Wondering which polish shades to swipe on your fingernails this spring? Spring nails are heading your way with shades of blue, pastels and cherry reds coming in hot. Peep the below picks for nail polish color ideas perfect for spring, all from nontoxic brands.
By: Nicolle Mackinnon
IN THIS POST:
- Natural nails or “sandy nudes” colors
- Vibrant green
- Periwinkle
- Bright, bold cherry/orange red
- Soft pastels
- Creamy browns
- Exclusive discount codes for TNK readers
We’re finally coming out of that chilly, I-want-to-hibernate-forever phase and for us, cute spring nails are an easy way to accelerate the seasonal transition. Here are our top picks for nail polish ideas and trending nail polish colors for your March nails!
RELATED: Read our complete guide to nontoxic nail polish here, to learn about what to look for in nail polish + our top nontoxic nail polish brands. And check out our no polish manicure ideas.
Spring nail polish ideas: Neutrals + Naturals
Let’s be honest, it’s *always* neutrals season. Nudes, beiges, caramels, grays and taupes are classic and hit on the natural nails trend of sheer nail colors. Demure but put-together, these colors are some of our go-tos for cute spring nails.
RELATED: Summer nail polish ideas.
A perfect entrance into the sheer neutral world of nails, this set from O&J sold out THREE TIMES. That’s how much people love it. This set offers you 4 sheer colors plus a glossy topcoat that helped our nails last longer than other brands (more than five days with no chipping).
SAVE: Use code THENEWKNEW to get a free polish color with any box (the renowned O+J mani system!).
A creamy, taupe-coffee color, we love this neutral from KURE BAZAAR. It’s great for darker skin tones, with more brown in it than white, and it’s an every day (all day) color. Don’t forget to snag their nail polish remover, which was one of our top products of 2020.
RELATED: Natural nail polish remover.
A more full coverage nude with a cream finish, this milky neutral is another great everyday fave. It’s not quite white, it’s not quite pink, it’s not quite almond…it’s a gorgeous mix of the three.
SAVE: Use code NEWKNEW to get 15% off your order.
A sheerer almond tone, this color from the Good.Kind.Pure. line is buildable to the opacity you want. Plus, it’s vegan and cruelty-free (it does contain wheat if you’re avoiding gluten!).
This caramel clay color has been on our minds this season. Playing off the on-trend terracotta hue, this cute spring nails color is a lighter version. Looks great on many skin tones, and offers a little more oomf than your regular nude.
Want to opt for the chicest version of the bare nails trend? Bare your REAL nails. With this buffing kit, you can get glossy fingernails without adding polish.
Spring nail polish ideas: Vibrant green nails
March nails = vibrant green nails. Yep, people are going crazy for bright green nails. Here are the ones we’re eyeing for cute spring nails.
Ooooh, I love a matcha green! This cream finish, yellow-toned light green is on my list for spring. It’s fresh and fun without veering fully into the neon category. Yum.
SAVE: Use code THENEWKNEW to get a free polish color with any box (the renowned O+J mani system!).
RELATED: The best nontoxic nails brands.
A light, bright, mossy lime green that’s BOLD. I can imagine this as a near-neon flash against a chic black outfit for a v cool vibe.
SAVE: Use code NEWKNEW to get 15% off your order.
Dazzle Dry Waltz With Me | $20
A bright avocado green with full coverage and no shimmer. I’m all about the true colors when it comes to green—skip the shimmer, glitter and shine and let this bright green shine through.
SAVE: Use code NEWKNEW to get 15% off your order.
A NEON green, if you’re ready to go in that very vibrant direction. I love the bright undertones—it reminds me of GAK from the 90s (IYKYK).
Spring nail polish ideas: Periwinkle
Trending nail polish colors hover around this blue-meets purple shade that comes in many different hues (we love pairing a light and a dark together here!).
A dark version of the purple-blue trend that pairs well with a lighter periwinkle shade OR stands on its own. And it’s in the featured image at the top of this post, so you can see it in action!
SAVE: Use code THENEWKNEW to get a free polish color with any box (the renowned O+J mani system!).
Good.Kind.Pure. Blue Moonstone | $9
A pure periwinkle with a medium blue-purple finish. Love the thick brushes on this brand, and how this colors covers nails completely with two coats.
RELATED: The best natural nail polish removers.
A full-coverage cream nail polish with lavender and soft blue tones that screams periwinkle.
SAVE: Use code NEWKNEW to get 15% off your order.
GOOD. KIND. PURE. Crystal Blue | $7
A slightly darker shade of light blue, with a hint of sparkle (not glitter, but glow).
Get your shimmer on with this true periwinkle hue in all its glittering glory. I love that it has fuchsia undertones too.
SAVE: Use code NEWKNEW to get 15% off your order.
A shimmery blue-focused take on the periwinkle trend. So yummy, and so bold.
Spring nail polish ideas: Cherry red
Cherry red never really went out of style, but its making a big appearance this spring. If you prefer your shades to veer into warm-toned territory, an undertone of orange is one point too.
A spicy orange-red shade that we love on our toes too.
SAVE: Use code THENEWKNEW to get a free polish color with any box (the renowned O+J mani system!).
Kure Bazaar Rouge FloreKure Bazaar Rouge Flore | $18
A true crimson with warm undertones that will make your fingernails stand out. Everyone needs this shade in their nail arsenal.
Dazzle Dry Fast Track Cherry | $20
With cherry in the name, you can’t go wrong. And this darker version of the bright cherry red is so classic, it’ll never really go out of style.
SAVE: Use code NEWKNEW to get 15% off your order.
GOOD.KIND.PURE Fruity Papaya | $7
A pop of bright cherry red, with pink undertones, if you prefer that to an orangey hue.
Vibrant red color with a cool undertone that’s easy to wear and not as bright, while still being on-trend.
Spring nail polish ideas: Soft pastels
Soft pastels are basically a white shade with three drops of your fave color—so you can’t go wrong with any of your fave picks.
Olive & June Cotton Candy Set | $40
Why not dive in nails first with a full set of pastels? You’ll get a bubbly pink, a peachy coral, a baby pink and a cool white that you can pair together or use on their own.
SAVE: Use code THENEWKNEW to get a free polish color with any box (the renowned O+J mani system!).
Dazzle Dry A Touch of Love | $20
A chalky, semi-sheer shade of pink that I’ve been looking for for a decade.
SAVE: Use code NEWKNEW to get 15% off your order.
GOOD.KIND.PURE Sun-Tastic | $7
A sunny shade of yellow that feels like the sun’s rays softly coming through a lightly overcast day.
A pinch of lavender with beautiful cool tones and a chic purple tint.
Spring nail polish ideas: Creamy browns
Just like the brown lipstick trend we saw pick up steam a few seasons ago, creamy browns on your nails for spring is a big win. Choose one that works well with your skintone, and don’t be afraid to try a warm or cool undertone.
Olive & June Caramel Bundino | $8
They call it the “perfect 90s-inspired neutral” for a reason. This toffee-colored color is a way to dip your toe(nail) into this trend.
SAVE: Use code THENEWKNEW to get a free polish color with any box (the renowned O+J mani system!).
A cool brown with olive undertones and a full coverage finish. This is like greige’s half-sister and I’m loving it.
SAVE: Use code NEWKNEW to get 15% off your order.
A DEEP taupe that walks the line between winter and spring, with the transitional oomph of sherpa-lined trench coat. Coveting this shade.
An adobe clay brown, this hue from Côte combines the terracotta trend of last spring with the creamy brown of 2022.
A perfect middle-of-the-road creamy brown with grey undertones and a full coverage finish.
Exclusive discount codes for TNK readers
- Code THENEWKNEW will save you 20% off all Olive & June systems (including Mani, Pedi & Complete Systems).
- Code TNK15 will save you 10% of all Kure Bazaar polishes at The Detox Market.
- Code NEWKNEW will save you 15% sitewide at Dazzle Dry.
Share your spring nails ideas below!
A note about CÔTE
Not all CÔTE products are currently benzophenone-1 free (including some of our picks above), which you can read more about in our full nontoxic nail polish guide. But, if you’re wondering, here’s a list of the polishes we confirmed ARE benzophenone-1 free…
- Colors: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 27, 32, 38, 41, 43, 46, 50, 55, 56, 61, 71, 96, 98, 99, 110, 111,119,120,121,122, 123, 124, 125 and…
- Growth with Garlic Base Coat
- Protective Base & Top Coat
- Quick Dry Top Coat
- Smoothing Base Coat
- Resurface & Repair Base Coat
- Strengthening Base & Top Coat
For spring 2022, these colors are hot:
1. periwinkle
2. soft pastels – a white shade with three drops of your fave color
3. creamy browns
4. natural nails or “sandy nudes” colors
5. bright, bold cherry red
6. nail art
7. vibrant green
Try these nail polish colors for spring 2023:
1. periwinkle
2. soft pastels – a white shade with three drops of your fave color
3. creamy browns
4. natural nails or “sandy nudes” colors
5. bright, bold cherry red
6. nail art
7. vibrant green
