5 Nail Color Trends for Summer 2020

By Emma Cloutier | June 29, 2020

Feature Image by Analia Baggiano

The extent to which we’ll get to enjoy summer this year may be up in the air, but that shouldn’t keep you from showing your nails love. At-home manicures have become a quarantine activity staple, so we’ve had plenty of time to experiment with dozens (hundreds?) of shades, resulting in a surprisingly variable collection of trends.

Read on for five of the hottest hues for summer 2020.

Coral
Yes, we know. Coral. For summer. Groundbreaking. Still, there is something to be said for the timeless, fun-loving elegance of this juicy, tropical shade.

Chanel 745 Cruise $28

Chanel’s LE VERNIS line is not just for looks. These polishes are formulated with bioceramics and ceramides to improve strength and overall health of nails in the long run.

ESSIE Souq Up the Sun $8.99

A perfect shade with a tangerine twinge.

Pastels

Summer is pulling a page from spring’s book this year. Airy shades of pink, yellow, green, and purple are the perfect feminine accent for the over-inflated Victorian sleeves and chunky boots that are also trending this season.

Butter London Lemon Drop $18

When life gives you lemons…mix a cocktail and paint those digits.

Olive & June BP (Barret Prendergast) $8

This icy blue-grey hue is the nail polish equivalent of the plain white tee: throw it on and go.

Blue

Pantone’s 2020 color of the year is “Classic Blue,” and we are l-o-v-i-n-g this shade for nails. Somewhere between nautical and neon, it’s a perfect pop for any look.

Ella + Mila Bags Are Packed $8.50

The name says it all. Mediterranean vacation, anyone?

OPI Chopstix and Stones $10.50

OPI’s grown-up, slightly brooding take on “Classic Blue” transitions effortlessly from day to night.

’90s Shades

Despite rising temperatures and the promise of fun in the sun, we can’t break up with earth tones. Ground yourself with mossy greens and warm browns.

J.Hannah Artichoke $19

Take J.Hannah’s sage advice on this one: it’s actually pretty easy being green.

Floss Gloss Blood, Suede, and Tears $9

You’re on your grind, you’ve got grit, and you’re a boss. Get a polish to match.

Metallics

Striking the perfect balance between neutrality and glitz, metallics gained traction in 2019, and they aren’t going anywhere this summer. If you’re a color-phobe with a hair-flippin’ attitude, metallics are for you.