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41 Spring Nail Colors That Will Instantly Brighten Your Mood
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: 41 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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Essie Boatloads of Love
Spring has sprung, haven’t you heard? I’m skipping transitional nail polish shades and swapping out my moody, dark winter polishes for brighter and lighter colors. Essie’s new nail polish is an off-white, nearly pink shade with the prettiest pearl finish. My nails look clean and fresh—perfect for the new season. —Ariana Yaptangco, senior beauty editor
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Revlon Colorstay Nail Polish in Buttercup
For someone who’s pretty experimental when it comes to my fashion, my taste in nail polish is quite boring. I alternate between three different colors (white, off-white, and almost white pink) year-round, but I’ve been loving pale yellow as of late. The hue just screams spring to me, and unlike other overdone pastel colors, it feels just underground enough that I can wear it without losing my indie-girl status. —Ana Escalante, contributor
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Habit Nail Polish in Bop Bop!
Spring has me dreaming about the weekend beach trips and vacations I’m hoping to take this summer, and this shade is helping me get in the mood. The pale turquoise reminds me of the waters of some Mediterranean island I’ve never been to. Plus, the formula is nontoxic and vegan, and uses recycled plastic components with a biodegradable bamboo cap. —A.Y.
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Olive and June CV
I packed CV in my carry-on for a recent trip, and it has quickly become the most used shade in my arsenal. It’s bright without being harsh and looks great whether I’m pale or have a touch of a tan. Most of all, I love how insanely shiny and opaque the formula is. It leaves my nails photo-ready (everything’s a nail prop) in five minutes flat. —Bella Cacciatore, contributor
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Gucci Vernis à Ongles Nail Polish
I have been thinking about the green shade of the jumpsuit Lana Del Rey wears in this Gucci ad for years, and the brand finally went ahead and made it in a form I can actually afford. It was worth the wait, as the shade looks so fresh and cool on my nails, and makes me feel a little artsier than my usual red. The polish itself is shiny and smooth—and the longer handle is not only gorgeous, but it makes a DIY mani a breeze. —B.C.
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Jin Soon Nail Lacquer in Muse
It may not be the most revolutionary, but a reliable sheer pink is a must-have in any polish stash. I particularly like this one, which has a bit of a tint but isn’t chalky, is super shiny, and looks great on all skin tones. It’s perfect as a base for a French mani, or I toss on one coat when I want my nails to look pretty but don't want to wait for layers of polish to dry. —B.C.
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Sally Hansen Good.Kind.Pure. in Crystal Blue
Baby blue reminds me of clear skies, and that’s the kind of vibe I want to keep with me at all times. So why not paint it on my nails? Along with Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri topcoat, I know I can paint my nails at any time and they’ll be dry in minutes. —Khaliha Hawkins, contributor
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Cirque Colors Iridescent Nail Polish in Sour Punch
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Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Orchid-ing Aside
I’ve historically been a “dark nails or bust” kind of girl, but ever since the pandemic hit, I’ve needed a pick-me-up by way of happy nail colors. This spring-y, not quite pink, not quite purple orchid shade does the job—and stays on for at least week, no matter how many times I wash my hands. (A lot.) —Lindsay Schallon, contributor
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Chanel Le Vernis in Blanc White
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Dior Vernis Gel Shine in Red Smile
When in doubt, I don’t go for nude; I go for a bright red. There’s definitely something about its giving off an Old Hollywood classic vibe and being such a versatile color (it’s glam, it’s casual, and it is definitely festive). But what I really love about a red polish is how energized I feel just looking at it. The color is electric, and this particular shade by Dior always puts a smile on my face. —Michella Ore, contributor
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Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Precious Car-Go!
I’m very into green nail polish these days. This is more a mossy green, which doesn’t sound incredibly appealing until you see it on, and then you’ll never want to take it off. The brush was designed so you can paint your nails faster, in one fell swoop without a mess. Plus the formula dries extremely fast—so much so that it won a Glamour Beauty Award for best new drugstore polish. —L.S.
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Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Shhhh-immer
While super sparkly in the bottle, this iridescent rose-gold glitter actually goes on quite sheer—even after three coats. It’s the perfect shade if you’re going for natural nails but slightly sparklier. What’s better: Sally Hansen upgraded its Miracle Gel Top Coat formula this summer, so the finish is shinier and lasts even longer. Who doesn’t love that? —Macaela Mackenzie, contributor
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Olive & June in KMC
Mint green is a shade that reminds me of spring. It’s lively without being too “out there” and looks just as great punctuating an all-black outfit as it does against all the tie-dye I’m (still) wearing these days. I’m also a total sucker for anything from Olive & June. This color would look especially cute with the brand’s floral nail stickers. —L.S.
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Orosa Pure Cover Nail Paint in Clementine
Orosa’s “Clementine” nail polish is a creamy orange that reminds me of the blankets of poppies that cover the Antelope Valley when there’s a superbloom. The best part is that the formula is quick-cure, which seriously cuts down on wait time when doing nail art at home. —Shanna Shipin, contributor
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Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy in 2 of a Kind
I can’t be trusted to not chip my own manicures, yet gel manicures at a salon are too rough on my nails, so Gel Envy has been my saving grace. I love how opaque this shade is, and that it’s true nude for me. I find that the more minimal the shade, the less likely I am to pick at my nails, so the fact that this brown effortlessly camouflages against my skin actually makes me want to keep it on for longer. —Brionna Jimerson, contributor
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Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro in Spill the Wine
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Static Liquid Glass Nail Lacquer in Here for Champagne
So you want that pearl effect on your nails minus the actual pearls? (I know I’m not alone in being slightly concerned about those 3D jewels popping off at the worst possible moment.) This shimmery shade by Static gives me the subtle glow of the gem being delicately held in the sunlight without the stress of maintenance. It’s easy to apply, dries quickly, and like all Static polishes, won’t chip off for weeks. —M.O.
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Chanel Le Vernis in Metallic Bloom
I’ve never really been a metallic girl, but as soon as I saw this shimmering ruby red, I couldn’t resist. It looks so old-school glam yet almost futuristic at the same time, thanks to the super-subtle green undertones. Buy it, use it, hold on to it, as I have a hunch this will become a collector’s item one day like many Chanel polishes. —B.C.
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Paint Box Power Couple in Like Lush + Like Flora
My favorite nail polish releases are always the new Paintbox Power Couples. They’re so fresh and modern (but simultaneously retro), and truly complementary if you’re thinking about doing any kind of nail art. When this peach and golden green duo came out, it was a no-brainer to add to cart. Paintbox says it’s “inspired by Palm Springs in the ’70s,” which is exactly where I wish I was right now. —S.S.
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Jin Soon Nail Polish in Dotty
Want the look of nail art but can’t even draw a dot? This colorful “confetti in a multifaceted mélange” is essentially nail art in a bottle. Nail artist Jin Soon Choi recommends using it as a topper over shades like Jin Soon Muse or Jin Soon Pinky for a clean look or Jin Soon Love or Jin Soon Aero for a pop of color. But it also looks great on bare nails for a bright but minimalistic look. —L.S.
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Nails Inc Plant Power Nail Polish in Swear by Salutation
I love a classic red. The shade just makes me feel like myself, and it looks polished, sexy, and glamorous even on my bitten-down nails. I particularly love a vampy Old Hollywood red like this one. It reminds me of lipstick and cherries and Valentine’s Day. It’s also a whopping 21-free, vegan, and cruelty-free formula. —B.C.
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OPI Glowing Places
Metallic silver is my new neutral—I love how it adds an element of playfulness and fun to an outfit and goes with absolutely everything. OPI’s chrome-like shade looks good no matter how much you pile on. One coat will give your nails a subtle and pretty sparkle, but I tend to go full-on Tin Man with multiple coats. —A.Y.
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Dior Vernis Pink Leopard
“I’ve developed intense Barbiecore fatigue and could go without seeing the colors hot pink and magenta for a while. However, an exception will be made for this soft blush shade from Dior. It’s such a lovely rose color—refreshing and bright, but muted enough to wear with anything in my spring wardrobe.” —A.Y.
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OPI Bubble Bath
“I always have gel extensions on my nails, and my go-to color is OPI’s Bubble Bath. It’s slightly sheer and looks great with every nail shape whether I’m in the mood for almond-shaped nails or coffin nails. I’ve never gotten tired of it and have worn it the most for the past three years.” —Andrea Navarro, commerce writer
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Olive in June You’re Invited
“When it comes to nail colors for spring, I tend to be a neutrals girl. I have collected countless bottles of opaque creamy pinks and barely there nudes that go with everything. But this spring I’ve been loving the idea of lavender. Olive & June has the prettiest shade that’s right on trend for easing into the warmer months but doesn’t feel too far outside of my comfort zone.” —Lisa DeSantis, beauty contributor
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JinSoon Tweety
For years I kept my nails the exact same shade of pale pink. I left my comfort zone last spring with a manifestation manicure and painted my nails this playful shade of pastel yellow with smiley face nail art. Since then, a pastel yellow mani has become one of my favorite spring nail polish colors. It’s such an underrated shade and makes every outfit. I’m always shocked at how many compliments I get on my nails when I wear it, and it makes me happy every time I look at my hands. —Danielle Sinay, associate beauty editor
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Côte Fiery Orange Red Nail Polish
I love the start of spring, because it’s when I feel like I’m getting my groove back. This bold shade of fiery red-orange is the exact vibe I want to exude for the new astrological year. It’s vibrant yet classic, looks good year-round, and it makes a chic statement without drawing too much attention to your hands. —D.S.
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