Nails.co.uk has uncovered the most and least popular nail colors to wear after analyzing 1.24 million reviews across 890 highly-rated nail polishes on Google Shopping.
They have analyzed the review score and the number of reviews for the top 89 products for the 10 most popular colors on Google. Here's what they found:
Green is the most popular nail color to wear.
Color experts say that green is regarded as the most restful and relaxing color for the human eye, which makes sense as to why most people would choose it as the color to paint their nails.
"'Bottega Green' is a shade of green that has stormed the fashion industry since 2021," Liana Thomson, nails.co.uk expert, explains. "Since then, we have seen every single shade of green crop up in both our wardrobes and on our nails, which helps explain why it is now the most popular nail color according to our new study.”
Yellow is the least popular nail color.
According to the data, yellow is the least popular color of the 10 most common colors.
Color psychologists claim that the color yellow stands for cowardice, deceitfulness, impulsiveness, and egoism. More claims suggest that high levels of exposure to yellow can also lead to aggression and irritability; however, painting your fingernails yellow isn’t going to give you enough exposure to the color to cause you any problems.
Experts say to paint your nails orange in July.
In the study, orange was found to be the second most popular nail color.
Searches for ‘orange nails’ spike every year in July and have done so for the last 5 years, showing that summer is the best time for this nail shade.
"Orange often brings out the brown and red tint in your skin, which is why it is a popular choice peak-summer," Thomson explains.
Grey nails are more popular than pink nails.
The research found that grey was a more popular nail color with an average star rating of 4.53 placing it as the third most popular nail color, five places above pink, which sits at seventh place.
“Pale pink is a typical nail color choice for many because of how natural the color is on the nail bed," Thomson says.
Subtle shades, like pink and nude, are more commonly allowed in the workplace, unlike bolder and braver choices such as yellow, red and orange.
"We believe that grey has appeared higher on the list because it is still a color that is subtle enough to wear every day but is different enough to stand out from the majority of painted nails," Thomson explains.
You can see the full list of the most popular nail colors according to the nails.co.uk study below.
Top Ten Most Popular Traditional Nail Colors
- Green
- Orange
- Grey
- Red
- Purple
- White
- Pink
- Black
- Blue
- Yellow
FAQs
When it comes to choosing a nail color, there is no right or wrong answer. The best way to find the perfect nail color for you is to take into account your skin tone. If you have fair skin, look for colors with a cool blue undertone. For medium to dark skin tones, opt for colors with warm red or orange undertones.
What color should I paint my nails in 2024? ›
Vibrant Neons: Neon nail polish shades are all the rage in 2024. These bold and eye-catching colors add a pop of excitement to any manicure, making them a favorite choice for those who want to make a statement with their nails.
What nail color is most attractive to guys? ›
Nail design: Men like these colors
In a representative survey, the German Paint Institute found that men generally likeblue , but also likegray , black and brown . Both sexes like green about equally, while women are more likely to like red ,yellow ,beige and orange .
What color makes your nails look the longest? ›
Because dark colors like rouge, indigo and even black focus attention to your nail shape, they make your nails look longer.
What color should my natural nails be? ›
Healthy nails are generally pink. Very pale nails may indicate illnesses, such as anemia, congestive heart failure or liver disease. Poor nutrition also may be a culprit.
What color nail polish ages you? ›
Dark polishes, particularly stark black, run the risk of making mature hands appear less youthful, especially when it comes to cool-toned shades like deep navy, bluish reds, and wine purples. These exacerbate any skin dullness or dark spots caused by sun damage that you might be worried about.
What is the summer color nail polish for 2024? ›
Tangerine. Reminiscent of Fanta soda and summer sunsets, tangerine practically screams summer. For California-based nail artist Lonna Janee, “it's giving sunflower, it's giving sun,” which makes it one of her go-to summer colors. We love Essie Break It Sundown, a beautiful orange polish with yellow undertones.
Should toes and nails match? ›
Should Your Manicure and Pedicure Match? Simply put, no – you mani and pedi doesn't have to match. Back in the day, it used to be mandatory to match the colour on your fingernails to your toes but, over the years this trend has become predictable and a little boring too.
What is a classy nail color? ›
Nail polish popularity ebbs and flows with the tides of trends, but the most enduring shades are the classics: red, nude, pale pink, sheer white, and opaque white.
What nail color means your single? ›
Urban Dictionary states: “If someone has white nail polish on it means that they are single and available.” This is something that has gone viral, with the belief that the nail color indicates a particular relationship status. On the other hand, what does it mean if someone has blue nails?
This theory has been around for years, and has been backed up by scientific studies. One study found that men were more likely to rate a woman as attractive if she was wearing red nail polish. The study also found that men were more likely to approach a woman who was wearing red nail polish.
What is the prettiest nail shape? ›
Best nail shape: Almond and Oval. Tapered shapes like almond elongate shorter or wider fingers. We recommend that you opt for rounded shapes in general, especially if you have a wide nail bed.
What color looks best on toenails? ›
According to Baek, when deciding on nail polish shades, cooler tones like greens and blues tend to look best on the feet, while warmer tones like peach and pink work on hands.
What nail color is slimming? ›
The Best Nail Polish To Use To Make Your Fingers Look Slim
For this reason, different shades of nude are the gold standard when it comes to a color that will highlight your look. Something that is important to note though, is that everybody's shade of nude will differ based on your skin tone.
How do I know which nail color suits me? ›
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.
Which fingernail should be a different color? ›
Your accent nail can be your ring finger (a popular choice), your thumbnail, or any nail you want to call attention to.
What nail color looks professional? ›
What type of color will be professional in your workplace? Don't use any bright neon colors, glitters or eye-catching effects. You shouldn't mix the colors for example multichrome nails, you should pick a nice and delicate tone, light pink or nude shades will be the best choice.
