The best summer pedicure ideas aren’t just about what nail polish will look good on your toes. They should also consider what color(s) will best complement your manicure. Of course, figuring out the best nail polish color combinations is more of an art than a science. So, to help us out, we tapped top celebrity manicurists to share some of their favorite summer shade pairings.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up eight mani-pedi polish ideas to consider for your upcoming nail appointment.
Beige and Neon
“Beiges and neons are the biggest trends for summer, and they were all over the runways,” said celebrity manicurist Ashlie Johnson. “I’ve been loving an opaque shade on the hands paired with an amazing fluorescent tone on the toes.”
Try Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Insomniaque and Activiste.
Simple Pastels
Not a fan of bright colors?
“You can’t go wrong with pastel nails,” said Ji Baek, Rescue Beauty Lounge founder and author of Rescue Your Nails. We like Olive & June Nail Polish in Wild & Free and Sundays Nail Polish in No.34.
According to Baek, when deciding on nail polish shades, cooler tones like greens and blues tend to look best on the feet, while warmer tones like peach and pink work on hands.
Colorblocking
If you like the idea of colorblocking but aren’t ready to test-drive it with your clothing, try it on your nails instead. Baek recommended pairing lemon yellow with coral or violet and deep navy. To get the look, try JINsoon Nail Polish in Tweety and Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer in Mirage.
Mint and Silver
“Pairing a full coverage, opaque shade with a silvery shimmer gives your look an overall edge,” said celebrity manicurist Jenna Hipp. Think: Orosa Pure Cover Nail Paint in Splash and OPI Nail Lacquer in Happy Anniversary.
“When worn together, these two shades have a vintage-y feel that’s still somehow futuristic,” added Hipp.
(Note: Orosa Pure Cover Nail Paint in Splash is no longer available; we recommend Zoya Professional Lacquer in Selene for something similar).
Shades of Blue
“In the summer, I like to give my clients something fun on the toes and maybe even go a little overboard,” said celebrity manicurist Lisa Logan. “The fingertips should subtly hint at the color that’s on the feet.”
Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure Nail Color in Crystal Blue and Essie Nail Lacquer in Juicy Details, respectively, do a good job of this.
Ocean Shades
“Try a sheer, sandy hue on the hands and let the toes do all the talking with a deep sea blue,” said Hipp.
To land this mani-pedi color combo, we recommend Pear Nova Classic Lacquer in Frida Be Free and OPI Nail Lacquer in Duomo Days, Isola Nights.
“Both shades look best in direct sunlight, which is all the more reason to hit the beach,” added Hipp.
Complementary Tones
“A great way to freshen up your nails for summer is to ditch the matching mani/pedi duo for two different, but related, colors,” said celebrity manicurist April Foreman. For a purple palette, try Côte Nail Polish in No.83 and Orly Nail Lacquer in Synthetic Symphony. “I prefer the darker shade on the toes, but honestly, anything goes.”
(Note: Orly Nail Lacquer in Synthetic Symphony is currently unavailable; for something similar, we recommend Lechat Nail Lacquer in Pure Purple).
Warm and Sunny
“Taking a risk this time of year is really important,” said manicurist Deborah Lippmann. “Try a brighter shade, and you might be surprised how happy it makes you.”
Instead of classic ballet pink, Lippmann suggested going with beige (see: Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish in Naked) on the fingers and bright orange or red (also see: Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro in It’s Raining Men) toes.
