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Summer Nail Polish Colours

4 Cool Nail Colour Trends That Are Basically Like Summer in a Bottle

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It's like what Elle Woods said: Summer gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't kill their husbands — they just don't. (Or something like that.)

The same thing applies to the colour of your nails. When you look down at your hands, the shade you're wearing can have a profound, physiological effect on your mood — just like sunlight, sex, or exercise. That makes painting on an electric orange or cool blue polish the perfect way to get ready for the season. It's science. (Please don't put us on trial.)

"We are already starting to see our [Paintbox] clients transition to brighter, bolder colours for an early start to Summer — they're willing warmer weather to come," said Eleanor Langston, chief creative officer of Paintbox. If you're curious to know the mood-boosting hues everyone will be wearing this Summer, Langston is giving us her full nail colour forecast, ahead. What, like it's hard?

Summer Nail Colour Trend: Full-Spectrum Orange

Everyone thought the orange trend would fall like Fall foliage, but it's really just getting a punchy reboot for Summer.

"From poppy red to vivid peach, orange undertones signal that Summer's here," Langston said. "Corals, peaches, and salmon shades are the modern version of millennial pin and are ultraflattering on all skin tones. If you're fair, try a warm cherry red or even a terracotta colour. Medium and olive complexions would look amazing in salmon, tangerine, or cantaloupe shades. And a milky blush or bright grapefruit would be stunning on darker skin tones."

Sally Hansen Insta Dri Crayola Nail Polish in Sunset Orange ($5)

Image Source: ulta.com
Sally Hansen Insta Dri Crayola Nail Polish in Sunset Orange
$5
from ulta.com
Buy Now

Full-Spectrum Orange

Christian Louboutin Loubiflash Nail Colour ($30)

Image Source: shop.nordstrom.com
Christian Louboutin Loubiflash Nail Colour
$30
from shop.nordstrom.com
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Full-Spectrum Orange

Essie Neons Nail Polish Collection in Mark on Miami ($8, originally $9)

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Essie Neons Nail Polish Collection in Mark on Miami
$8
from amazon.com
Buy Now

Full-Spectrum Orange

Nails Inc. Kiss My Peach Duo Nail Set ($15)

Image Source: sephora.com
Nails Inc. Kiss My Peach Duo Nail Set
$15
from sephora.com
Buy Now

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Full-Spectrum Orange

OPI Spring 2019 Tokyo Collection Nail Lacquer in Tempura-ture Is Rising! ($11)

Image Source: amazon.com
OPI Spring 2019 Tokyo Collection Nail Lacquer in Tempura-ture Is Rising!
$11
from amazon.com
Buy Now

Full-Spectrum Orange

Butter London Glazen Nail Lacquer in Blaze ($10)

Image Source: amazon.com
Butter London Glazen Nail Lacquer in Blaze
$10
from amazon.com
Buy Now

Summer Nail Colour Trend: Neutral Territory

Think of this next trend like the Happy Days of nail colours. "Following '70s trends in interior design, we're loving a range of surprisingly flattering caramels, marigolds, butterscotch, and sepia tones," Langston said. "These colours make a cool statement as an accessory on your fingertips and are the new neutral for this Summer."

Nars Iconic Colour Nail Polish in Pastorale ($20)

Image Source: shop.nordstrom.com
Nars Iconic Colour Nail Polish in Pastorale
$20
from shop.nordstrom.com
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Neutral Territory

Essie Nail Polish in Mani Thanks! ($8)

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Essie Nail Polish in Mani Thanks!
$8
from target.com
Buy Now

Neutral Territory

Oribe The Lacquer High Shine Nail Polish in The Nude ($23)

Image Source: Net-a-Porter.com
Oribe The Lacquer High Shine Nail Polish in The Nude
$23
from net-a-porter.com
Buy Now

Neutral Territory

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Black Sugar ($37)

Image Source: shop.nordstrom.com
Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Black Sugar
$37
from shop.nordstrom.com
Buy Now

Neutral Territory

Smith & Cult Nail Lacquer in Colour 1972 ($18)

Image Source: hsn.com
Smith & Cult Nail Lacquer in Colour 1972
$18
from hsn.com
Buy Now

Neutral Territory

OPI Infinite Shine in Staying Neutral ($10)

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OPI Infinite Shine in Staying Neutral
$10
from amazon.com
Buy Now

Neutral Territory

Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro in Stargasm ($20)

Image Source: dermstore.com
Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro in Stargasm
$20
from dermstore.com
Buy Now

Neutral Territory

Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Blanc White ($28)

Image Source: shop.nordstrom.com
Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Blanc White
$28
from shop.nordstrom.com
Buy Now

Summer Nail Colour Trend: Breezy Blues

Move over, cobalt. "The most modern blues are ones that are softer, such as sky blue, cornflower blue, or even cerulean," she said. "The gentler blues give your fingertips a seaside vibe that's really nice for warmer months — and isn't as jarring as Yves Klein blue. We're also super into dusty denim shades, too."

Deborah Lippmann Nail Colour in Blue Orchid ($18)

Image Source: shop.nordstrom.com
Deborah Lippmann Nail Colour in Blue Orchid
$18
from shop.nordstrom.com
Buy Now

Breezy Blues

Olive & June Nail Polish in BP ($8)

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Olive & June Nail Polish in BP
$8
from olivejune.com
Buy Now

Breezy Blues

OPI Nail Lacquer in No Room For the Blues ($11)

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OPI Nail Lacquer in No Room For the Blues
$11
from amazon.com
Buy Now

Breezy Blues

Dior Vernis Gel Shine & Long Wear Nail Lacquer in Junon ($28)

Image Source: shop.nordstrom.com
Dior Vernis Gel Shine & Long Wear Nail Lacquer in Junon
$28
from shop.nordstrom.com
Buy Now

Breezy Blues

Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Exit the Void ($18)

Image Source: shop.nordstrom.com
Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Exit the Void
$18
from shop.nordstrom.com
Buy Now

Breezy Blues

Zoya Nail Lacquer in Saint ($10)

Image Source: ulta.com
Zoya Nail Lacquer in Saint
$10
from ulta.com
Buy Now

Summer Nail Colour Trend: Neons

The theme for Paintbox's 2019 Summer collection is "flying colours," which means "sheer bases with pops of linear and graphic neons, such as highlighter yellows, bold fuchsias, and vibrant limes," she said. "I think neon can be intimidating, but I'm loving these bright pops of colours on neon bases."

OPI Tokyo Infinite Shine Collection ($13)

Image Source: ulta.com
OPI Tokyo Infinite Shine Collection
$13
from ulta.com
Buy Now

Neons

JinSoon Nail Lacquer in Tweety ($18)

Image Source: beautyhabit.com
JinSoon Nail Lacquer in Tweety
$18
from beautyhabit.com
Buy Now

Neons

Smith & Cult Nail Polish in Plastic Beach ($18)

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Smith & Cult Nail Polish in Plastic Beach
$18
from amazon.com
Buy Now

Neons

Essie Neons Nail Polish Collection in Stencil Me In ($9)

Image Source: Amazon
Essie Neons Nail Polish Collection in Stencil Me In
$9
from amazon.com
Buy Now

Neons

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Va Va Violet ($5)

Image Source: sallyhansen.com
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Va Va Violet
$5
from ulta.com
Buy Now

Neons

Zoya Nail Polish in Cana Neon ($10)

Image Source: Amazon
Zoya Nail Polish in Cana Neon
$10
from amazon.com
Buy Now

Neons

CND Vinylux Long Wear Polish in Taffy ($11)

Image Source: ulta.com
CND Vinylux Long Wear Polish in Taffy
$11
from ulta.com
Buy Now

Neons

China Glaze Nail Polish in Hang-Ten Toes ($7)

Image Source: Amazon
China Glaze Nail Polish in Hang-Ten Toes
$7
from amazon.com
Buy Now

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