“I love a chocolate brown with a magnetic cat-eye finish or iridescent chrome,” says Miss Pop, who sent chrome powder-dusted brown nails down Theophilio’s New York Fashion Week runway last fall. She recommends Essie Fall Boho Rodeo in Fringes and Saddle, and we love Manucurist’s Green Nail Polish in Mocha, which is cooler-toned but just as rich.
Forest Green
Courtesy of @melanated.mani
Courtesy of @nailsbyalsn
Another color that flies across feeds every winter is forest green. “It’s hard to ignore the darkness and greenery that comes with wintertime,” says Bana Jarjour, a Los Angeles-based nail artist. “We see deep greens in trees, wreaths, and garlands everywhere we look, and nails will be no exception.”
She recommends Essie Nail Polish in Off Tropic, while I reach for OPI’s RaiDry Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Fir Surely Fast. Glamnetic’s winter collection features Cutie Pine, a set of press-ons in a forest green that also has a hint of shimmer.
Adds Jarjour, this color is flattering on a wide range of skin tones and finishes: “It looks great glossy, but can also be finished with a matte topcoat for a soft velvety look.”
Warm Nudes
This manicure trend goes by many names—clean girl, soap, naked—and nude nails are more popular than ever now. But what does “nude” actually mean for you? “It should reflect your skin color when you’re nude,” says Eunice Park, brand development and education director at Aprés Nail, which means there is no single nude nail color for me to recommend here. “Nudes can range from soft pinks to darker browns. Wearing nudes should give you that my-nails-but-better vibe.”
Park says she’s seen a rise in sales for Aprés Nail’s Light & Shadow Gel Couleur, a line of sheer neutral shades. “It’s our best-selling collection,” she says. As a product developer for the brand, she recommends it for getting this look, obviously, but I second that. I’ve tried the collection and love its shine and longevity, but I did have to break out my LED curing lamp for it.