While classic neutrals, pinks, and red nail polishes will always be in style, there’s something about the color blue that looks so fun on the fingertips — and there’s no shortage of blue nail ideas that make it incredibly versatile for your manicures.
Nail pros predicted royal hues would be must-try mani shades in 2021, and the blue nail trend shows no sign of stopping for this fall or winter season. “In general, saturated colors are trending,” Brittney Boyce, a celebrity nail artist and founder of NAILS OF LA, tells Bustle. Blue is extra popular, she says, because it comes in a variety of undertones and finishes, so you can find a shade that looks good on everyone.
Whether you’re talking baby, navy, or cobalt, blue nails also go perfectly with the ’90s and 2000s aesthetics currently cycling through everyone’s closets. In fact, Michelle Saunders, a celebrity nail artist with Nailtopia, says blue first became a must-have manicure hue in the ’90s, she says, when brands like Hard Candy (remember them?) made it popular. Alicia Silverstone even famously rocked the brand’s baby blue polish — named Sky — back in the day. So while it may not be totally new in the manicure world, blue still feels cool.
Of course, you can still opt for darker hues if they’re more your speed in the cold weather seasons. “The bright sapphire blues are trending because they are more jewel-toned,” Boyce says. “This looks great when we do minimal nail art as it’s so rich and gives that bold pop of color to make it super striking.” Basically: The blue nail color options are pretty endless.
Need some inspo? Here are 77 blue nail ideas to paint on yourself or ask for on your next trip to the salon.
