Treating yourself to a manicure is the pinnacle of self-care, in my opinion. Like, sure, I can absolutely do my own nails at home (a skill I perfected during the 2020 lockdown) but I also know I deserve a little pampering at my favorite local salon. Plus, I can never trim down my cuticles to that perfect “clean girl” level, and when you pick at your fingers as much as I do—anxiety-ridden ladies, rise—you need all the help you can get to maintain pretty paws. So with summer right around the corner, I’m brushing up on the season’s best nail color trends ahead of my next appointment.
True to my maximalist roots, many of summer’s top shades are bold and bright, ideal for jazzing up your breezy poolside aesthetic. Many food-inspired nail colors have lasted through their rise in the fall and have been reimagined for the warmer weather. Whatever your typical manicure aesthetic—long coffin claws or a short and sweet almond shape—I promise that there is a stunning nail polish shade with your name on it. Here are my top five summer nail color trends to dive into this season.
