7 colors perfect for painting toes (2025 edition)
The perfect toe color for you will be what fits your style, the current season, and your upcoming plans.
Nude shades such as beige or a very pale pink make for a classic, elegant appearance.
Bright colors such as coral and turquoise add life and excitement in the summer.
Deep shades such as burgundy or navy work perfectly for cold weather months.
Think about what you have in your closet.
Pick colors that go with your wardrobe or create a contrasting splash of color!
Importance of Choosing the Right Color
The decision about what color to paint your toenails is more than just the fun of color selection. It provides you with an opportunity to improve your appearance, showcase your unique style, and feel more confident!
Pedicure colors last longer than manicures, so selecting the right shade ensures you’ll love it for weeks. Selecting a shade that complements your distinct complexion and daily routines makes all the difference. Whether you gravitate to the dramatic or the understated hues, learning this one will pay big dividends.
Enhance Skin Tone and Undertones
Your unique skin tone and undertones will heavily influence how colors settle. Those with cool-toned skin will look amazing in blue-based shades, such as soft lavender and navy.
Warm undertones shine with yellow-based hues like coral and gold. If you have strong green or yellow undertones, staying away from these colors will help you steer clear of looking washed out or having the colors clash.
Soft, neutral shades, such as blush or taupe, are flattering on everyone. Keep in mind, you want to choose a shade that enhances your beauty without camouflage and leaves you feeling your best.
Reflect Personal Style and Mood
Your pedicure is a reflection of your personal style. A classic red will convey an air of timeless elegance, while a bright neon pink will showcase your fun-loving, adventurous spirit.
Think about the mood you want to create—do you want something bold or more mellow? Shades such as deep burgundy can convey sophistication or pastel blue to exude calmness can represent your mood.
More than 7 in 10 Americans agree that if they have a great pedicure, it makes them feel more confident. Above all, choose a color you’re going to love!
Match Seasonal Trends and Occasions
Don’t forget that seasonal colors can bring a vibrant new look to your pedicure. Bright, playful tones such as turquoise are great in the summer, but deep greens or grays are ideal for fall.
For celebratory pedicures, let the occasion dictate the color. A bold metallic can be perfect for a party, but subtle nudes work beautifully for casual looks and everything in between.
By prioritizing versatility, you’ll make sure your pedicure works with your wardrobe and summer plans like a dream.
Popular Toe Nail Gel Colors
Select the perfect toenail polish color to take your style to the next level. From the shore to a dinner date or just out and about, the right color is everything! While trends come and go with every season, there are classic colors that are always in style. Below, check out ones that are super chic, wearable and even classy for date night, girls night and more.
1. Vibrant Red Shades
Red is the quintessential shade and, as nail artist Milly Mason tells us, one of the most popular, aka the most requested color. It’s fierce and fabulous, versatile enough for all skin tones. Mason explains that reds are typically made with orange or blue undertones.
Whatever color you go with, be sure to pick a color that complements your skin tone! If you’re warm undertoned, opt for a coral-red, but if you’re more on the cool side, try a rich, blue-toned red.
2. Soft Pink Options
Pale pinks never go out of style, particularly ones in the vein of OPI’s Bubble Bath, a delicate candy pink that Mason is a fan of. Soft pinks can be very feminine and understated, providing a professional and polished manicure that is perfectly appropriate all year long.
These colors lend a fresh look with a clean, minimalist effect. Whether you’re going somewhere fancy or staying relaxed, they’re great for occasions both classy and fun!
3. Subtle Sheer Nude Tones
Sheer nude tones are classic and neutral, making them a go-to shade for any time of year. Mason points to their popularity as being a key factor in how they can work with every ensemble and event.
Sheer nudes offer that fresh, almost bare, nail aesthetic that’s low-key, but elegant. Go with a beige nude if you have warmer skin tones or a soft, cool-toned taupe if you have cooler undertones.
Related Read: How to apply nail decals
4. Crisp Fresh White Choices
White polish is the ultimate classic, known for its crispness and brightness. As Ashleigh Bamber tells us, clients traveling to sun-drenched locales have made white shades the hottest of hot colors.
They radiate a crisp, clean look, and are the perfect complement to sandals and open-toe shoes. There’s something about a smooth, opaque white that just screams modernity to your pedicure.
5. Neutral Earthy Browns
Neutral browns are especially in vogue right now for the fall, due in part to the popularity of the “chocolate-glazed” nail aesthetic spearheaded by Hailey Bieber. Chocolate browns and taupe shades provide warmth and depth, making them a chic option for the cooler months.
These natural hues are flattering and work-appropriate while lending a chic factor to even your most casual attire.
6. Light Baby Blue Hues
Whether sheer or sudsy, baby blue hues will add an adorably doll-like look to your nails. They’re soft and baby, creating a lovely contrast that makes them a surprising but extremely lovely option for spring and summer.
Light blues also look great with denim and pastel looks, making for a fresh and well-rounded ensemble.
7. Bold Neon Colors
If you want to make a statement with your pedicure, neon colors are loud and proud. Bright oranges, electric yellows, or vivid greens are great for summer outings or festivals.
These eye-catching shades really make an impact against tan skin and inject a serious jolt of fun into your overall look.
8. Deep Jet Black Finish
Jet black polish is a great choice for a chic and edgy look. It’s definitely a go-to color that can be worn anywhere from a beach day to a black tie event.
For a more sartorial slant, black toes look edgy juxtaposed against white or pastel outfits, or inject a little goth to all-black looks. It’s contemporary, fresh, and just plain awesome.
Seasonal and Trendy Color Ideas
Finding the right color for your toes is just as important and represents your own personal style. The season you’re in makes a big difference to that decision. So prepare yourself for summer picnics and winter holidays! From seasonal favorites to trendy, go-to hues, you’ll stay chic all year round.
Bright Summer Colors for Warm Months
The colors of summer are vibrant and fun, reflecting the relaxed attitude of summertime. Airy blue, for example, is an instant favorite because it works on all skin tones and looks amazing with all warming, summer wardrobe essentials.
Lilac is another trendy choice for 2025, providing a gentle but whimsical shade ideal for a picnic or al fresco soiree. For a bright, fruity vibe, reach for apricot or peach shades. These colors bring a lively dash of color that’s just right for those sunny spring and summer days!
For a pretty, royal look, use Sally Hansen Good in iris blue-purple. Jelly pink is another winner for those who prefer neutrals but are looking for a dash of color.
Warm Tones for Fall and Winter
When the weather gets cooler, it’s all about the warm tones — think deep burgundy, rich chocolate and burnt orange. These muted, earthy hues produce a warm, welcoming aesthetic that perfectly matches the seasonal beauty of changing leaves and winter holidays.
Pastel Shades for Spring Styles
Spring is a season of revival, and nothing reflects that spirit quite like spring pastels in soft, positive hues. Pale pink, mint green, and lavender give a sweet, pretty air.
These colors look great when you contrast them with lighter, more flowy pieces.
Metallic and Glitter Finishes for Holidays
The holiday season is all about metallics and glitter finishes for an extra festive touch. Gold Drops by Beauty Pie Wondercolour with its bronzy shimmer is a perfect subtle but glamorous option.
Silver and rose gold metallics add shimmer and shine too, adding just the right amount of sparkle to any celebration.
Tips to Choose the Perfect Color
This will ensure you choose wisely in a way that’s stylish yet practical. Consider your skin undertone, your closet, and what’s in style right now. You’ll be amazed at how easily you’ll find a color that will make you glow!
Coordinate with Your Skin Undertone
Your skin undertone is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing the perfect color. For example, warm undertones usually look well with cherry red, apricot, or peach, giving a vibrant and enriching look.
If you have cooler undertones, a soft blue or bright white can offer a bright and refreshing contrast. Neutral undertones are flattering in the sense that they can really take on almost every shade from the boldest black to the nudiest nude.
Match with Your Outfit or Accessories
Matching your toenail polish color to your outfits or handbag can help complete your entire look. Bright, bold colors pop in the summer months, particularly against neutrals like white and khaki.
If you’re rocking tan sandals, soft blue toes make a pretty complement. If you’re looking for a bit more versatility, shades such as teal or black are flattering with almost any outfit.
Pair Neutrals with Bold Accents
Neutrals don’t need to be blah. Pairing a robust neutral, like teal, with vivid accents, like neon yellow, will infuse the design with character while maintaining a sense of harmony.
Bright white, the new summer neutral, is a great contrast to bright, statement jewelry or shoes.
Explore Current Nail Art Trends
If you’re feeling creative, try some of the hottest nail art designs or classic French tips. In fact, you can even experiment with blending more colors—seven different hues—without going all out.
Trendy patterns, such as geometrics or flowers, will really draw the eye and liven up your pedicure.
Creative Ways to Mix Colors
Whether you’re painting your toes or getting a manicure, mixing colors can instantly elevate your style. Mixing patterns, colors, and accents you might think normally wouldn’t work together can set a chic tone sure to make any day feel a little more fun. Here are a few thoughtful color combinations to get you started on your next manicure.
Combine Patterns and Solids
Mixing and matching stripes, florals and other patterns with solids is a creative way to make the looks more fun and unexpected. Patterns that make you think of festive days, arts-and-crafts creations or far-away lands can make your tootsies a conversation starter.
Combine a statement color such as coral pink, turquoise or emerald green with a patterned nail to create balance. Or, you might paint all but one of your toes a bright cobalt blue. Then get really fancy and paint a floral pattern on your big toe!
Alternatively, combine a neutral background such as teal with pops of neon yellow for a vibrant yet harmonious appearance.
Use Different Shades on Each Toe
Painting each toe a different shade creates a fun ombré look. Pale pastels, like lavender, pale blush or powder blue, are ideal for a fresh, delicate but modern look.
On the positive side, you can’t underestimate the energy of hot pinks and fuchsias on your tootsies. If you’re into sheer colors, consider laying down a white or off white base coat first to give your favorite colors a pop.
Add Metallic or Glitter Accents
Nobody told metallics and glitter they weren’t supposed to look good on every color. Soft tones are enhanced by natural golds or silvers, while bright shades—think navy or black—are made more glamorous with glitter accents.
Create a fresh summer vibe by matching pastel blue nail color with nude heeled sandals. Add a metallic stripe on top for a bit of understated glamour!
