If there is anything I suck at, it’s painting my own nails. But let’s be real — going to the salon every two weeks is not cheap, and for a while there, thanks to the pandemic, it wasn’t even realistic. After a lot of trial and error, I’ve finally learned to paint my own nails in the comfort of my own home. But, still, for me, the hardest aspect of painting my own nails is picking a color.
At a nail salon, you stare at the wall with all those beautiful nail polish shades, and it feels like the hardest decision you will ever have to make in your entire life. At home, you may pull out your old shoebox filled with nail polishes from every brand you can think of. (Side note: You may want to check if they are expired.) With so many colors and so many launches, how do you pick “the one”?
To give you a hand (pun definitely intended), we’ve rounded up all the best nail polish shades that have launched so far this year, with formulas at every price point and with every imaginable finish. Get ready to find your new favorite.
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Courtesy of brandDeborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro in She’s a Rocket
She’s not a regular princess; she’s a cool princess. Actually, according to Deborah Lippmann, She’s a Rocket — the name of this dazzling new Gel Lab Pro shade. Its purple base feels royal without being too serious, and its silver and gold glitter is somehow glamorous, ethereal, and kind of punk all at once. And thanks to a full-coverage finish, it leaves a bold, impossible-to-ignore first impression that will garner constant compliments.
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Courtesy of brandEssie Nail Enamel in All Oar Nothing
Is it yellow? Orange? Peach? Brown? Reese’s peanut butter-colored? Honestly, who cares? All that matters is that the borderline-indescribable Essie Nail Enamel shade All Oar Nothing, part of the new Swoon in the Lagoon collection, is the perfect mix of neutral and interesting — a shade that goes with everything but also can’t help but stand out.
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Courtesy of brandMorgan Taylor Professional Nail Lacquer in Bloom Service
This new Morgan Taylor Professional Nail Lacquer shade, Bloom Service, has the juicy jewel-tone feeling of teal, but with a dusty haze that makes it just a bit more subtle. It’s basically a dark pastel, if you will — a deep hue that feels somehow springlike. Bonus: It features an especially cuticle-friendly brush that makes life a little easier for those of us who aren’t super graceful in the application department.
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Courtesy of brandKBShimmer Reflective Nail Polish in Tapped Out
KBShimmer has never once done anything short of blow our minds with its special-effects nail polishes, and Tapped Out is the latest shade to dazzle its way into our collections. The brand calls it a “dark-wash denim” shade of blue, but there’s so much more to it than that. Pink shimmer is seamlessly worked into the mix, sometimes reflecting hints of green or gold depending on the light. And should your manicure become the subject of flash photography, just wait until you see the silvery light blue it will look in the picture.