Last Updated on September 12, 2022 by SulaBeauty Staff
There are a lot of underlying factors involved in the process of buying clothes that will look good on us. One of those factors is skin tone, and it plays a vital role while choosing a t-shirt of a color that suits your skin type. The same thing applies to nail colors; you need to know which nail colors will look good on your skin type while deciding to get a manicure.
However, people can wear any nail color irrespective of their skin type. But if you are confused about which nail polish color to buy that will suit your skin tone, keep reading this article!
The Best Nail Polish Colors for Every Skin Tone
Selecting a Color based on Skin Tones and Nail Polish color combination. Here is a skin tone nail polish color matching chart.
1. Pale Complexion
People with cool undertones – pink or blue undertones have a pale complexion. Thus, you need to choose pastel colors that brighten up your skin. You must avoid dark colors like navy blue, black, yellow, gold, et, as they will make your skin look pale. Choose colors with a cool undertone such as blue, pink, or red; they will make your nails look alive.
Also read: Best nail polish colors for pale skin
- Pastel pinks
- Sky blue, powder blue
- Sage green, olive green
- Pale peach
- Beige
2. Fair Skin Tone
If you have a light skin type or fair complexion, you don’t have to worry much as most nail colors look good on your skin. However, avoiding darker shades like deep blue, deep green, burgundy, etc., would be better. I recommend you choose nail polishes with blue and yellow undertones.
Also read: Best nail polish colors for fair skin
- Wine color
- Lilac
- Dark lavender
- Beige
- White/French manicure
- Silver
- Soft orange
- Cherry red
- Pink berry shades
- Dark pinks
- Chocolate brown
3. Tan Complexion
Skins with tan complexion look gorgeous in warm shades of nude and browns and pinks. However, people with tanned skin tone must avoid nail shades like gold, silver, and shimmery copper that blend with the skin.
Tanned skin tone has a warm and yellow undertone, and you can examine it by keeping your hand in natural light.
Also read: Best nail polish colors for tan skin
- Pastel blue
- Nude shades
- Chocolate brown
- Blush pink
- Purples
- bright orange
- Light brown
- Copper brown
4. Medium/Olive Skin tone
Medium or olive skin complexions enjoy a wide range of colors, as most nail colors go very well with their skin type. From dark colors like wine and royal blue to brighter shades like peach and gold colors and nude shades.
Medium skin type has undertones of a greenish hue and yellow undertone. Also, olive complexions look great in earthy tones as well. However, avoid bronze shades as they won’t look great.
Best nail polish colors for olive skin/medium skin tones:
- Burgundy
- Blood red, cherry red
- Peach
- Brown shades – dark and light
- Gold
- Lilac
- Hot pink
- Metallic blue
- Vibrant orange
- Black
5. Dark skin tone
Dark skin tone paired with dark and royal shades like burgundy, blood red, wine, plums looks luxurious. I advise you to avoid chocolate brown or dark brown shades as they will mix with the skin type. You can also experiment with poppy bright shades like hot pink and neon yellow to stand out.
Best nail polish colors for dark skin
- Burgundy
- Dark purples
- Royal blue
- Gold
- Metallic silver
- Yellow based reds
- Mint green
- Pastel blue
- Blush pink
Also read: 31 Nail Colors for Dark Skin Tones
Selecting a Nail Polish for an Occasion
For formal occasions
When you are a working woman, you have to choose a nail color that would go professionally well and doesn’t look festive. It is always the right choice to be subtle and decent with nail colors for wearing professionally to work daily.
I advise you to avoid festive nail arts and colors like neon green, hot pink, neon yellow, etc. They are proven to be a misfit in a working environment.
Colors like blush pink, nude nails, beige, warm tones of grey and red, burgundy, dark blues, chocolate brown, and white are wise choices for work-related manicures.
Holiday-themed colors
You can never go wrong with festive nails, go over the board and get nail arts and mix colors to make them as joyful as possible. Some nail polish color is considered holiday-appropriate nail colors and is evergreen, and you can wear them on Christmas, New Year, Easter, or Thanksgiving.
Caramel-brown, silver, gold, blush pink with gold shimmer, burgundy, bright red, ombre nails, pastel shades like powder blue and pink, olive green, metallic blue, pastel blues, metallic copper, and many more.
Color-based on season time of year
When you go to a salon to get a fresh manicure, they provide you with a list of nail colors that are trending and appropriate according to the ongoing season. Nail polish color varies between seasons; summer is all about bright and glossy colors, but winters are about dark and deep colors.
Fall: Burgundy, wine, deep blue, dark or deep shades of brown, dark oranges, deep green, gold with sparkles, gray-purples, and neutral shades.
Winter: silver, dark maroon, dark blue, olive green, grey, black, chocolate brown, dark purple, white, and bright fuchsias.
Spring: teal, ocean blue, light shades of pink, beige, coral, turquoise, magenta, nude shades, pastel yellow, and blue.
Summer: neon pink, hot pink, blush pink, powder blue, neon yellow, pastel purples, lavender, white, sea green, orange reds, and tangerine
Picking a Polish Based on Personality
For a Wild personality
You have a wild personality if you’re an enthusiastic person and confident in whatever you do. And shades like Maroon, Metallic blue, black, Dark Gray, and mostly dark shades.
For edgy look
If you are looking for an edgy look, you must consider nail polish shades that make you look edgy. I would recommend matte shades of red, black, gray, teal, olive green, white, and browns.
For an energetic look
For an energetic look, try nail shades like navy blue, dark green, gray, coral, coral, orange, dark pink, mauve, etc.
For a softer look
Pastel colors help a lot at tossing a soft look. Powder blue, pastel pink, peach, mint green, pale yellow, lime, cherry red, pastel orange, and blush pink use these shades to get a soft look.
For a sophisticated look
If you want to look sophisticated for a meeting or conference, try shades that make you look clean and professional.
Nail shades like pink ombre, brown, caramel brown, coral, blood red, olive green, grey, deep green, deep purples, royal blue, and mauve.
For bold look
If you want a bold look, try nail colors like burgundy, wine, black, Chocolate brown, deep green, teal, navy blue, nude shades, beige, etc.
What are some good summer nail colors for tan skin?
Summers is not just about beaches and vacations but also about the summer tan that comes along. So here are several nail colors that are suitable for tanned skins:
- Cornflower blue
- Hot pink
- Neon green
- Lavender
- Opaque white
- Citron yellow
- Baby pink
- Tangerine
What are some universal colors for all skin tones?
Let’s talk about some universal colors that suit almost every skin color, from light skin tone to darker skin tones, every skin color in between. So give these nail colors a try whenever you’re confused:
- French manicure
- Light grey nails
- Beige or nude
- Blush pink
- Sky blue
- Lilac
- Blood red
- Olive green
- Navy blue
- Black
Here are some Classy Nail Colors That Go With every outfit
Top 5 best nail polish colors for Indian skin
Below mentioned nail polish shades are considered to be suitable shades to suit Indian skin tone:
- Beige nude
- Midnight blue
- Soft pink
- Dusty coral
- Dark red
Check this article if Want to know Why your My Gel Nails Turning Brown
Best nail polish colors for Asian skin
If you’re looking for nail polish colors that will suit Asian skin tone then, here is the list:
- Light coral
- Coral
- Peachy brown
- Warm brown
- Nude brown
- Pale brown
- Pink
- Beige
- Pale pink
- Rosy pink
- Peachy pink
- Deep plum
- Chocolate brown
- Nude
Related: How To Use DND Gel Polish