For the indecisive among us, a trip to the nail salon can be mildly panic-inducing. With hundreds of hues lining the walls, the mental zigzag between pink, red or “should I go a little wild with orange?” gets exhausting fast. To save yourself from decision fatigue, it might be wise to choose a classic nail polish shade that will always be in style.
“Classic nail colours earn their status because they transcend trends,” says nail artist and educator Sofia Mazur. “Each tone holds emotional weight, cultural symbolism and versatility that make it wearable across seasons and occasions.”
Take a bold red nail, for example. Whether the exact hue is Cardinal or True, a scarlet manicure is “the ultimate statement of power and femininity,” Mazur notes. “From vintage Hollywood to modern runways, red nail polish has been with us for so long and feels so symbolic.” It’s no wonder, then, that Gucci’s Goldie Red and OPI’s Big Apple Red are classics in the colour world.
Looking for something lighter? “Baby pink and milky white complement every look and achieve a ‘clean girl’ minimalism that’s timeless,” Mazur says. On the flip (AKA, dark) side, “Shades like black and navy embody quiet luxury and confidence, especially in cooler months.”
From white to black and all the iconic shades in between, find the 10 most classic nail polish colours below:
1. Cardinal Red
© Twentieth Century Fox Pictures / Bridgeman Images
A quintessential colour that even Marilyn Monroe couldn’t live without, the elegance of this shade lies in its very specific hue. Cardinal red is glamorous, bold and eternally chic, just like Monroe herself.
