I don’t know about you, but I never get nail fatigue. In fact, as much as I love buying new makeup, switching up my skincare routine, or trying something different with my hair, shifting my nail M.O. reigns supreme. Painting my nails has become my happy place, and while I absolutely love the boost a shiny new color gives my mood and confidence, the actual process of painting my nails—or even going to the salon—is one of my favorite ways to wind down and turn the world off for a second. You know what I mean?
I don’t typically buy into trends when it comes to my mani of choice (I’ll paint my nails any hue I damn well please, thank you very much), but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in finding out which nail colors will pop more than others in 2022. (I love some inspiration, after all.) To get the 411, I reached out to two top nail pros for their predictions on which nail colors will eclipse all other next year. Below, find nine popular nail colors for 2022 to consider for your next paint job. Keep scrolling!
“A clean, soft white that gives a sense of simplicity and inner peace will be big in 2022,” shares celebrity manicurist Sigourney Nuñez. “My favorite soft white right now is Perfect Pearl from Pleasing.”
“Think of this as a new take on a nude that’s brighter than your classic tan,” notes Nuñez. “This shade will give a soft, upbeat feeling to a traditional muted nude mani. My personal favorite right now is Essie’s Expressie in Fueled Up.”
“A gentle and powdery take on a staple shade,” continues Nuñez. “My favorite right now is Granny’s Pink Pearls by Pleasing—it even has a pearlescent finish.” (Editor’s note: You can nab the shade when you buy Pleasing’s entire set below!)
“Although it’s not quite a ‘color’ per se, nail polish toppers will be the dark horse of polish shades next year,” says Nuñez. “Pleasing’s Pearly Tops, for example, is a clear polish with a subtle iridescence that dries to a matte finish. It can be worn alone for a subtle effect, or you can apply it over your favorite shade and watch it transform. Another favorite topper is gold. You can add a hint of metallic finish to any shade by layering it on top. My favorite one is Gold Flake Taco by Holo Taco.”
“I love this creamy shade of celadon from Smith & Cult,” shares celebrity nail artist and Founder of Nails of LA, Brittney Boyce.”I think we’ll be seeing colors that are opaque and pigmented rather than sheer.”
“In general, warm, bright shades will be big in 2022—whether it’s green, blue, orange, or lilac,” adds Boyce. “For blue, I’m loving It’s Brittney, Beach by Orly.”
“Colors will tend to run on the warmer side to be more universally flattering across skin tones,” says Boyce. “A rich shade of olive—green will be so big in 2022—is a great option.”
“Sand tones, rather than a typical light pink–based neutral, will trend in 2022,” notes Boyce. (Maybe consider retiring your collection of baby pink?)
According to Boyce, the 2022 way to do purple will be creamy, opaque, and lilac-esque. Vertigo, a sold-out shade from Machine Gun Kelly’s new brand UN/DN Laqr, is her top pick, but we found a few other options you can get your hands on now.
Next: We’re Just Going to Say It: These 13 Polish Brands Rival a Salon Manicure
