I Want My Nails to Look Classy and Elegant—These Colours Fit the Bill Perfectly

When it comes to nail colours, I personally like to play it safe. November to March I’m a CND Oxblood disciple (thanks Monikh for that addiction), but once spring and summer come around, I’m all about those understated neutrals. Call me a minimalist but I’ve never been one for fancy nail art, or a constant rotation of different colours. Not because I'm not a fan— some of the recent looks filling Instagram almost had me reaching for the nail pen. It’s mainly because I’m just awful at doing my own nails and unfortunately don’t have the patience, or money, to visit the salon every week. I like my manis to work hard and that’s exactly what a neutral does.

Whether it’s a creamy beige, chic taupe or pale pink, neutrals are arguably the most versatile nail colour you can choose. They’re guaranteed to go with everything you own, making sure you avoid any awkward colour clashing when you start to add prints or brights into your summer wardrobe. Plus, whether you’re wearing a pretty dress for a picnic with friends, or just popping out to get milk in your sweats, a neutral nail just adds a certain understated class to any look, don’t you think?

Luckily for me, neutrals are a huge nail trend right now (and really, when aren’t they?). As long as it’s opaque and glossy, it will do the trick. Although it might seem obvious to go for a nude to match your skin tone, it’s often more flattering to actually go one shade darker or lighter, for a more intentional look. Alternatively, a bright white is a great way to make a statement with your nails whilst still keeping them looking crisp and clean.

The difficulty can often be finding the perfect shades, so we’ve done the hard work for you. Here we’ve rounded up some of our favourite neutral nail inspiration alongside some of the bestselling neutral nail colours to suit all skin tones. Keep scrolling to shop…

Neutral Nail Inspiration:

Sometimes a quick swipe of clear nail polish is the best way to give your natural nails a sheer and shiny upgrade.

Choose a shade similar to your natural skin tone to give your hands and nails an elongated effect.

This warm-toned creamy shade works well for all skin tones.

We love the combination of a neutral shade and a matte finish.

Add a metallic topcoat or request a chrome finish to mix things up.

A high-shine glossy neutral is such a timeless manicure look.

A soft pink shade will cancel out any discolouration in your nails, giving them a fresh, healthy appearance.

We totally get that a bright pink manicure may not be your thing, but a sheer cool-toned pink looks great on everyone.

This soft, milky taupe is the kind of shade that makes for an excellent manicure and pedicure match.

A great choice for autumn and winter, chocolate brown nails never go out of style.

Milk nails have been trending since spring, but they're certainly not going anywhere. To recreate this look, mix a white-pink and clear shade together to create a translucent finish.

Shop Neutral Nail Colours We Love:

This story was previously published at an earlier date and has since been updated.