The advent of a new year doesn’t always call for reinvention. It’s also a time to refocus and embrace what makes each of us unique and feels most authentic. When it comes to your nail color, that might mean finally discovering the nude polish that perfectly complements your skin tone, or leaning into your inner goth with a high-shine, patent-leather black manicure. It could mean indulging your romantic side with a rich, full-bodied red, or your spicy side with a zingy, hot-rod orange.

In a world where things can feel topsy-turvy, the best source for inspiration is often found through self-discovery—and that can start with a coat of nail polish. With guidance from top nail artists, we put together a menu of colors to cater to every side of you.

Fresh Nude

Courtesy of @matejanova

Courtesy of Alex Dani

Are you surprised? This nail trend has many aliases—“soap,” “lip gloss,” “clean”—but whatever you call it, the look isn’t going anywhere, and will likely get another rebrand in 2026. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “Nude nails will always be in style, especially after seasons of bright summer polishes and dark winter hues,” says Bana Jarjour, a Los Angeles-based nail artist.

This look gets its allure from being the wallflower of polishes. “Nudes don’t distract from the intricacy and details of clothes,” Jarjour explains, adding that the muted colors were all over the spring/summer 2026 runways. They were seen on models at Prabal Gurung, where Amy Ling Lin, founder of Sundays Studios, sent models down the runway in the sheer, rosy neutral No. 49; and at LoveShackFancy, where Miss Pop, a New York City-based nail artist, added a veil of Essie Liquid Sunrise over nude polishes for the show; and others too.

As for which polish to reach for, Jarjour recommends Essie Nail Polish in Skinny Dip if you have a fair or light-medium skin tone, and OPI Bare My Soul if you have a medium to deep one. If these polish options are not for you, we understand—picking your nude is very personal. Check out our list of the prettiest nude nail polishes for different skin tones.

Sundays

Sundays Nail Polish in No.49

$18

Sundays Studios

Essie Nail Polish in Skinny Dip

$10

AMAZON

$10

ULTA

OPI

OPI Nail Lacquer in Bare My Soul

$12

Amazon

$12

Sally Beauty

Fog Blue

Courtesy of @nailsbydan.m for Kijibae

Courtesy of @pivoine.ldn

Pinterest dubbed the color blue a trend to watch across beauty, fashion, and food in 2026. For nails, though, artists are torn over which shade will come out on top in the new year. Sojin Oh, nail artist and creative director at Kijibae, sees foggy blue on the horizon: “There is something meditative about gray-blue that reminds me of being in the Pacific Northwest,” she says. “It’s quiet, reflective, a bit calming, and while it’s moody, it’s not melancholic.” She adds, “With the year we had, this moody blue captures that feeling of both clarity and blurriness.”

She points to Kijibae’s Foggy Semi-Cured Gel Nail Strips, which are translucent, semi-cured gray-blue. We like Cirque Colors in Navy Jelly to achieve a similar effect with a polish. For a more opaque take, we recommend the OPI Nail Polish in Alpaca My Bags.

Kijibae

Kijibae Semi-Cured Gel Nail Strips in Foggy

$15

Kijibae

OPI

OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpaca My Bags

$12

Ulta Beauty

Cirque Colors

Cirque Colors Navy Jelly

$13

Cirque Colors

Denim

Courtesy of @nailsby.prachi

Courtesy of @brushedbyb_ and @lightslacquer

Courtesy of @avrnailswatches and @lightslacquer

Jarjour and Sarah Chue, a Los Angeles-based nail artist, agree that a medium-wash denim blue will be popular, likening it to a go-to basic in your wardrobe. “This shade works like a neutral alternative for many outfits, but with more personality,” Chue says. “It has a refined, sophisticated edge, but is still wearable every day.”

She suggests Dior Nail Polish in Denim—a medium-dark jeans-colored crème formula—topped with a shiny topcoat. We also like the Lights Lacquer Nail Polish in Mr. Darcy, which is slightly grayer.

Dior

Dior Vernis Glossy Nail Polish in Denim

$32

Dior

Lights Lacquer

Lights Lacquer Nail Polish in Mr. Darcy

$13

Lights Lacquer

Glossy Black

Courtesy for @overglowedit

Courtesy of @jinsoon

Extra-glossy black lacquer is going to dominate the feeds in 2026. “The return of quiet luxury and ’90s minimalism is inspiring darker, more refined tones that balance edge with elegance,” says Jin Soon Choi, a New York City-based nail artist and founder of nail-care brand JinSoon. She recommends its Nail Polish in Absolute Black.

If you’re looking for under-$20 options, we like the creamy Mooncat Nail Polish in Emo For Life and Essie Nail Polish in Licorice. Mazz Hanna, a Los Angeles-based nail artist and founder of Nailing Hollywood, a boutique nail artist talent agency, is a fan of Gelcare’s Patent Leather Black, a longer-lasting option (that requires you have an LED lamp to cure it). “It gives the exact kind of high-shine, mirror finish,” she says.

Mooncat

Emo For Life

$15

Mooncat

Essie

Licorice

$10

Ulta Beauty

Gelcare

Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in Patent Leather Black

$20

Gelcare

Burgundy

Courtesy of @jinsoon

Getty Images

Maybe it’s all the romantic book-to-film adaptations or all the seductive visuals that took over runways—either way, we’re expecting burgundy to burst through our screens in 2026. “As fashion leans toward classic tailoring and timeless beauty, deep reds match the mood—romantic, confident, and polished,” says Choi.

Burgundy is particularly versatile, she adds: “A glossy crème look invites depth, while a matte finish looks luxe and vintage.” She references her brand’s polish in Audacity. We also like the full-bodied OPI Infinite Shine Nail Polish in Malaga Wine.

Jinsoon

Jinsoon Nail Polish in Audacity

$18

Beyond Polish

$18

Jinsoon

Olive & June

Olive and June Nail Polish in Obsessed

$10

Olive & June

$11

CVS

OPI

OPI Nail Lacquer in Malaga Wine

$11

Amazon

Orange-Red

Courtesy of @matejanova

Getty Images

“Out with the classic red Corvette,” says Chue. Upgrade your candy-apple red manicure with a hint of fiery orange. “It’s a statement,” she says of the look. “It has a rich, vibrant warmth while still being bold.” Chue recommends Chanel Le Vernis in Incendiaire. We’re partial to the punchy, slightly more pink OPI Nail Polish in Cajun Shrimp.

Chanel

Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color in 147 Incendiaire

$33

Nordstrom

$33

Chanel

OPI

OPI Nail Lacquer in Cajun Shrimp

$10

Target

$11

Ulta Beauty

• Jin Soon Choi is a New York City-based nail artist and founder of nail-care brand JinSoon.
• Sarah Chue is a Los Angeles-based nail artist.
• Mazz Hanna is a Los Angeles-based nail artist and founder of Nailing Hollywood, a boutique nail artist talent agency.
• Bana Jarjour is a Los Angeles-based nail artist.
• Sojin Oh is a Los Angeles-based nail artist and creative director at Kijibae.
• Miss Pop is a New York City-based nail artist.

Read about the latest trends:

• The Biggest Hair Trends of 2026 Bring the Drama
• Makeup Is Getting a Colorful Vibe Shift in 2026
• The Tattoo Trends of 2026 Will Have You Feeling Nostalgic
• The Biggest Nail Trends of 2026 Upgrade the Classics

Now, watch Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney spill secrets after sipping the Truth Serum.