I spend just about every day as a beauty editor looking at manicures. Whether I'm scanning my inbox for the latest polish launches, scrolling through my carefully curated feed of celebrity nail artists, or admiring my friends' fingers for inspiration, my brain is constantly cycling through the best nail polish trends and designs.
As much as I love an intricate manicure packed with maximalist nail art, sometimes my nails need a break with a single hue. Luckily, summer is the one season when a simple, one-colour manicure never feels boring. From butter yellow to sky blue, there are so many unexpected summer nail colours to try this season.
Ahead, the best summer nail colours to inspire your next warm-weather manicure, plus some of the prettiest shades if you're planning to DIY it.
Sky blue
Have your fingers match the clear summer skies (manifesting no more rainy weekends, please) with a bright blue manicure. “I think sky blue encapsulates that super chill, super breezy summer vibe that can be really comforting and calming to wear,” says L.A.-based nail artist Sigourney Nuñez. Some of our favourite blues for summer are Essie's Salt Water Happy and Mavala's Sky Blue.
Lavender milk
“Lavender milk nails are sheer, milky, and delicate, which is perfect for summer,” explains California-based nail artist Ramon Duran (aka @craftedbyaprince). Go with a light purple like OPI’s Last Glam Standing, and you can start with a white base coat for an even creamier effect.
Pistachio green
This nutty-inspired manicure reminds me of a frothy glass of pistachio milk. I think this muted green is an unexpected yet refreshing summer shade, especially with a glassy chrome finish. My personal favourite iteration of the colour is Manucurist's Pistachio
Butter yellow
According to Cosmo’s beauty team, butter yellow nails are considered a summer neutral. The sunny shade is an unfailing choice, especially if you’re headed on a chic holiday and want your manicures to go perfectly with all of your bikinis and sundresses. Go for Essie Summer Soulstice or OPI Sunny Bunny.
Lychee pink
There’s nothing like a sweet lychee martini, and why not have your beverage of choice match the fingers holding the glass? The sheer pink shade – as worn most recently by Anne Hathaway – is a gorgeous go-with-anything choice for summer, and you can layer on as many coats depending on your desired opacity. Go for Leighton Denny's Less Is More or Sally Hansen's No Hesitations.
Fiery coral
Coral nails – as sported by Claudia Winkleman – are a bold change of pace from the classic summer pastels and milky shades. To get the look that emulates a fiery golden hour, Rimmel's Spiced Coral might just be the perfect shade.
Ballet blush
Hannah Waddingham, Alison Hammond, and Cat Deeley (AKA, our favourite British TV huns) have all repped the ballet blush nail trend, which, as its name would suggest, is a colour reminiscent of pale pink ballet slippers; soft, milky, and glossy. Recreate the look with Manucurist's Active Blur that combines the flattering powder-pink colour with a nourishing formula that doesn't compromise nail health.
Meet the experts
- Ramon Duran, aka @craftedbyaprince, is a California-based nail artist and content creator.
- Sigourney Nuñez (@nailartbysig) is a Los Angeles-based licensed nail artist and content creator.
Why Trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo US, covering all things nails – from the latest polish launches to trending designs. For this story, she spent hours researching the trending summer nail colours and tapped nail artists Sigourney Nuñez and Ramon Duran for their expertise and recommendations.
Lia Mappoura is the beauty writer at Cosmo UK and has over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
