The Only Winter Nail Polish Color Trends You Need to Know About

Courtesy of @nailsbyalsn, @m.o.n.a.j, and Getty ImagesSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

Winter is famously packed with stuff: We gift and get stuff for the holidays, plan to do stuff with our loved ones, look for stuff covered in snow. Yes, I am showing you even more stuff here (sorry, it’s my job), but I’m also making my best effort not to overwhelm you. That’s why this article highlights only six winter polish color trends, recommended by some of the top nail artists in the industry.

In a (chest)nutshell, this winter’s nail trends are the antithesis of this summer’s. While the warmer months were all about going light on the layers—jelly and milky textures reigned supreme—this winter is all about opaque, full-bodied polishes. Some of these hues were in rotation last winter (and the winter before that… and the winter before that…), while others have been newly spotted on runways, red carpets, and celebrities.

Read on to discover the top nail colors experts predict will be everywhere this winter. As the wise Sabrina Carpenter might say, we’re ending this year with a bang.

Rich Violet

Courtesy of @melanated.maniCourtesy of @matejanovaCourtesy of @m.o.n.a

The dirty plums of fall have cooled down for winter. Deep, rich violets exude confidence, says Sarah Chue, a Los Angeles-based nail artist who’s recently painted the shade on clients and noticed it popping up more on her Pinterest feed: “The coolness of the purple matches winter’s dark vibe.”

Her polish picks include The Gel Bottle in Dark Dimension and Aprés Gel Polish in Mariana Trench, two durable, high-shine gel formulas. If you prefer traditional polish, try OPI Nail Lacquer in Havin' a Candy Ol' Time

The Gelbottle

Dark Dimension

$19

Beyond Polish

$19

The Gelbottle

Aprés

Gel Polish in Mariana Trench

$15

Beyond Polish

$15

Aprés

OPI

Nail Lacquer in Havin' a Candy Ol' Time

$12

Amazon

$12

Ulta Beauty

Cool Red

Courtesy of @matejanovaCourtesy of @avrnailswatchesCourtesy of @avrnailswatchesGetty Images

Red is a holiday staple, but one with blue undertones has just a little more oomph. These shades are already trending as the weather cools down, Chue says, likely because “they’re elegant” and tend to pop against your skin tone more than the orange-based reds of summer.

She recommends Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Color Nail Polish in It’s Raining Men and Nailberry Nail Polish in Rouge. I’m partial to Chanel Le Vernis in Pirate, which I consider a power suit for my nails, and Holo Taco Nail Polish in Cardinal Sins, which is extra-festive with glitter flecks that have a silver shift.

Deborah Lippmann

Gel Lab Pro Color Nail Polish in It’s Raining Men

$20

Amazon

Nailberry

Nail Polish in Rouge

$21

Nailberry

Chanel

Le Vernis in Pirate

$33

Chanel

$33

Nordstrom

Holo Taco

Nail Polish in Cardinal Sins

$15

Ulta Beauty

Mushroom Taupe

Courtesy of @manucuristCourtesy of @revibe.beautystudioCourtesy of @jessicawhitenailartis

According to Chue, this opaque look tends to make an appearance more in the winter. “Finished with a glossy topcoat, its fresh, clean finish is what keeps people hooked,” she says, adding that it has the same feel as “winter knits, cozy blankets, home linens and décor, and all things fashion.”

A simple image search of this color might scare you, especially if you have a warm, slightly olive skin tone like mine. (Some of those hues can make me look ashy and gray.) To avoid a polish that washes out your complexion, opt for a shade that’s lighter than your skin, with a coolish neutral or green undertone if you’re shopping online. My go-to is the Manucurist Green Natural Nail polish in Quartz, which leans more brown than gray.

Manucurist

Manucurist Green Natural Nail Polish in Quartz

$14

Manucurist

Decadent Chocolate

Getty ImagesCourtesy of @manucuristCourtesy of @m.o.n.a.jCourtesy of @nailsby.prachi

Chronically online girls like me might tell you this warm brown color is huge now because of the spring-summer ’26 runway shows, Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber’s recent-ish manicures, or even Bieber’s Schiaparelli look at this year’s Academy Museum Gala. While that may all be true, it’s also worth mentioning that this color comes back every winter; it’s a mainstay of the season because of how cozy and versatile it is. (Here’s proof from 2024 and 2023.)

“I love a chocolate brown with a magnetic cat-eye finish or iridescent chrome,” says Miss Pop, who sent chrome powder-dusted brown nails down Theophilio’s New York Fashion Week runway last fall. She recommends Essie Fall Boho Rodeo in Fringes and Saddle, and we love Manucurist’s Green Nail Polish in Mocha, which is cooler-toned but just as rich.

Essie

Fall Boho Rodeo in Fringes and Saddle

$10

Amazon

$10

Ulta Beauty

Manucurist

Green Nail Polish in Mocha

$14

Amazon

$14

Ulta Beauty

Forest Green

Courtesy of @melanated.maniCourtesy of @nailsbyalsn

Another color that flies across feeds every winter is forest green. “It’s hard to ignore the darkness and greenery that comes with wintertime,” says Bana Jarjour, a Los Angeles-based nail artist. “We see deep greens in trees, wreaths, and garlands everywhere we look, and nails will be no exception.”

She recommends Essie Nail Polish in Off Tropic, while I reach for OPI’s RaiDry Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Fir Surely Fast. Glamnetic’s winter collection features Cutie Pine, a set of press-ons in a forest green that also has a hint of shimmer.

Adds Jarjour, this color is flattering on a wide range of skin tones and finishes: “It looks great glossy, but can also be finished with a matte topcoat for a soft velvety look.”

Essie

Nail Polish in Off Tropic

$10

Ulta Beauty

$10

Walmart

OPI

RaiDry Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Fir Surely Fast

$10

Amazon

$10

Ulta Beauty

Glamnetic

Cutie Pine Press-On Nails

$18

Amazon

$18

Ulta Beauty

Warm Nudes

Getty ImagesCourtesy of @nailbarbieeeCourtesy of @dovenailsbysharon

This manicure trend goes by many names—clean girl, soap, naked—and nude nails are more popular than ever now. But what does “nude” actually mean for you? “It should reflect your skin color when you’re nude,” says Eunice Park, brand development and education director at Aprés Nail, which means there is no single nude nail color for me to recommend here. “Nudes can range from soft pinks to darker browns. Wearing nudes should give you that my-nails-but-better vibe.”

Park says she’s seen a rise in sales for Aprés Nail’s Light & Shadow Gel Couleur, a line of sheer neutral shades. “It’s our best-selling collection,” she says. As a product developer for the brand, she recommends it for getting this look, obviously, but I second that. I’ve tried the collection and love its shine and longevity, but I did have to break out my LED curing lamp for it.

Allure content director Kara McGrath is a huge fan of Olive & June’s new nude-centric Builder Gel polish collection, which ranges from a barely there blush to a deep terra-cotta. For those who’d prefer to skip the gel rigamarole (totally get it), check out our recommendations for regular polish here.

Aprés

Nail’s Light & Shadow Gel Couleur

$15

Beyond Polish

$15

Aprés

Olive & June

Blush Bounce

$12

Olive & June