Needless to say, we love neutral nails. When faced with a wall of red, blue and coral polish at our mani appointment, somehow our eye always drifts back to the familiar comfort of nude (sort of like putting on your favourite cardi, but a bit more chic). Of course, we know that ‘nude’ is not one-size-fits-all: skin tone varies hugely across the world, and it’s time the nail industry caught up. But there is a shade of polish out there for everyone, so (kind of like colour matching your foundation) we’re here to help you find the ideal colour for you, whatever your skin tone may be.
By Danielle Petch
-
1 For fairer skin
The key to picking the right shade is all in identifying your skin tone (check your wrists – if your veins are blue, you have a cool undertone, and if your veins are green, it’s warm). So if you’ve got quite fair, and ‘cooler’ skin (hands up if you even the lightest shade of foundation is still your summer bottle), then a sheer pinky nude is for you, as this will complement the undertones in your skin. For lighter (but not as fair) skin, you can opt for a more opaque formula, and a nude polish with apricot or peachy hues will suit you best, and will work to counteract any redness around the nail bed.
-
2 For medium skin
For medium skin tones, opaque formulas are sure to work well, and while most nude shades will sit quite nicely with your skin tone, a touch of mauve will be very flattering. Better news – the right shade of nude can actually leave hands looking brighter and smoother (who knew getting a mani doubled up as anti ageing?) – ask your nail tech to test the shade on your nail before full application. To counteract any yellowness, which can be common on this skin type, avoid shades with yellow undertones – our top tip is to use your natural nail bed as a guide.
-
3 For olive skin
What if we told you that your morning coffee may be something you can actually integrate into your nail appointment? No, I’m not talking about your soya latte spilling all over your hands as you run in late to work (made late by said soya latte). But if you’re olive skinned, then a light beige polish with creamy coffee colour will suit your warm undertone (stay clear of greyer undertones, they can wash you out). If you'd like nude nails throughout the summer, but a shade that's a little brighter, try a peachy beige.
-
4 For darker skin
Those of you with lighter, caramel toned skin will suit toffee or honey coloured beiges with orange or yellow undertones. For darker skin tones, opt for a more opaque polish in dark beige-browns (FYI: reddish browns also look great with this skin tone). Darker skin tones are very versatile when it comes to the labyrinth that is the neutral nude, but rich espresso and chocolate shades are guaranteed winners. The key to any good nude nail is all in the prep and application, as these stripped back shades allow the the tiniest nicks and chips to show, so pop into a salon and get it done by a professional.
With Treatwell, you can book beauty online at all your favourite salons – simple, hassle-free, and you can do it on the go. Click here to discover amazing salons in your area.