Spring nail colors tend to be a bit of a gamble. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the concept of soft, dreamy pastels coating my fingernails when it’s still gloomy and gray outside. But let me ask you a simple question: Have you ever encountered a quality pastel shade, one that doesn’t streak or look kind of sad once it slides off the brush? In my experience, that’s a rare find.
So this year I set out to find the best spring nail colors that look every bit as good on your hands as they do in the bottle. To weed out the duds, I polled the rest of the Glamour team for their reliable manicure favorites. The result: 38 standout shades that are perfect worn on their own, mismatched, or with the biggest spring nail design ideas and trending nail designs. Brands like OPI, Essie, JINsoon, and Chanel offer whisper-soft blues, cool lilacs, and iterations of baby pink and mauve—but we’re also loving trendy neon green, punchy corals, and tons of shimmer this year.
Also important: They all feature smooth, long-wear formulas that are actually easy to use if you’re DIY painting your nails at home—all you need is the best top coat to complete your mani. Plus, we found gorgeous nontoxic nail polish options that will look and feel good when you wear them. Scroll on for this year’s batch of the best springtime nail polish colors.
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