Finally—I can see spring’s delicate, warm light at the end of the dreary winter tunnel. I don’t need three layers of wool to merely step outside! The sun sets past six! Birds are chirping as I type this sentence! To celebrate the occasion, beauty enthusiasts (myself very much included) are sprinting to the nail salon and choosing a spring-forward pedicure color to show off, stat. We are gearing up for sandal season, after all.
That said, selecting your debut polish can feel overwhelming. True, it’s not actually that deep (you can switch up your pedi as often as you like), but it’s not uncommon to crave a chic, eye-catching shade that perfectly sets the tone for the season. I’ve been daydreaming about these very shades for months as I slogged away in the snow, saving inspiration from my IG feed and chatting with experts about their spring pedi predictions.
The overarching theme? Pastels will once again see their reign (I know, ), but they’ll lean more elevated thanks to sheer or iridescent finishes. “The overall vibe is still fresh for spring but a little more refined,” professional nail artist Ramon Duran tells me. Celebrity manicurist Miss Pop agrees: “There is a gentle lightness to the trending colors,” she says. “Nothing is absolutely opaque. This spring is about soft clouds of color and subtlety.” Below, discover eight shades already adopted by the chicest individuals, from a veil of soft lilac to a semi-sheer matcha green.
Nope, milky white polishes aren’t going anywhere. Pantone’s Color of the Year is called “cloud dancer,” after all! That said, milky finishes don’t tend to peak until we’re well into sandal weather, but Miss Pop predicts an earlier adoption this spring.
“A traditional sheer polish can be too revealing to wear as a pedi color, especially right out of boot season,” she explains. “However, the milky, semi-sheer formulas that are trending this spring are more forgiving and still airy and light.” Not stark white yet not completely translucent, these semi-sheer polishes provide just a hint of creamy color that, according to Miss Pop, appears very chic and modern.
An earthy, mossy green makes sense for this time of year, but given the general trend towards gentle, cloudy polishes, we can expect a creamier, matcha-esque green to reign supreme.
“A sophisticated green nail is instant cool-girl status,” Miss Pop declares, adding that a soft sage hue is both calming and striking. “Green was on-trend in the early 90s when Hard Candy branded it with names like Greed and AWOL. But now, green is back in a big way with a more elegant approach—a milky, semi-sheer finish.”
Lilac is a particularly dreamy polish choice for spring and summer, as soon as the weather thaws. However, according to Miss Pop, this year’s lilac pedicures will appear even softer with a veil of pearly glaze. “Pearl or opalescent finishes, especially over sheer nude, soft white, or pastel lilac shades, subtly catch all the sunshine coming for us this spring,” she shares.
We like to think of lilac as an “almost neutral” nail color, as it adds a little more intrigue to a monochromatic outfit yet remains universally flattering. “Lilac is incredibly easy to wear on a multitude of skin tones,” celebrity manicurist once told WWW about the . Still, if you’re not one to typically opt for a lush lavender, this sheer, minimal take feels even more wearable.
“One thing I’m noticing is that people want pedicure colors that feel clean, luxurious but still fun,” Duran notes. Enter strawberry tones (i.e., vibrant, reddish-pink hues) that pack a punch without teetering into full-on neon territory. According to Duran, these shades (think OPI’s Strawberry Margarita) “have a fresh spring energy while still feeling polished.” What’s more, “they’re bright but still flattering on every skin tone,” he adds.
Make no mistake: “White nails are back,” states Miss Pop. “This color can be tricky for some skin tones fresh out of winter, but with either trending finish—milky or a pearly opalescence—white becomes better suited for the transition to summer.”
That subtly shimmery finish adds more dimension compared to a stark white polish, which may appear flat or chalky beside clashing undertones. If you have a white polish you already love and use for summer, simply add a coat of opalescent polish on top to makeshift an instantly glazed lacquer.
“When in doubt—red!” Miss Pop shares. A classic crimson is never a bad idea (says Duran, it “instantly makes your feet look polished”), but this season’s red leans deliciously vibrant. Think juicy tomato or spicy chili pepper—warm-toned brights that welcome the soon-to-be scorching weather.
Alright, pink isn’t exactly a groundbreaking polish shade. It’s a classic neutral, of course, but Duran expects a milky, glossy finish to overtake the pale pastel versions typically popular during spring. “Milky pinks are always huge this time of year,” he notes. ” and OPI’m a Bubble Bunny are two shades I expect clients to ask for because it gives a really clean look.” (Note: Bubble Bunny—the brand new, highly-requested combo shade—is currently sold out everywhere, but we’ll report back as soon as it’s available. Trust us, it’s worth the hype.)
Per Duran, peach tones are going to surprise people this season. Another , peach adds a warm pop of color to your toes while maintaining the soft elegance of a classic nude—a “quiet luxury” lacquer, if you will. Make the peach even more subdued with a sheer finish (á la ), and you’ll have the perfect understated, spring-forward pedi.…Read more by Jamie Schneider