail sector was arguably affected the most. Sure, haircuts and color slowed, and eye makeup is still the only makeup we're concerned with, but the way we do our nails has also evolved to include more at-home treatments. With this in mind, it's more important than ever to have a collection of nail polishes we love on hand in our own homes to make mani time as much fun as possible.
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As much as we love the process of choosing from the infamous walls full of nail polish at our favorite salons, we don't recommend loading up on dozens of bottles just to have ample options to choose from at home. Instead, we advise honing in on the nail polish colors that are the most popular this year so your fingers can always be on-trend. We tapped two of our favorite nail experts in the game—Brittney Boyce, a consulting nail artist for Orly and founder of Nails of LA, and Aline Moreira, a Massachusetts-based nail artist—to spill the tea on the nail colors that are the most popular in 2021. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know.
According to our experts, 2021 is the year of red. But it's not just any red that's taking off—it's the rich burgundies and Bordeauxs that skew deeper in hue than the cherries and orange-tinged shades that gained popularity in 2020. "A beautiful burnt burgundy never goes out of style, " says Moreira. Boyce agrees, adding that the shade is suitable as a stand-alone color or in nail art as a statement color. "Think half-French tips, simple vertical lines down the center of the nail, or even dagger shapes using a deep, velvety red, " she explains.
The classic French manicure has seen an unexpected resurgence over the last couple of years, but innovation in the area is coming in hot. Moreira says one way this will manifest will be the pairing of richer colors—like the burgundy and jade color combination shown here—rather than the classic white tip. "By adding a pop of color, this could easily be a fashion statement, " she remarks. With the endless color combinations available to experiment with, this could be just the source of whimsy we're all seeking in this year.
Nail Polish Colour Trends For 2021 That We're Excited For
This dynamic color duo is just one of the many combos that would make for a perfectly modern French manicure. They complement each other so nicely, and either color could easily serve as the base or the accent.
Moreira says she reaches for natural nudes daily when working with clients. "It's a heavy hitter with an elegant, clean look, " she says. While these milky nudes are pretty on their own, both artists concur that they're also the perfect base for the pretty, minimal nail art taking center stage in 2021. "I always love minimal nails with a lot of negative space, whether with a milky nude as a base or a completely bare nail as a base, " Boyce tells us. "I think the new twist is to add gold accents to play up the nail art. I think this look will continue to trend in 2021 because people will be looking for classic, clean, and simple nail art after a somewhat chaotic year."
Boyce is so committed to the look that she included two different variations of it in the inaugural drop of her newly launched press-on extensions. "The Minimalist and The Muse press-on extensions from Nails of LA feature this look. I designed it because that’s what a lot of people were asking for, and every time I did a minimal nail art with a little gold fixture, it would end up being super popular on social media, " she says. "Plus, it looks gorgeous on all skin tones, from the lightest to the darkest. It's just stunning."
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Brown nail polish was the sleeper hit of fall and winter 2020, and the trend is continuing in 2021. From deep mahogany hues to lighter, almost-beige ones, this '90s-inspired shade won't be letting up any time soon. "They say blondes have more fun, but in this case, I beg to differ. This brunette shade will definitely steal the spotlight in