The Best Summer Pedicure Colors, According to a Professional Manicurist
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Summer 2024 is bound to be one for the books. While you begin to plan out your ultimate summer bucket list, remember to keep your feet in mind. After all, summer calls for the prettiest pedicures. In addition to regularly exfoliating and hydrating your sand-worn and sandal-hardened soles, let yourself have fun with the trendiest pedicure colors of the season. While reds, neons and bright white polishes are mainstays this time of year, summer 2024 welcomes a few other shades to the mix. With that in mind, we chatted with celebrity manicurist and Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna to determine the best summer pedicure colors for 2024. Ahead, peruse 15 hues that will make your feet look picture-perfect for all the summer fun in store.
Bright Reds
Have you ever heard of the red nail theory? It’s the idea that potential suitors find red nails—whether on the hands or feet—to be most attractive. Because of this, red nail polish is a classic pick all year long. In summer, though, especially bright shades reign supreme. “Bright reds are classic, bold, and they look amazing with a tan,” Hanna says, noting to opt for warmer undertones that coordinate well with summer’s heat. Her top three bright red polishes include Dazzle Dry’s Pep Rally, ORLY’s Love My Nails, and Gelcare’s Rosso Corsa.
Ones to try: Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Pep Rally ($22), ORLY Breathable Treatment + Color in Love My Nail ($11), Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in Rosso Corsa ($20)
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Spritz
An offshoot of bright red polish is the spritz shade. Inspired by Aperol and one of summer’s most iconic drinks, spritz pedicures are vibrant, juicy and a touch neon. Gelcare’s Rosso Corsa borders on the spritz spectrum, with Essie’s Start Signs Only, Nailberry’s Joyful, and Dazzle Dry’s Red Hot Chili being a few other stellar spicy spritz picks.
Ones to try: Essie Nail Lacquer in Start Signs Only ($8), Nailberry Oxygenated Nail Lacquer in Joyful ($21), Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Red Hot Chili ($22)
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Tangerine
Moving on in the rainbow, we have tangerine toes. “Tangerine is bold and energetic, making it a standout color for summer beach days and vacations,” Hanna says. Her go-to tangerine shades include Dazzle Dry’s Poppy Poison (which has a fun iridescent finish) and Rebel, as well as ORLY’s Are You Sherbert? (which is a paler take on the tangy color).
Ones to try: Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Poppy Poison ($22), Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Rebel ($22), ORLY Breathable Treatment + Color in Are You Sherbert? ($11)
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Sunset Coral
Can’t decide between red and orange polish? Opt for a sunset coral shade that sits halfway in between. “Coral is a vibrant and cheerful shade that perfectly captures the vibes of summer,” Hanna says. “It adds a pop of color that is both trendy and fun.” Her favorite coral polishes include ORLY’s Happy And Healthy (a soft, subtle coral), Gelcare’s Grapefruit (a vibrant, neon coral), and Essie’s Check In to Check Out (a more orange-toned coral).
Ones to try: ORLY Breathable Treatment + Color in Happy And Healthy ($11), Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in Grapefruit ($20), Essie Nail Lacquer in Check In to Check Out ($10)
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Butter Yellow
While summer typically calls for bright and neon colors, this year, pale, pastel shades that look vibrant against sun tans are making the rounds. The most popular of these pedicure colors is butter yellow. It’s soft, warm and creamy as can be, all of which lends to a pretty dreamy nail look. A few of our favorite butter yellow nail polishes include Olive & June’s Bright & Focused, Manucurist Paris’ Mimosa, and Londontown’s Buttercup. Of these, Buttercup is the softest and most subtle, so if you lean toward neutral nail looks, that’s the shade to select.
Ones to try: Olive & June Long Lasting Polish in Bright & Focused ($9), Manucurist Paris Green Natural Nail Polish in Mimosa ($14), Londontown Lakur Enhanced Colour in Buttercup ($16)
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Warm Neutrals
Can’t imagine a non-neutral summer pedicure? No worries! You can make your toenails look summery and clean with a warm neutral polish. “Neutrals are always timeless and versatile,” Hanna says. “Adding a touch of warmth to a neutral makes it work beautifully with summer palettes.” Some of Hanna’s favorite summer-friendly warm neutrals include Gelcare’s Blonded (a soft off-white hue) and Oat (a brighter, creamier warm white), and Dazzle Dry’s Pawn (a sheer warm milky off-white).
Ones to try: Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in Blonded ($20), Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in Oat ($20), Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Pawn ($22)
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Saturated Blues
Meanwhile, if you love bright, summery colors, Hanna says you can’t go wrong with vibrant, saturated blues, such as The Gel Bottle’s Blue Steel (an electric cobalt), Manucurist’s Riviera (a turquoise blue), and Dazzle Dry’s Moon Age (a cerulean, denim blue). “Saturated blue is refreshing and airy with an extra pop of color compared to pastels, which is ideal for summer,” Hanna says. “It’s calming and pairs well with many summer outfits.”
Ones to try: The Gel Bottle Gel System in Blue Steel ($19), Manucurist Paris Green Flash LED Gel Polish in Riviera ($19), Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Moon Age ($22)
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Navy Blue
If you prefer darker pedicures but like the idea of leaning into summer’s proclivity for shades of blue, Hanna says to consider navy nail looks. “Navy is a great summer pedicure color that gives off nautical vibes,” she says. “It’s great for special occasions, beach days, and everyday wear.” To get the look, consider using Dazzle Dry’s Gambit, Gelcare’s Club Navy, or Manucurist’s Poppy Seed.
Ones to try: Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Gambit ($22), Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in Club Navy ($24), Manucurist Paris Green Natural Nail Polish in Poppy Seed ($14)
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Neon Pink
No summer pedicure round-up is complete without at least one shade of pink. (Newsflash: 2024 calls for three different takes on the popular hue—more on the other two in a bit.) “Neon pink is juicy and fun, which perfectly embodies the playful vibes of summer,” Hanna says. It’s also a shade that looks stellar in all finishes—creme, matte, metallic and jelly alike. To see for yourself, play around with Dazzle Dry’s Raspberry Creme, Essie’s Blushin’ & Crushin’, and Gelcare’s Jelly Pink—three of Hanna’s summer 2024 must-haves.
Ones to try: Essie Nail Lacquer in Blushin’ & Crushin’ ($10), Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in Jelly Pink ($20)
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Jelly Pink
Speaking of jelly pink nail polish, jelly pink pedicures are a trend in and of themselves. Think of them as the foot version of TikTok’s beloved “lip gloss nails.” Pink jelly polish adds a summery hint of color to any ensemble without fully saturating the nails. While translucent toenails may seem questionable, as soon as you test out Manucurist’s Blueberry Active Glow, Essie’s Blush Jelly, and Gelcare’s Rosewater, you’ll understand why jelly pink pedis are a must for summer 2024.
Ones to try: Manucurist Paris Active Glow in Blueberry ($16), Essie Jelly Gloss in Blush Jelly ($13), Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in Rosewater ($20)
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Soft Pinks
If you prefer a hint more opacity but a smidge less saturation, Hanna says to pick a soft pink pedicure. “Soft pinks are a great choice for those looking for a subtle, romantic vibe for their summer pedicure,” she says, noting that her favorite soft pink polishes are Peacci’s Petal (a soft mauve hue), Dazzle Dry’s Mind Your Mani (a sheer ballet pink), and Gelcare’s Rose Georgette (a sheer yet buildable baby pink).
Ones to try: Peacci Nail Polish in Petal ($13), Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Mind Your Mani ($22), Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in Rose Georgette ($20)
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Soft Purple
Another soft shade that’s making a splash for summer 2024 is soft, pale purple. “Lavender has been a popular pedicure color through the spring, and I believe that both lavender and more saturated purples will continue to trend into the summer,” Hanna says. Her suggestion? Wear Essie’s In Pursuit of Craftiness for a dustier lavender nail look, Peacci’s Californian for a neon pastel lavender pedi, or Dazzle Dry’s Periwinkle Passion for more of a muted grape look.
Ones to try: Essie Nail Lacquer in In Pursuit of Craftiness ($10), Peacci Nail Polish in Californian ($13), Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Periwinkle Passion ($22)
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Shimmer Finishes
Pedicures are traditionally crafted in cream finishes, but this summer, Hanna says to consider adding a little shimmer to the mix. “Shimmery finishes with golden tones are a glamorous pedicure option for the summer that is more playful than your standard solid color,” she says. To get the look, she suggests using Gelcare’s Hourglass (an ultra-fine champagne shimmer), Dazzle Dry’s Stargazer (a saturated gold shimmer), or The Gel Bottle’s Elixir Cat-Eye (a rose gold velvet).
Ones to try: Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in Hourglass ($24), Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Stargazer ($24), The Gel Bottle Elixir Cat-Eye Gel System ($23)
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Crisp White
You can never go wrong with a bright white pedicure for summer. It’s modern yet nostalgic, bringing images of Y2K beauty trends to mind. Nowadays, so many white polishes exist that you can cater your pedi to your undertone. That said, for the crispest effect, we recommend cool-tone white, like Olive & June’s HD, OPI’s Alpine Snow, and Lights Lacquer’s Paper Snow.
Ones to try: Olive & June Long Lasting Polish in HD ($9), OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow ($12), Lights Lacquer Nail Polish in Paper Snow ($11)
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French Tips
Last but not least, we have the summer French pedicure. You can create this Y2K-inspired nail trend using the white polishes listed above, along with the sheer pinks, or you can opt for more neutral bases like OPI’s Bubble Bath. To perfect the design, use French stencils, like the ORLY Half Moon Guides. When using them, wait until your tips are fully dry before removing them. After doing so, finish your French pedi with a glossy top coat.
Ones to try: OPI Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath ($12), ORLY Half Moon Guides ($6)
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