Wondering which polish shades to swipe on your nails this spring? Spring nail ideas are heading your way with riffs on winter trends and a fresh take on the neon nails we’ve been seeing everywhere the last few years. Peep the below picks for spring nail polish colors perfect for spring, all from nontoxic brands.
By: Nicolle Mackinnon
We’ve been focused on glazed donut nails, bright neon French tips and pastels in past years, and the transition into spring 2023 is just as fun and playful. You’ll see the usual lean towards yellow-toned grass greens, soft blues and purples, orangey-reds and allllll the pinks (ground-breaking) again this season, but the new class of spring colors is also mixing things up. Here’s what’s hot hot hot for manis this spring.
IN THIS POST:
- Lip gloss nails
- Muted citrus
- Micro French manis
- Velvet nails
- Upgraded nude nails
- The classics
- Exclusive discount codes for TNK readers
- Spring Nails FAQ
Lip gloss nails
Coined “lip gloss” nails by celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik, this is the mani you’ve probably seen everywhere, all the time. It flaunts the same shiny, just-applied-cuticle-serum finish as the glazed donut nails of yore (aka fall/winter) but it uses a sheer or very light nude/pink that matches your skin tone as your base. Probs the easiest of the season to achieve, IMO.
RELATED: Read our complete guide to nontoxic nail polish here, to learn about what to look for in nail polish + our top nontoxic nail polish brands.
Muted citrus nails
Editorial nail artist and CEO of the Nailing Hollywood agency Mazz Hanna told The Zoe Report to keep your eyes peeled for more muted citrus shades rather than the bright-bright we’ve seen the last couple spring and summers. “Think the inside of a lemon, lime and orange rather than the vibrant outside peel,” she explained.
RELATED: Summer nail polish ideas.
Micro French manis
Frenching your mani has been making a comeback in the last year especially, but spring’s take on this long-time trend is to go micro. Cut those nails to a natural length and shape them, and then use a nail art brush to get a micro French mani in whatever hue you choose—no white-and-sheer-pink combo needed.
RELATED: The best nontoxic nails brands.
Velvet nails
This was a HOT trend coming out of winter, and it shows now signs of stopping—it’s just morphing to accommodate lighter shades. The finish is atypical to your usual shiny top coat (think a matte printed photograph vs. the glossy finish from the 90s). Velvet nails are going for a soft, fuzzy lewk. While lots of nail salons will use magnetic polish or a dip powder to get this effect, we still prefer to achieve it the less-toxic way, aka a matte top coat. Try merely finishing your metallic mani with a matte top coat to invigorate your nails without having to dip (pun intended) into the possible NO THANKS ingredients in conventional polish.
RELATED: The best natural nail polish removers.
Upgraded nude nails
You’ve heard of the no-makeup makeup look, and this season, it’s all extending to your nails. It’s all part of the minimalist trend (aka “recession core”) that historically has grown out of recession times. But keeping your nails simple with a nude color to match your skin tone doesn’t have to be boring. It’s a put-together look that goes with any maximalist outfit, and works for everything from working from home to a co*cktail party.
The classics
It’s so easy to see why a classic red, a navy blue, a beautiful taupe or a silky greige defies all trends. Simple, classic and classy, these monochromatic manis are so easy to replicate at home, especially if you have something as foolproof as Olive & June’s at-home mani set. Don’t forget the cuticle pusher and the glossy top coat!
Exclusive discount codes for TNK readers
- CodeTHENEWKNEWwill save you 20% off allOlive & Junesystems (including Mani, Pedi & Complete Systems).
- Code THENEWKNEW15 will save you 15% of all Kure Bazaar polishes at The Detox Market (first time customers only).
- CodeNEWKNEWwill save you 15% sitewide atDazzle Dry.
Spring Nails FAQ
What nail polish colors are in right now?
For spring 2023, we are seeing these colors/styles trending: Lip gloss nails, muted citrus, micro French manis, velvet nails, upgraded nude nails and the classics are always safe. Learn more about how to achieve these looks here.
What is a good spring nail polish color?
Try these nail polish colors for spring 2023: Lip gloss nails, muted citrus, micro French manis, velvet nails, upgraded nude nails and the classics are always safe. Learn more about how to achieve these looks here.
Are Cote products clean?
Not all CÔTE products are currently benzophenone-1 free (including some of our picks above), which you can read more about in our full nontoxic nail polish guide. But, if you’re wondering, here’s a list of the polishes we confirmed ARE benzophenone-1 free…
Colors: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 27, 32, 38, 41, 43, 46, 50, 55, 56, 61, 71, 96, 98, 99, 110, 111,119,120,121,122, 123, 124, 125 and… Growth with Garlic Base Coat, Protective Base & Top Coat, Quick Dry Top Coat, Smoothing Base Coat, Resurface & Repair Base Coat & Strengthening Base & Top Coat.
What’s your fave look for spring?
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