8 Summer Nail Colours You Should Really Try, According To The Pros

By Lauren Valenti

As the temperature climbs and the days get brighter and longer, it's the perfect opportunity to experiment with glorious colour – especially when it comes to your summer manicure. "Bold, vibrant, fun colours that feel warm come to mind first," says celebrity nail artist Mo Qin, whose recent clients include Ashley Graham and Jodie Turner-Smith, of this season's mood. While Qin is feeling the pull of bright yellow, fellow editorial pro Betina Goldstein is all about sizzling, citrus-y alternatives to a classic red manicure, like vivid coral. In the same vein, New York City manicurist Jin Soon Choi thinks it's high time to get experimental. "Go for a shade that is a little outside your comfort zone," she says. "Summer is all about fun and adventure!"

Read more: 8 Of The Hottest Summer Nail Trends To Try

Here, the industry's biggest nail pros weigh in on the summer nail colours they can't get enough of right now.

If you’re looking for a summery alternative to tried-and-true crimson, you can't go wrong with a rich coral. Goldstein's go-to is Chanel's Le Vernis polish in Cruise, a highly pigmented orange she considers "sophisticated but playful", while Choi's own fiery Pop Orange shade "works great on warmer skin tones", she says.

The Y2K revival has inspired a new appetite for violet, with international trend forecaster WGSN even deeming "digital lavender" the colour of the year.

"For a lighter, easy-breezy look, pink is beautiful and works great with every skin tone," says Choi, whose shade Muse is a mainstay on many of her editorial shoots due to its universally flattering hue.

Somewhere between blue and green, Qin advocates the soothing effects of azure. "It's refreshing yet bold," says Qin. "It reminds me of a translucent ocean."

The colour of sunshine and so instantly synonymous with summer, yellow is one of this season's key trends. "Seeing yellow really evokes a new spirit of optimism and resilience," says Qin.

"An electric green gives a white linen summer outfit the perfect pop of colour, but also goes perfectly with a black minidress for summer nights out," says Goldstein, who has been reaching for Essie's new limited edition Feelin’ Just Lime polish lately.

A pale off white is perfect for a summer wedding or bridal shower. "When everyone else is sporting a basic nude, marshmallow puts a unique spin on your summer look," says Qin. For a touch of shine and dimension, Goldstein loves an "opalescent sheer" effect.

With its hints of pink and purple, Qin calls periwinkle a "show-stopping" blue that also pairs beautifully with florals. Choi also loves a lavender-tinged blue for summer, calling her baby-blue Aero shade "crisp and clean".

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