I don’t know about you, but something about having freshly-painted nails makes me feel at least five times more put-together, even if I’m wearing sweatpants and my hair is in a messy bun (which, let’s be honest, happens more than I’d like to admit) I don’t like getting my nails professionally done, but I love painting my own nails on a relaxed afternoon. It’s a complete process that involves watching my favorite YouTube videos or a new movie while letting my nails dry and because I don’t want to ruin my nails, it’s the perfect excuse to not do anything productive for at least an hour (But that can be our little secret, right?!)
Today, I thought I’d share five of my favorite nail polish colors for winter. My problem with choosing colors for my nails in the winter is that most of my nail polishes are more on the pastel or bright side, which is perfect for spring and summer but not so much for the colder weather (side note: if you want to wear hot pink in the winter, do you! but there’s something nice about having a nail polish color that fits the overall theme and mood of the season.) So, I’m always on the lookout for colors that will be perfect for this season. Hopefully this list helps you too, and maybe it will inspire you to stay in one night and have your own spa session! (shopping tip: I love to pick up nail polishes from the little clearance bins in Target! They have colors I may not have thought about buying before + they normally have sales on brands like OPI & Essie.)
1. RED
Red is a classic nail polish color, and it’s probably one of the first ones that comes to mind when you’re thinking of what to paint your nails. (Growing up, my mom always painted her nails red or pink. I used to think I would be like that and while I do love the classics, I also appreciate some colors that are a little different, like blues and greens – totally different than my mom!) Red is perfect for winter and there are so many options. You can paint your nails a true red that leans toward the cherry side like mine in the photo above, or you can go for a deeper, burgundy color that adds more of a moody tone. Of course, with red nail polishes, be careful that they don’t stain your nails! (ps. the color above is Revlon Red by Revlon. I couldn’t find a link for it, so I included a few similar options.)
2. LIGHT BLUE
This color may not scream winter to you as much as it says spring, but I think the combination of light blue nail polishes with the gray and dreary forecast is beautiful. Plus, one of my favorite nail polishes from deco.mimi is called “Male Tears”, so every time I wear it I smile because it’s not only beautiful, it’s also funny! (forreal, nail polish names are some of the most creative things ever. how do I get that job?!)
3. DEEP PURPLE
One of the first colors I think that comes to most people’s minds for winter is a deep purple/plum color. This color is gorgeous, but I’m so picky about what I want that I only own a few nail polishes that are similar. The right color is hard to come by with this because I don’t want it to be too bright but I also don’t want it to be so deep that it stains my nails forever.
4. LIGHT PINK
Again, this color probably isn’t the first one you think of when you think of winter nail polish picks, but I think light pink looks so pretty for all seasons (in fact, it’s on my nails now!) Of course it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I think a nice light pink nail feels girly in a subtle way and it matches most jewelry which is definitely on my mind when I’m choosing nail polish colors.
5. METALLIC COLORS
This last section is kind of cheating, because obviously there are quite a few metallic colors. However, I really think metallic colors can go great in the winter especially when you just want something to brighten up your day. The only drawback I have with metallic colors is that I like to match my jewelry to my nails, and it’s kind of hard to match my gold rings to silver nails. I don’t wear jewelry enough for this to be a big deal, but it is something to keep in mind! (ps. when I buy metallic/shiny nail polishes, I steer clear of glitters because those make your nail polish hard to remove)
I hope you enjoyed reading this post! I included links to nail polishes in a range of prices, but in my experience the difference between an expensive nail polish and one that’s cheaper is not enough for me to buy nail polishes upwards of $10 unless they’re on sale. There is definitely a difference, but some of my favorite nail polishes are the “Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear” brand that are only about $3 and because I change up my nail color every week or so, I don’t think the chipping is noticeable enough to be a problem, but that’s just my opinion!
Let me know what your favorite nail polish colors are for winter, and tell me if you plan on having a spa night soon! I really recommend you do because it will be so calming and so worth it.
xoxo, Cecilia
