Maya Allen is a beauty editor with over five years of experience covering hair, makeup, skin, and nails. She is currently the beauty director for InStyle Magazine.
Eden Stuart is an editor at . She covers all beauty and wellness topics, with a special emphasis on makeup, skincare, and haircare.
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Evelyn Lim is a nail expert with more than 18 years of experience. She currently serves as the chief educator of Paintbox, a top nail studio in NYC.
The Best Nude Nail Polishes For Darker Skin Tones
Practically every day, another new nail shade launches. And while this wasn’t always the case, these days, many of those shades are specifically formulated with dark skin tones in mind. What’s the best nail color for dark skin tones? Well, pretty much all the hues of the rainbow—there isn’t a single shade that doesn’t work for melanin-rich skin. Vibrant, high-impact colors pop against your pigment, while deep, sultry shades are practically created for those with deeper skin tones. And as long as the formula is quality, pastels will provide a beautiful contrast. (And who wants to mess with a low-quality polish anyway?) Keep scrolling for 50 fun nail colors that look amazing on dark skin tones.
Go bold or go home with a vibrant red shade. A slight squiggle in the middle will add dimension and intrigue. Use precisely applied tape to achieve this negative space style.
Choose a bright blue like this vibrant aqua hue. If you're feeling spicy, recreate the above by adding a metallic adornment in the center for an edgy finish.
Another Swatch On Dark Skin, Opi \\
Stand out this season and choose a pastel-colored hue, like baby blue or soft pink, that will look gorgeous against your skin.
This modern style shows how playing with lines seamlessly meshes opposite colors together in the best way. Chocolate brown will always look like it was made for dark skin—adding a splash of ocean blue takes this shade up a notch.
A light peach shade gives nails a nice wash of muted color. Add as many accents as you like, but seriously, the peachy tone here looks fantastic.
Natural Nail Polish
A chic rainbow never hurt anyone. Go simple by painting a different vibrant color on each nail, or get creative with a fun design.
Berry shades will instantly brighten up the look of your nails, which are made especially sweet when mini polka dots are involved.
Neon yellow makes a chic statement, as shown in this classic mani. The bright hue is almost out of this world and garners a second glance.
Timelessly Beautiful Nail Colours That Go With Everything
Not sure which neutral color you want to wear on your nails? Try them all. A range of sandy shades looks creative and classic all at the same time.
A neutral caramel shade is ideal for a minimalist and looks especially great against matching accessories. If you want something that leans on the professional side, go for a simple, glossy finish.
Dive into warm weather with citrus-inspired nails that look especially stunning on deep skin tones. Using the entire spectrum of orange and yellow with cool designs is the way to go.
Best Nail Colors For Dark Skin |
Get festive with metallic shades that run the gamut. As proven with the foil design here, these are sure to shine on your skin.
Looking for nails that will make the ultimate statement this season? This fiery color blends highlighter nostalgia with fresh, fruity vibes for a nail look that really pops against dark skin tones.
A simple burgundy shade is a classic for colder weather and evening affairs, but we say you should embrace how it pops against a darker skin tone any time you want. Plus, the half-moon design adds a modern touch.
A Guide To Picking Your Perfect Natural Nail Color
Try out any pastel hue for an extra sweet look, or combine all your favorites for a multi-colored mani that's perfectly suited for spring. We love the use of wavy lines and white polish here to create an artsy look.
A chrome hue like this one has flecks of gold and silver woven throughout the polish for a standout manicure that matches whatever jewelry you're wearing that day.
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Sure, this design doesn't paint your whole nail in an earthy wash of color, but as you can see, the deep green, mustard, and earth-toned accents look seriously divine against partially bare nails.
Nude Nails: How To Find The Right Nude Nail Polish For You
Sheer pink is universally gorgeous, but we especially love how this translucent blush iteration, complete with a raw stripe of metallic pink across the middle, looks against a deep skin tone.
It's classic for a reason. This shade exudes elegance and makes a statement every time, and we love how the white stripe makes cherry red pop even more against partially bare nails and a rich skin tone.
Sometimes you need your nail polish to match your all-black outfit, and a glossy finish of the classic shade looks stunning against a deep skin tone. Find your favorite formula and turn to it whenever you need an easy yet put-together mani.
The Secret To Finding The Perfect Nude Nail Polish For Darker Skin Tones
We showcased a punchy peach earlier, but this design takes it to the next level by mixing a white base with black standout lines, plus additional peach and gold detailing. The whimsical brushstrokes look like a painter's palette in nail art form.
Call it a green thumb, but we're smitten with this succulent-inspired shade. It works for almost any season. An edgy fall shade, or perhaps, a holiday-inspired addition to a Christmas-themed nail? No matter when you wear it, the plant-inspired tone always looks fantastic.
Lavender is a gentle, whimsical shade we can't help but return to again and again. Lavender oil may have serious calming properties, but we can say even the color leaves us feeling pretty relaxed. It's got it all—a minimalistic design, an eye-catching color choice, and a hint of colorful sparkle to seal the deal.
Best Natural Looking Nail Designs And Ideas To Try For 2023
Spin a color wheel and choose your favorite shade. Better yet, combine a few, like this manicure that pairs classic red and yellow with pale pink for nostalgic art-class vibes.
This futuristic, negative-space design incorporates muted silver and gold tones for a standout look. It's not exactly the bright shimmer you'd expect, but there's something subtle and classic about the mixed metals here, and honestly, we can't look away.
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Cream doesn't have to mean boring. Here, a slick of cream polish gets an added pop via a statement finger (with polka dots, naturally).
Find Your Perfect Nude Nail Polish
This electric hue looks great even when matte. Here, it packs an added punch thanks to a mix of longer, square-shaped nails with some that are pointed.
Neon packs a punch, so don't worry about adding accessories or rocking a statement nail. Here, the statement is all about the vibrant hue.
Gold foil is a quick and (relatively) easy way to achieve an incredibly regal mani. Add a few gemstones and pearls to lean even further into the maximalist vibes.
Best Nail Polish Colors That Look Great On All Skin Tones In 2023
A goes-with-anything hue, gray is a great in-between shade for those who appreciate a neutral, but still want something a little different.
This silver polish is ideal for a nighttime look—or just a way to add some oomph to your daily look. Here, abstract silver splotches over clear nails make for a serious statement.
This shade—deep purple, aubergine, or eggplant, whichever term you prefer—is a great winter hue and an option that offers more personality than basic brown.
Nail Polish Colors For 2023 That Are Already Trending
Situated somewhere between blue and green on the color spectrum, teal is the perfect shade for those transitional weeks when the weather feels situated somewhere between winter and spring (or summer and fall).
While the gemstone details really make this manicure pop, trust us—this sapphire blue shade will look just as arresting on its own.Whether you hail from the States, Latin America, Southeast Asia, Africa, or beyond, your melanin gifts you a special beauty that begs to be shown off — all the way down to your nails.
So where do you start when picking out nail colors that work for, not against, your shade of brown? How do you make your nail color really pop? When do you go glossy or matte? When should you keep it neutral?
New Liquid Glass Lacquers
This article features Black nail salon owners who intimately know the industry trends for color on the full range of dark skin tones.
Here are their recommendations for choosing a color that showcases the beauty of your skin, plus Black-owned nail polish lines that feature colors and finishes designed to make you shine.
Whether it’s a tried-and-true skin care regimen, how often you wash your hair, or the cosmetics you’re curious about, beauty is personal.
The 18 Best Nail Colors For Dark Skin Tones
That’s why we rely on a diverse group of writers, educators, and other experts to share their tips on everything from the way product application varies to the best sheet mask for your individual needs.
We only recommend something we genuinely love, so if you see a shop link to a specific product or brand, know that it’s been thoroughly researched by our team.
Knowing your skin’s undertone — the color underneath your skin’s surface — is an important first step for selecting a flattering nail color.
Hottest Summer Nail Colors To Try In 2022
Jasmine Requena of Jazzy Nails Studio in Decatur, Georgia, recommends looking at the underside of your wrist to see if you have warm or cool undertones.
Do you see golds and yellows? Then you likely have warm undertones. Pinks, reds, and blues? Your undertones are cool. If you can’t tell, you’re likely neutral.
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Spring Nail Colors & Trends We're Loving For 2022
