The advent of a new year doesn’t always call for reinvention. It’s also a time to refocus and embrace what makes each of us unique and feels most authentic. When it comes to your nail color, that might mean finally discovering the nude polish that perfectly complements your skin tone, or leaning into your inner goth with a high-shine, patent-leather black manicure. It could mean indulging your romantic side with a rich, full-bodied red, or your spicy side with a zingy, hot-rod orange.
In a world where things can feel topsy-turvy, the best source for inspiration is often found through self-discovery—and that can start with a coat of nail polish. With guidance from top nail artists, we put together a menu of colors to cater to every side of you.
Fresh Nude
Courtesy of @matejanova
Courtesy of Alex Dani
Are you surprised? This nail trend has many aliases—“soap,” “lip gloss,” “clean”—but whatever you call it, the look isn’t going anywhere, and will likely get another rebrand in 2026. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “Nude nails will always be in style, especially after seasons of bright summer polishes and dark winter hues,” says Bana Jarjour, a Los Angeles-based nail artist.
This look gets its allure from being the wallflower of polishes. “Nudes don’t distract from the intricacy and details of clothes,” Jarjour explains, adding that the muted colors were all over the spring/summer 2026 runways. They were seen on models at Prabal Gurung, where Amy Ling Lin, founder of Sundays Studios, sent models down the runway in the sheer, rosy neutral No. 49; and at LoveShackFancy, where Miss Pop, a New York City-based nail artist, added a veil of Essie Liquid Sunrise over nude polishes for the show; and others too.
As for which polish to reach for, Jarjour recommends Essie Nail Polish in Skinny Dip if you have a fair or light-medium skin tone, and OPI Bare My Soul if you have a medium to deep one. If these polish options are not for you, we understand—picking your nude is very personal. Check out our list of the prettiest nude nail polishes for different skin tones.
Fog Blue
Courtesy of Kijibae
Courtesy of @pivoine.ldn
Pinterest dubbed the color blue a trend to watch across beauty, fashion, and food in 2026. For nails, though, artists are torn over which shade will come out on top in the new year. Sojin Oh, nail artist and creative director at Kijibae, sees foggy blue on the horizon: “There is something meditative about gray-blue that reminds me of being in the Pacific Northwest,” she says. “It’s quiet, reflective, a bit calming, and while it’s moody, it’s not melancholic.” She adds, “With the year we had, this moody blue captures that feeling of both clarity and blurriness.”