The weather is warming up, and beach days are just around the corner. With the return of sandal season, it’s time to refresh your pedicure game with the latest color trends. From bright and bold to soft and pastel, we’ve got the scoop on the top nine pedicure colors you’ll be seeing everywhere this summer.
Meet the Experts
We spoke with a panel of experts, including Aja Walton, Elle Gerstein, Lily Nguyen, Thea Green, Sarah Chue, Lia J. Smith, Sigourney Nuñez, and Manucurist, to get the inside scoop on the color trends they’re expecting to see on toes this summer.
- Aja Walton, a manicurist and Essie ambassador, emphasizes the importance of toes in summer fashion.
- Elle Gerstein, a nail artist with clients in Los Angeles, New York City, and Long Island, NY, highlights the versatility of blue shades.
- Lily Nguyen, a manicurist and founder of Labo Beauté Salon in Los Angeles, shares her favorite soft, pastel green, mint mojito polish.
- Thea Green, a London-based nail expert and founder of Nails.Inc., recommends cherry red for a timeless summer look.
- Sarah Chue, a nail artist based in Los Angeles, suggests cherry red and butter yellow for a playful, sunny vibe.
- Lia J. Smith, a Los Angeles-based manicurist and OPI North America brand education manager, recommends a bright orange for a carefree spirit.
- Sigourney Nuñez, a manicurist and Sally Hansen global partner based in Los Angeles, highlights the beauty of sheer, jelly nail polish.
- Manucurist, a nail polish brand, recommends cherry red and butter yellow for a classic, summery look.
Ocean Blue
Ocean blue is a calming shade that evokes the feeling of serene, mermaid-like vibes. “It’s a universal color, and the core of what summer feels like,” says Elle Gerstein. You can choose from an iridescent lacquer like The Siren’s Revenge by Mooncat Nails or a crème-finish turquoise tone like Le Mini Macaron’s Blue Vanilla.
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| The Siren’s Revenge by Mooncat Nails | $15 |
| Le Mini Macaron’s Blue Vanilla | $10 |
Sunset Coral
Sunset coral is a classic summer color that flatters all skin tones. “It’s a really bright color that draws instant attention and pairs well with a tan, channeling tropical beaches and sunsets,” says Gerstein. Saturated, glossy shades like Butter London’s Trout Pout, China Glaze’s Thistle Do Nicely, and Chanel’s Le Vernis in Premiére Dame go well with any sandal in your closet.
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Butter London’s Trout Pout | $9 |
| China Glaze’s Thistle Do Nicely | $8 $7 |
| Chanel’s Le Vernis in Premiére Dame | $33 |
Mint Mojito
Mint mojito is a soft, pastel green that feels refreshing and modern. “This soft, pastel green feels refreshing and modern,” says Lily Nguyen. You can choose a creamy, classic mint like Olive & June’s Sleeping Bag or Nails.Inc’s It’s Topless Nail Polish in Camilla, which combines a base and topcoat into the one-step formula.
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Olive & June’s Sleeping Bag | $9 |
| Nails.Inc’s It’s Topless Nail Polish in Camilla | $9 |
Icy Lavender
Icy lavender is a pastel that feels very ethereal and coquette. “Icy lavender is a pastel that feels very ethereal and coquette,” says Aja Walton. Rich, creamy lacquers like Orly’s Self Reef-lection or Cherub by Cirque Colors are perfect for throwing that angel energy, but if you want to dial up the drama, the Lights Lacquer polish in Lavender Rain pairs the soft lilac tone with a blue, iridescent flash for ’90s-era dimension.
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Orly’s Self Reef-lection | $11 |
| Cirque Colors’ Cherub | $13 |
| Lights Lacquer’s Lavender Rain | $15 |
Neon Pink
Neon pink is a bold, juicy color that makes a confident statement. “It’s a bold, juicy color,” says Thea Green. Go for a pure neon like KB Shimmer’s Mix It Up or JINSoon’s Flirt, or turn up the intensity with Pop Rocker by Holo Taco, a bright bubblegum with indigo micro-shimmer.
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| KB Shimmer’s Mix It Up | $12 |
| JINSoon’s Flirt | $18 |
| Holo Taco’s Pop Rocker | $14 |
Cherry Red
Cherry red is a timeless summer color that looks great on everyone. “It’s timeless and a summer staple,” says Thea Green. Heat things up with a true opaque crimson like Manucurist’s Poppy Red or add some shimmer with Ring the Alarm by OPI. “Colors like Paintbox’s Like Desire just scream summer,” adds nail artist Sarah Chue.
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Manucurist’s Poppy Red | $14 |
| OPI’s Ring the Alarm | $10 |
| Paintbox’s Like Desire | $24 |
Butter Yellow
Butter yellow is soft, but she’s certainly not shy, always adding some flash to your toes. This shade, Aja Walton says, playfully leans into the quiet luxury trend. Gucci’s Cecilia Ivory and L.04 by Sundays are classic (and classy!) crème-finish formulas, while Dior’s Lemon Glow has a subtle shimmer finish that has us dreaming of the Amalfi Coast.
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Gucci’s Cecilia Ivory | $33 |
| Sundays’ L.04 | $18 |
| Dior’s Lemon Glow | $32 |
Sheer Mandarin
Sheer, jelly nail polish is a great way to add some hydration to your toes. “Think of the inside of a mandarin orange,” says Lia J. Smith. Formulas like Ella + Mila’s Spread the Love, Essie’s Apricot Jelly, and INLP’s Tango are pigmented enough to provide a veil of color that really pops but still allow your natural nail to show underneath. Bright oranges that lean more towards tangerine remind me of enjoying an Aperol spritz with your best friends,” says Sigourney Nuñez.
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Ella + Mila’s Spread the Love | $11 |
| Essie’s Apricot Jelly | $13 $10 |
| INLP’s Tango | $10 |
The French Pedi
It’s not technically a color, but the French pedicure is back—whether you like it or not. “It’s classic!” says Sarah Chue. Try your hand at the effect by layering a sheer pink like Ten Over Ten’s Eldridge with Pacifica’s Sugar Sugar on the tip. You can use tape as a guide to get a straight line across each nail, just make sure the base coat is completely dry before sticking on the strip. Not into an at-home project?
