best nail colors 2023
A new year is the perfect time to change up your nail game and start fresh with new nail polish colors. Especially since winter 2023 nail colors are looking to be some of the chicest and most exciting shades out there.
There are plenty of options for you to play around with and you’re bound to find the perfect shade for you. Expect to stick to classic chilly weather hues like blues, gold, silvers, and whites. If the red nail theory is your thing, you’re in luck: red in all types of shades, whether it’s dark black cherry or rusty and earthy-red-toned, is going strong this winter (and beyond). But you’ll also find some unexpected twists, such as pastel metallics and earthier blues and greens that make for really nice winter color. Not to mention, the infamous glazed donut nail trend that broke all of TikTok looks like it is here to stay for the long haul.
Below, Chanel nail artist Betina R. Goldstein, JINSoon founder and celebrity nail artist Jin Soon Choi, and ORLY educator An Cao share their picks for the best winter nail polish colors. Scroll down to see the 15 shades you should be wearing when it’s cold out.
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Cao predicts icy metallic colors, especially those blue shades, will be trending this winter. “Everything has an ultra-shiny, outer-space feel to it, ” she says. “Light blue is especially great for winter.”
An oldie but a goodie, metallics are Goldstein’s pick for winter 2023 colors to see trending all over your social feeds. “Silver, gold, and chrome variations of colors — they are a great way to play with nail art without getting overwhelmed, ” she says. “[They’re also] easy to recreate at home.”
Choi predicts that the infamous glazed donut nails will continue to be big into the winter. “The base color is selected to complement each person’s undertones for a natural pearlescent look, ” she says. “Many prefer a soft look for their manicure, and iridescent polishes are the perfect way to get the shine without using glitter; iridescent polishes shine beautifully on their own for a minimalist look or atop vibrant hues for a glowy finish.”
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When you think of metallics, it’s natural to think of silver, gold, and bronze. But this winter, Cao says pastel colors like lilac will also take center stage. “In winter, it’s really pretty with a cool-tone shimmer, ” she adds.
Choi says that earthy tones are going to be big this winter. “[They] have a certain elegance that make a statement without flashy designs or finishes, ” she says. While earthy tones are also popular for fall, she says you’ll see earthy tones like rusty reds a lot in 2023.
Goldstein recommends going with brown nail polish if you want to change up the usual burgundy that you normally reach for in the winter months. It’s still just as cozy and warm but gives you something more neutral. She and her clients love this Chanel polish in particular for its deep brown shade with a shiny finish.
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A winter white is one of the go-to winter colors for many. For 2023, Cao says the color will go a more sheer route. “Sheer milky whites pop more than a basic sheer [neutral], ” she says. “It looks great on short, natural-shaped nails for a clean look.”
Another earthy tone shade that Choi says will be big for 2023 is cerulean. The muted light blue is a soft winter shade that can match any look.
When in doubt, go for a classic cherry red nail polish. “Red is always a great way to start the new year, ” says Goldstein. “It is said to bring good luck and fortune in many cultures.”
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Cao says to look for creamy midnight blues in the colder months. She recommends looking for warm-toned dark blues as those tend to be more universal.
Moody and romantic, Cao says that dark black cherry red hues are great, sophisticated shades for the winter months. You can go full-coverage or take the French manicure route, which is always a classic.
Cao says that if you’re looking for an opaque white, turn to something that has a beige tone and is loaded with pigment to give it that creamy feel. “It stands out and looks great across all skin tones, ” she says. She recommends pairing it with minimal nail art or a playful decal for a fun twist.
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To enhance the metallic trend that Goldstein mentioned previously, she recommends using a black base (her pick is the Chanel Boy de Chanel Nail Colour in 404) beneath chrome powder to really get your nails to pop.
Another pick from Choi is this muted olive green that goes on smooth and creamy. It’s a perfect earth tone that seamlessly transitions from winter to spring.
Classic black nails will never go out of style. Chanel your inner Wednesday Addams and opt for the dark and moody shade as winter settles in.
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From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person who’s on TikTok, even if you aren’t.about trying new nail trends. Like, I’m the kind of person who scours Instagram and Pinterest for nail art ideas before I even *make* my appointment. Valentine’s Day nails? Had them planned out in November. The press-on nail trend? I’ve currently got about TK perfectly curated sets at home. And the very moment Hailey Bieber captured her “glazed donut” nails on TikTok, I was already cocktailing polishes to recreate the look myself. Basically, I’m ~dedicated~ to my craft, which is why I’ve been asking every single nail artist I know lately what the biggest 2023 nail trends will be.
And ya know what? 2023 has delivered some trends I’m hella excited about, like hues I expected (hi, Viva Magenta, Pantone’s Color of the Year) and updates on 2022’s fave designs and shapes (like coffin nails, squiggly lines, and neon shades), but also new designs celebs will be trying, guaranteed. Behold: 2023’s biggest nail trends, according to my IG-stalking and nail expert and Nails.Inc founder Thea Green.
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Mark my words: This will be the new “glazed donut” manicure of 2023. Coined “lip gloss” nails by celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik, this mani involves the same shiny gold finish as Bieber’s famous nails, but with a nude nail polish underneath that matches your skin tone. It’s basically like the nail version of outlining your lips with a neutral lip liner and topping it with lip gloss.
Ultra-thin lines make a classic French mani look way cooler, IMO, especially when paired with short, squared-off nails, says Green. Why? Because of their matching angles and lines. “We’ve seen a rise in micro-French manis on square nail shapes, because they look much more seamless on square tips, ” she says. If you need a little ~guidance~ to DIY a straight line, paint your polish on a silicone manicure sponge, push the tip of your nail into it to get a thin line, then clean up any excess with a nail polish remover pen.
I, personally, will never give up my long gel extensions, but I am having fun playing around with short, natural lengths this year. It’s a cool dichotomy if you’re used to long nails and looks timeless with a simple neutral shade or even a micro design. I invested in a full manicure set so I could clip, file, and buff my nails at home. I’ve also been layering up cuticle oil every time I think about it to keep my nail beds moisturized and smooth. Which reminds me… lemme do that rn.
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I predicted a few months ago this would be a trendy af winter nail color, and I was right. Bright-red nails have been all over TikTok, thanks to the “red nail theory” (which I personally tested on my last date, and it
). I did an all-over red with Mischo Beauty’s Good Kisser, but I’ll def be implementing two trends in one by trying a French tip with red polish next.
“Thanks to the glazed-donut nail trend, we’re thinking that shimmer shades will definitely make a major comeback in 2023, ” Green says. And the coolest way to wear shimmer on your nails rn? With a magnetic nail polish that “activates” the shimmer flecks to result in this fuzzy, velvet-esque texture. Top it off with a shiny top coat and rhinestones for an extra-blinding finish.
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Points were made, Pantone, because I’m totally loving the 2023 Color of the Year: Viva Magenta, which is a vibrant, mid-toned, blue-ish pink. It plays off of the bright-pink shade we all loved seeing in the behind-the-scenes pics from Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, but feels updated in a 2023 way. Turn up the cool factor by choosing a shimmery magenta polish and playing around with designs,
