No time of year celebrates and showcases nails more than summertime. The season of sandals is finally here, so that means it’s time to refresh your manicure and pedicure more regularly. But nailing down which new polish shade to try is no easy task. To help, we’ve sought out the advice of a few experts in the know, including celebrity and editorial nail artists Jin Soon Choi, Betina Goldstein, Imarni, Julie Kandalec, Naima Coleman, Angel My Linh, and Queenie Nguyen.
Shop the Best Summer Nail Polish Colors
- MetallicEmilie Heathe Nail Polish in Mr. MRead more
- MetallicJin Soon Nail Polish in SpiffyRead more
- MetaillicOPI Nail Polish in PearlcoreRead more
From the unexpected (hello butter yellow and chartreuse) to the classics (red and nude are always in fashion), we’ve narrowed down the top shades nail enthusiasts love right now. Here are the best summer 2024 nail colors for your most stylish mani and pedi yet.
Related: The Best Summer 2024 Nail Trends
Metallics
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Metallics are back, but this summer they are taking on a more chic, glam, and sophisticated touch, Choi says. Think rose gold, translucent silver, or pearly white shades. “Picture wearing these metallic colors on a sunny day, with your nails and toenails catching the light to create a stunning, luminous effect,” she adds. “I call it ‘light-catching nails.”
Metallic
Emilie Heathe Nail Polish in Mr. M
$30 at Neiman MarcusCredit: Nordstrom
Your spirit fingers will be even more effective this summer once they’re painted with this dazzling silver polish from Emilie Heathe.
Metallic
Jin Soon Nail Polish in Spiffy
$18 at JINsoonCredit: Jin Soon
Metallics are endlessly on trend, but rose gold, like Choi’s version, Spiffy, is rarely seen. Swipe on and show it off.
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Metaillic
OPI Nail Polish in Pearlcore
$14 at AmazonCredit: OPI
The world is your oyster when you use this shiny pearlescent sheer shade.
Jelly (and Jam) Nails
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Fashion trends often bleed into beauty (and vice versa), but the sharp, rapid rise of jelly sandals and the corresponding jelly-finish nail polishes are especially impressively paired. And perfect for summer, says Choi, Coleman, and Kandalec. Jelly nails have a range of popularity this summer, including pastel colors with a jelly finish. The softness of the hues and finish take on more of a modern sheer, Choi says, making them super wearable and fantastic for daily use.
But jelly nails can also go big. This summer, expect a greater multitude of bold jelly colors, Kandalec says, like sheer washes of more saturated colors (i.e., “a sheer violet in lieu of opaque lilac,” adds Kandalec). This modern take on jelly even has a new name. “They are called ‘jam’ colors or ‘jam nails,” like how fruit jam is more opaque than jelly,” Kandalec adds.
Sometimes, two trends combine for one super trend, as is the case with metallic and reflective jelly hues, as seen at NailCon in Seoul by Kandalec.
Jelly Nails
Essie Nail Polish in Cactus Jelly
$1 at EssieCredit: Essie
Match your favorite drink to your nails with this matcha green jelly nail polish. The sheer, yet buildable finish allows for customization, too.
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Jelly Nails
Jin Soon Nail Polish in Crush
$18 at JINsoonCredit: Jin Soon
Perfectly on trend, this jelly polish (which veers into jam territory) in a vivid orange-red hue is a trendsetter. Choi says the bright translucent hue is reminiscent of balsam flower petals.
Jelly Nails
Cirque Colors Nail Polish in Lavender Sky
$12 at AmazonCredit: Cirque Colors
Sheer lilac with a milky, buildable look dances between nude and jelly territory, perfectly representing both trends this summer.
Vivid Reds
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Red is always a good idea. This summer’s red is bold and energetic. Choi is betting on red-orange shades, like the hue that was featured on the Brandon Maxwell Spring/Summer 2024 Runway. “Red manicures never go out of style because they’re striking yet classic shades that are associated with passion and love,” Choi previously told Bazaar.com.
Cherry red will also be popular, says celebrity nail artist Angel My Linh. “It’s usually a more fall/winter color but with the mob wife trend that recently took over from the clean girl aesthetic, I think more people are opting for the bright classic colors,” adds Linh.
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Vivid Reds
Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Color Nail Polish in My Old Flame
Perhaps you’re still searching for the perfect classic true red. Grab this gel-like polish from nail pro Lippmann, which is also enhanced with enriching ingredients like keratin, biotin, and rice protein.
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Brick Red
Tenoverten Nail Polish in Ludlow
$14 at tenoverten.comCredit: Tenoverten
Tenoverten’s Ludlow is a cool-toned shade inspired by New York City that will help you stand out from the pack in a sea of red manicures.
Vivid Reds
Gitti Nail Polish in 139
$20 at gittibeauty.comCredit: Gitti
The wildly popular German brand Gitti has finally come stateside, and it has quickly become a favorite among Bazaar editors. The plant-based nail polishes have some of the cleanest formulas on the market, yet they are still high-performance and wonderfully long-lasting. Like this fiery red-orange hue, the shades are bold and adventurous, too.
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A Variety of Yellows
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Butter yellow is already a viral hit this summer, but expect a whole slew of yellows to take off too, says Chanel nail artist Betina Goldstein. “I think we are going to see a lot of hues of yellow this summer, including ivory, eggshell, and canary-jelly yellow, as well as shades of chartreuse,” Goldstein adds.
Yellows
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in Does Not Comcute
$6 at TargetCredit: Sally Hansen
This buttery yellow hue is so idyllic, pair it with a matching yellow summer dress for a charming look.
Yellows
Hermes Nail Enamel in Jaune Imperial
$57 at Nordstrom$57 at Saks Fifth AvenueCredit: Hermes
Try this ochre shade if you’re afraid to dip your toe in the yellow polish pond. After all, only Hermes could make yellow look this timeless and chic.
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Yellows
Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Let’s Call it a Chartreuse
$12 at TargetCredit: Habit
Love it or hate it, chartreuse is back and bigger than ever.
Green Theme
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Speaking of chartreuse, green is still showing staying power. “I’m loving bright greens, which works on all skin tones,” Coleman says. And Nguyen predicts that green will continue to be a popular color well past the summer season—and we’re here for it.
Green
OPI Nail Lacquer in I’m So Swamped!
$13 at TargetCredit: Skinstore
Here’s another bright green option from OPI that has rave reviews.
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Green
Gucci Nail Polish in Melinda Green
$35 at Nordstrom$35 at SephoraCredit: Nordstrom
A bright green shade, like this one from Gucci, is the perfect way to add a playful pop of color to your next look.
Green
Nailtopia Nail Lacquer in Green Goddess
$10 at Ulta Beauty$9 at Amazon$10 at WalmartCredit: Nailtopia
This avocado green hue looks impossibly modern and fresh this summer.
Feeling Blue
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Goldstein is betting on blue, especially in all shades from cornflower to azure. If you love being ahead of the curve, swipe on any hue of blue.
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Blue
J. Hannah Nail Polish in Morning Glory
$22 at jhannahjewelry.comCredit: J. Hannah
J. Hannah loves museum collaborations (she’s previously collaborated with the Metropolitan Museum), and this new, very special one with LACMA has two shades directly samples from the 1671 still life “Flowers in a Glass Vase” by Dirck de Bray. The painterly azure is era- and trend-transcending, making it ideal for any season.
Blue
Chanel Le Vernis in Muse
$32 at ChanelCredit: Chanel
Need more proof that blue is about to be the color of the summer? Chanel’s spring 2024 makeup collection features the sold-out Lagune, a satiny shimmer azure. While we wait to see if they restock, snag the baby blue hue Muse to straddle two trends: nude and blue.
Blue
Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Sail Away
$22 at dazzledry.comCredit: Dazzle Dry
This light periwinkle blue with subtle shimmer pairs perfectly with your favorite summer sandals. Plus Dazzle Dry polishes are designed to last up to four weeks and take just five minutes to set — perfect for a flawless manicure and pedicure while jet-setting on a long holiday.
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Timeless Nude Shades
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When in doubt, a sheer nude always looks classy. “I’m also going to still keep it simple with a clean, barely polished sheer pink nail, which still looks super put together,” Coleman says. An added bonus of these minimalist classics? They’re super easy to swipe on quickly when you’re in a rush to get out of the door and to the beach.
Nude
Manucurist Nail Polish in Hortencia
$14 at manucurist.comCredit: Amazon
This French-made, vegan polish is 9-free and has a ballet pink finish that works for just about any skin tone, thanks to a hint of yellow.
Your Nails, But Better
Nailberry Nail Polish in Au Naturel
$21 at Violet GreyCredit: Violet Grey
For a natural-looking manicure that’s the perfect base for the lip gloss nails trend, Nguyen recommends opting for a soft and clean sheer pink or nude shade, like this one from Nailberry.
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Your Nails, But Better
Olive & June Nail Polish in CHM
$9 at Olive & JuneCredit: Olive & June
This sheer tan shade from Olive & June has a gel-like finish that’s so neutral, it’s practically mistake-proof.
Go Bright
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A summer staple for a good reason, neons will always be popular once the weather starts to heat up, Imarni says. This season is the perfect time to experiment with bold pops of color, especially when the shades are highlighter hues of pink, yellow, orange, and green.
Neons
Orly Nail Lacquer in Snatched
$10 at Ulta Beauty$8 at Amazon$9 at WalmartCredit: Orly
Allow your nails to scream “summer” with this brighter-than-the-sun neon yellow polish.
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Neons
Nails Inc. Nail Polish in Naked in Neon
For a plant-powered, high-shine formula that still provides plenty of hot pink vibrancy, we recommend this long-wear polish from Nails Inc.
Neons
Zoya Nail Polish in Soraya
$12 at Ulta BeautyCredit: Zoya
Zoya understood the vibrancy assignment with this Beachy Brights neon collection. The fuschia hue in Soraya is particularly apt for summer.
Meet the Experts
- Jin Soon Choi is the iconic editorial and celebrity nail artist and the founder of JINsoon salons and nail line
- Betina Goldstein is an incredibly talented celebrity manicurist and a Chanel nail artist
- Imarni is a famed celebrity nail artist, known for her impeccable eye
- Julie Kandalec is a celebrity manicurist and educator, as well as the founder of Julie K Nail Artelier in New York City
- Naima Coleman is a sought-after London-based session manicurist
- Angel My Linh is a celebrity nail artist and one of the most sought-after nail creatives in London
- Queenie Nguyen is a beloved celebrity and editorial manicurist based in Los Angeles
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Shop more beauty tips from Bazaar:
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- The 14 Best Nail Glues for Long-Lasting DIY Manicures
- All the Best Nail Trends to Try in 2024
- The 11 Best Nail Drills for Expert-Level Buffing and Shaping
- The 16 Essential Nail Kits for Your Best Manicure, Ever
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