25 Best Summer Nail Colors and Polishes to Try in 2023

Legit just brought this nail inspo to an appointment because I wanted “mermaidcore” nails (and they turned out fab, tyvm). My nail artist mixed a slew of sheer, jelly polishes to get the watercolor effect, then painted on a few different iridescent top coats to get a shimmery, underwater finish.

Consider this the summer 2023 take on glazed-donut nails, nail artist Miki Higuchi previously told Cosmo. Just pair a milky, sheer nail polish with iridescent pearly chrome powder with pink, blue, and purple shimmers for a multi-chrome effect.

Not only did this shade blow TF up on runways (we’re talking Givenchy, Michael Kors, Elie Saab), but it made its nail debut on Hailey Bieber, who has essentially started every massive nail trend of the last year. She combined hers with a gold-chrome accent for Coachella, which feels totally right. But feel free to try this shade as an accent nail to dip your toes fingers in.

TikTok’s latest nail trend? Milky nails, which is essentially just a sheer, cream nail color. It’s like glazed-doughnut nails before you put the chrome powder on. To get that creamy effect, just drip one drop of top coat onto your nail after you’ve painted on your white nail polish while it’s still wet.

Red nails are an all-year-round staple, but this specific tomato-red polish was legit made for summer. It has a slight orange undertone with neon-level brightness that fits right in with all of your statement summer shades.

Okay, low-key, this slime-green nail color is kinda ugly (like, it’s giving Shrek), but it perfectly fits in with the ’70s, retro style vibes that have been everywhere since Taylor Swift’s Midnights album released. If you want to try the trend but are iffy on the shade, combine it in a squiggle pattern with other muted hues.

Neon nail polish in summer is basically the blueprint, so why not just wear ’em all? This gradient French-tip look is slightly toned down from an all-over vibrant neon mani, but the combination of colors on each nail has summer cocktails and beach days written all over them. Nail artist Thuy Nguyen says trying ombré/gradient nail art is also a nice way to switch it up if you’re more of a neutral-nail person because “you can control how much color is exposed and how far up it goes on the nail bed.”

Don’t feel like getting your nails done? No biggie, just throw on a ridge filler and a strengthening top coat and call it a day. The key, though, is to coat your nails with cuticle oil to keep your skin moisturized, so hangnails and dry cuticles don’t steal the spotlight. As a bonus, your nails will be smooth and healthy by your next mani.

This vivid, turquoise-blue nail color legit screams summer. But it looks ~sophisticated~ (more patio happy hour, less teen pool party) with this dainty French-tip design. “It’s set in between pastels and bolds this summer—think a Euphoria-like eyeshadow palette,” says nail artist Julie Kandalec.

Strawberry-glazed nails are expected to be a massive spring/summer trend. But if you want a slightly simpler version, just swipe on two coats of a shimmery-pink nail polish. You’ll get a similar shiny pink vibe with fewer steps (and tools…and products…).

Hi, your resident queer here, telling you the best way to celebrate Pride Month is with Pride nails, like this pastel-rainbow gradient. DIY it with a makeup sponge and a handful of pastel nail polishes by swiping each shade of polish on the tip of the sponge one after another in a line, then dotting it on each nail. Blend it together by painting on a top coat.

Yellow is about to be the it beauty shade of the summer (like, imagine the colored-eyeliner looks), including these chrome nails Hailey Bieber wore for a Rhode campaign. Choose a bright, pastel yellow instead of a primary yellow for a more updated version of the hue, or tone it down with a butter-yellow nail polish instead.

If you care about matching your nails to your outfits, you’ll legit never have to worry with a white nail look because it’s an ideal base with whatever you’re wearing. Go for a classic stark-white polish on its own, which will always be on trend, or add a squiggly design or shimmery top coat to jazz it up.

Happy neon season! This vivid, highlighter-esque pink nail polish is “giving hot girl summer,” says Aaron, since the color is so rich and pigmented. But if you want it to be even stronger, paint on a white base coat first.