The Best Nail Polish Colors to Wear This Winter

Winter nail polish colors are one of the slices of joy that we rely on when the months start getting bitterly cold and gloomy. Aside from carrying our love of pumpkin spice lattes far beyond fall and wrapping up in our favorite sweaters again, as beauty enthusiasts, the easiest way to lift our mood comes from a simple burgundy manicure or some quick shimmer nail art.

Sure, your hands spend most of their time inside gloves or coat pockets during the winter months, but that doesn’t negate the joy of having a little color on your fingertips. When the mittens come off, nothing makes holding a cup of life-sustaining hot coffee look quite as chic as a mani with winter nail colors, whether dark and bold, bright and cheerful, or simple and sheer.

Although classic shades come to mind when we think of wintertime like Essie Bordeaux and OPI Malaga Wine — let’s be honest, you might have started wearing them as soon as the first signs of fall made themselves known — there really are no rules with seasonal nail shades anymore. And with old ‘90s favorites returning faster than we can keep up and chrome finishes on the rise, anything goes. When it comes to nails, there’s only one single (very important) rule to abide by: wear shades that make you happy.

Here, you’ll find the best nail polishes to wear all winter, according to some of the best nail pros in the business. There’s something for everyone and every skin tone: shades inspired by seasonal phenomena, sweet treats, and the celebrations that warm our hearts when it’s cold outside. Plus, we touch on how to take the glazed donut trend well into the cooler months. 

Oh, and the key to a happy manicure is also a well-looked after one. Moisturize those cuticles and hydrate those hands with oils and creams. That way, they’ll feel as good as they look.

Meet the experts:

• Christine Doan, nail expert and content creator based in, Los Angeles, CA
• Metta Francis, a nail technician and founder of Nails by Mets, based in London, UK
• Rachel Apfel Glass, founder of GLOSSLAB, based in New York, NY
• Sadie Jordan, nail expert and content creator, based in London, UK
• Leighton Denny MBE, nail expert and founder of Leighton Denny
• Stephanie Staunton, celebrity nail artist, based in London, UK

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