Tips on Matching Your Nail Polish to Your Skin Tone (2024)

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!

Tips on Matching Your Nail Polish to Your Skin Tone (2024)

FAQs

Tips on Matching Your Nail Polish to Your Skin Tone? ›

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.

Should hands and feet nail polish match? ›

No , your fingernails and toenails do not have to match when wearing nail polish . In fact , it can be fun and creative to have different colors on your fingers and toes . Experiment with different shades and patterns to express your unique style .

What nail color goes with fair skin tone? ›

Mauve nail color complements the cool undertones of pale skin beautifully, creating a harmonious and flattering effect. Whether you're going for a soft and romantic look or a more edgy and modern vibe, mauve is a fantastic option to enhance the natural beauty of fair skin.

What color nail polish looks better on older hands? ›

“If you have a lighter skin tone, the color would differ depending on how fair your skin is, but corals, greens, and red would be good for older hands because it draws attention to the nails,” according to Orly. According to Orly, older adults with darker skin may look best in orange, gold, and gray shades.

What color nail polish 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 color nail polish makes hands look older? ›

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 nail color do guys find most attractive? ›

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 is the best nail polish color for a 70 year old? ›

Nude Nail Color: Reliable Neutrals

A nude polish has anti-aging power and every woman should have a go-to nude polish.

What nail colors are trending in 2024? ›

The Prettiest Nail Polish Colors For Spring 2024. Soft peach, bold yellow, and fiery red are all in store. Spring breathes new life into everything from the greenery you see outside to beauty trends.

How to pick a neutral nail color? ›

When choosing your neutral nail polish, the trick is to stick to your temperature/tonal range (warm, cool or neutral). To offer a bit of contrast to your complexion, experiment with colours that are a touch deeper or lighter than your actual skin colour within your tonal group.

How do you match nail polish to clothes? ›

If you're wearing neutral or monochromatic clothing, you can opt for a pop of color on your nails with shades like red, pink, or even metallics. If your outfit is already vibrant or patterned, a more neutral or complementary shade like nude, beige, or taupe can help balance the overall look.

What is the pink nail theory? ›

Gloria Williams has been Oprah Winfrey's personal pedicurist for the last 12 years. And she believes that the nail polish color a person picks can say a lot about their personality. A red mani means you're daring and independent, while pink nails mean you're a people-pleaser.

Does your nail polish have to match your toes? ›

Q: Do my finger nail polish and toe nail polish have to match? 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.

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