Last year was a great year for nail art. Glazed chrome nails, neon French tips, and ombré blends were among the top requests in nail salons across the country and the most saved on Instagram—and according to nail experts, when it comes to color trends, 2023 is set to be just as cool. Textures and finishes will define nail art designs for the year, but when it comes to choosing color there are options for both the minimalists and the maximalists. We spoke to nail artists and experts Yan Tee, Ashleigh Bamber, and Rose Tucker, and also tapped trend experts WGSN to find out exactly what the best nail colors for 2023 will be.
Ahead, find eight trends, from silver chrome to candied orange. Consider this your go-to guide for manicure inspiration for the rest of the year.
1. Silver Chrome
Thanks to Hailey Bieber’s "glazed donut” nails, a chrome finish became one of the most defining nail trends of 2022, and according to Bamber, the obsession is set to continue into 2023. "Silver and metallics in general are a huge trend right now, especially in clothing, and like all trends, it has finally made its way into nails,” she says. "It gives off futuristic vibes and plays on the metaverse trend, which is so popular at the moment.”
Shop the trend:
While nail artists tend to use chrome powders to create a true metallic finish, a silver shimmer polish is the next best thing.
When DIYing this trend, the key is to avoid chunky glitter formulas and instead opt for subtler shimmery finishes.
This mirrorball silver is just calling out for evenings out.
2. Chocolate Brown
Brown may be most commonly associated with autumnal color trends, but according to WGSN, it’s set to trend throughout 2023. While golden butterscotch browns and soft desert-inspired tones will be big news later in the year, we’re already seeing a lot of love for rich deep chocolatey shades.
Texture is key to elevating this shade, so consider experimenting with metallic and matte finishes as well as traditional glosses. "I like either a full classic brown painted nail or mixing it with other neutral shades in swirly designs," adds Bamber.
Shop the trend:
This neutral coffee brown will not only flatter all skin tones but also pairs well with other shades.
Peacci has an impressively wide range of brown shades, but we particularly love this cool-toned chocolate.
Nails Inc. offer a range of brown tones to perfectly suit your skin tone.
3. Digital Lavender
The natural evolution from millennial pink? Digital lavender, a cool-toned lilac pastel, which WGSN has named as its color of the year for 2023. It also happens to tie in well with the digitally inspired textures we’re seeing in nail art: color-shifting shimmers and light-reflecting iridescent finishes.
"Lavender has been popular with some of my clients because it's easy to create a modern contrast with a lot of other statement colors,” says Tee. "The shade by itself is subtle, but paired with a stark green, it becomes super eye-catching. I also love it with a contrasting but complementing deep plum and molten silver details.”
Shop the trend:
This cool, grey-toned pastel is exactly what digital lavender should be. Add a chrome or shimmer topcoat to give it a fun twist.
This gorgeous, cool-toned shade of lavender also has a hint of blue.
Is this the most perfect purple pastel? We think so.
4. Sour Green
Granted, sour green may not sound like an appealing name, but in a backlash to years of pretty pastels and punchy primary colors, WGSN predicts that sickly and traditionally repulsive shades will be huge in 2023.
"I’m getting a lot of requests for clashing colors and off-kilter shades,” says Bamber. "They work well with the really ‘otherworldly’ tactile textures that people are beginning to experiment with.”
Shop the trend:
Granted, we probably wouldn't wear this bright green-yellow as a block of color, but incorporated into a nail art design with some black or white accents? Just the ticket.
This softer, more wearable green will look particularly good on short, rounded nails.
If neon isn't your thing, then a vivid apple green lets you dip a toe into the trend.
5. Oat Milk
Traditionally, white nails can look harsh and unflattering, but off-white and cream shades that lean slightly yellow-toned are much more sophisticated and flatter a wide range of skin tones. "Off-white is a subtler version of a typical white manicure that can sometimes give off a Tipp-Ex look,” says Bamber. "It’s clean, fresh, and definitely fits with the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic everyone is raving about right now. It also looks great on any nail length, shape, and skin tone.”
Shop the trend:
This yellow-toned off-white will be a great addition to a minimalist's nail polish wardrobe. Keep nails short and match with your toes.
A warm and creamy off-white, this super-chic shade will work well all year round.
This pretty polish gives nails a milky wash of color.
6. Vibrant Blue
"This one really began last year, but it’s definitely going to enter the mainstream in 2023,” says Bamber. "I don’t often get requests for a block color of vibrant blue, but people love it as an accent on a nude background. A French tip, an ombré effect, or some delicate stars are popular requests.” Styled as such, these subtle nail art designs offer a more sophisticated, grown-up way to wear such a bright, bold color.
Shop the trend:
This polish from Static Nails looks like a dip in the pool. It's the perfect bright blue for summer.
A touch lighter and brighter than a deeper navy blue, this shade looks especially cool and modern when applied with a sponge to create an ombré finish.
7. Candied Orange
Neon orange accents trended throughout 2022, but in 2023, orange will be given a softer, warmer approach, drawn from nature-inspired hues like ginger and amber. According to WGSN, candied orange shades are both activating and therapeutic and can be used as a way to inject life into designs with dark topcoats. Orange is also surprisingly versatile when paired with other shades (especially pink and brown), so expect to see this shade used in ombré, tie-dye, and aura-inspired designs.
Shop the trend:
This softer orange drugstore nail polish shade works perfectly for both summer and fall.
Not quite neon but still super bright, this orange will be perfect for summer.
Why not match your nails files to your mani while you're at it?
8. Jade Green
Pastels are traditionally (and unsurprisingly) a popular choice for spring, but Tucker predicts that more nature-inspired shades like jade will define her clients’ 2023 requests. "I’m getting requests for calmer tones, as lots of people are heading towards more understated, minimalist designs and colors, and jade fits that bill perfectly without sacrificing color,” she says. "There was loads of jade on S/S 23 runways. Victoria Beckham paired it with a vibrant coral, and that looked incredible, so you know it's going to be everywhere.”
Shop the trend:
This milky green will look great on long nails, especially with a matte topcoat to finish.
Match this delicate green with silver chrome accents to nail two trends in one.
If you have an at-home gel kit, then this polish is perfect for achieving long-lasting jade nails at home.
Next Up: We Can't Predict the Future, But We Can Tell You These Nail Colors Are *It*
This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.
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