How do you normally choose your nail polish shades? Do you go with seasonal trends, simply wear your favourite colours, or actually try to match them to your skin tone? If this last formula never crossed your mind, you might as well start matching your nail polishes to your complexion to make the most of it. Here are some helpful tips based on different skin tones:
- 1.If you don’t want your nails to stand out too much, or you are not a fan of experimenting, match colour density to your skin: pair pale skin with pastels and nudes, go for medium tones if your skin is medium dark, and choose midnight blue, purple, dark grey or black if you have dark skin.
- 2.Dark polish conveys a goth look to fair-skinned ladies making their complexion look even paler. If you really want to go with darker shades, pick red or plum, but make sure your nails are well trimmed so they don’t look like creepy fangs. You will also benefit from pink and opaque blush which support blue and pink undertones in pale skin.
- 3.Dark nail polish makes surrounding skin appear lighter, leading to an aristocratic look in the cold season. However, this is the best choice for ladies with warm complexion and a medium tan.
- 4.Good news for women with darker skin tones: they have endless choices and can pull off pretty much any colour, from pale hues (creating a beautiful contrast) to bright (for an exotic look) and dark colours (the ideal match for glamorous long nails).
- 5.Check the veins on the inside of your wrists. A bluish shade indicates a cool complexion, while a greenish one shows you have a warm complexion. This makes matching easier, since cool complexions ask for cool shades (any tone of green, blue and purple), whereas warm complexions obviously require warm shades (all tones of yellow, orange, red and violet).
- 6.A great tip to make your skin look more tanned is to wear metallic polish shades, especially silver. Gold has almost the same effect, but applying a glitzy top over your polish will also do the trick.
- 7.If your complexion is fair to medium but gets quite tanned in summer, you have the freedom to opt for a wide choice of nudes. Go for pale rose in winter, a more intense shade in spring and autumn, and a dark nude in summer to complement your tan. In case you tend to keep the same complexion all year round, find a nude shade that you like and stick to it.
Now all you have to do is go hunting for the perfect shade. This time you will definitely pick the right one!
FAQs
If you don't want your nails to stand out too much, or you are not a fan of experimenting, match colour density to your skin: pair pale skin with pastels and nudes, go for medium tones if your skin is medium dark, and choose midnight blue, purple, dark grey or black if you have dark skin.
How to match nail polish to skin tone? ›
find the perfect essie nail polish for your skin tone
- nail colors for light skin tones – opt for a cloudy pink. ...
- nail colors for medium skin tones – medium skin tones look beautiful in sheer white. ...
- nail colors for dark skin tones – sheer candy pinks look vibrant and youthful on deeper skin ones.
The color of your natural nails can be an indication of your skin tone. If you have a fair complexion, opt for light shades of pink, beige, and white. Women with olive skin tones should choose colors that are in the green family, while those with darker skin should stick to shades of brown, black, or deep red.
How do you match nail color? ›
Consider Your Skin Tone: Different nail colors can complement different skin tones. For fair skin, light pastels, soft pinks, and nude shades work well. Medium skin tones can pull off a wide range of colors, including vibrant reds, corals, and purples.
How do I pick my nail color? ›
7 Tips To Pick The Perfect Nail Colour
- Match Your Skin Tone. To help you decide the perfect nail colour, we always recommend choosing a colour that complements your skin tone. ...
- Compliment Your Style. ...
- Match Your Lips. ...
- Nails For Each Season. ...
- Nails For Every Occasion. ...
- The Latest Trend. ...
- The Classic Clear.
Check out your veins
For example, if your veins look greenish, then you may have warm undertones. People with blue or purplish-looking veins usually have cooler undertones. If you have neutral undertones, then your veins may appear colorless or match the color of your skin.
How do you know if a nail color suits you? ›
Finding the ideal nail color starts with understanding your undertone. To determine your undertone, observe the veins on your wrist. If your veins appear blue or purple, you likely have a cool undertone. If they have a greenish hue, you probably have a warm undertone.
What color nails suit everything? ›
White nails truly go with everything and make any color pop. If you're silently questioning “does white nail polish look good?”, the answer is yes. In the summertime it can be paired beautifully with pastels or bright clothing in your wardrobe.
What nail color makes hands look younger? ›
Lighter Tones: Choose lighter shades of any color, such as pastels or light grays. Lighter tones help to brighten the hands and create a more youthful appearance. Sheer and Natural Finishes: Consider using sheer or natural finishes, like a sheer pink or a clear coat.
What toe color goes with everything? ›
Vibrant Red
"Red adds vibrancy to your manicure or pedicure and works well all year round, from summer vacations [where it complements a sun-kissed glow] to the holiday season." Picking the right shade of red can also add a rich contrast to your skin tone, says Streets.
A: When selecting a nail color to go with your outfit for a special event, do not feel like you need to match it to your outfit. Instead opt for a color that compliments it without matching. A great example would be if you are wearing a navy dress, go for a coral color polish in the summer and a deep red in the winter.
What two nail colors look good together? ›
Nail Colors that Go Together
- Red, White and Blue. Pick a sparkly blue for the majority of your nails. ...
- Mauve and Pink. This combo is not too surprising, but go with a sparkling or glittery mauve. ...
- Berry Gold. A deep berry color is always classy and interesting. ...
- Minty Orange. ...
- Neon and Nude. ...
- The Blues.
If you have pale skin, go for a bright, classic red and avoid sheer tones. For medium skin, red-orange shades look great. For dark complexions, go for a deep wine red. If you have pale skin, hold up a bottle of red polish to the light when shopping.
What nail colors are calming? ›
The color blue can invoke a calming, relaxing feeling, and instill a sense of reliability. The next time you need some help staying calm and focused, paint your nails a shade of blue and reap the benefits.
What color nail polish is popular right now? ›
Pastel Hues: Soft and delicate pastel nail polish colors are also trending this year. These light shades bring a touch of elegance and femininity to your nails, perfect for those who prefer a more subtle and sophisticated look. Metallic Finishes: Metallic nail polish shades are gaining popularity in 2024.
How do I match my skin tone with paint? ›
Mixing Skin tones
Here is one way to mix skin tones using a limited palette: Begin by mixing together equal parts of cadmium red, yellow ochre, and titanium white to create a basic peach tone. Adjust the color by adding more red to create warmer skin tones, or more yellow to create cooler skin tones.
Is there an app to match nail polish color? ›
ShadeScout Nails 4+
Like ShadeScout, the color-inspired mobile app for beauty, now you can find nail polish shades that match any color you see in real life with ShadeScout Nails! Use your mobile device to capture the perfect shade, then tap a swatch to see an instant manicure!
Does your nail polish have to match your toes? ›
A: Your toe nail color and finger nail colors do not have to be the same color. It looks more effortless if you do like a more consistent look, so try a tonal color way with 2 shades of the same color family. Q: I tend to stick to the same shade of colors when it comes my nails. What color suggestions do you have?
What nail polish for undertones? ›
If you have cool undertones, you'll want to opt for nail colors that have cool undertones as well, such as shades of blue, purple, or gray. On the other hand, warm undertones have yellow or peachy undertones in the skin.
