Just Saying, These Vacation Nail Colors Look Best With an OOO Message

If you've got vacation on the brain, you're not alone. We're so ready to pack up our favorite new swimwear, our easiest and breeziest wardrobe pieces, and our travel-size beauty essentials to jet off and unplug. But the pre-travel ritual that eclipses all others is that sweet manicure where you select the vacation nail color you'll wear throughout your trip. It might seem like a small detail, but it's low-key the most important preparatory step you'll take.

Call us dramatic, but we're firm believers that your vacation nail color sets the tone for your trip. Picking a classic or more neutral hue is great if you're gearing up for a week of exploring sacred sites and dining in world-renowned restaurants, but if you've got beach hopping or day clubbing on the agenda, you might want to go with a more exciting shade. See how important your polish is for setting the vibe of the trip? Keep scrolling for our nine favorite vacation-ready nail colors that will get you excited for the travel season.

Black and White

Black and white may sound like the most basic of nail color choices, but they're timeless classics for a reason. No matter what your vacation itinerary holds, you'll never regret having your nails painted solid with either of these hues or adorned in designs using a combination of the two.

Get the look:

Allover Red

This year-round color is another classic that fits into any and every vacation aesthetic. During the warmer months, reach for a hue that skews more orange for a fun and fiery jolt of color.

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Shades of Blue

Take a break from winter-ready navy and step into lighter and brighter shades of blue for your next adventure. Whether it's a nail bed covered in an opaque sapphire or a solid royal blue or a negative-space design that uses a more playful azure or robin's egg, you really can't go wrong.

Pretty Pastels

Pastel nails have been pigeonholed as spring's signature palette, but they're always welcome on vacation. The white-tinged hues are soft and versatile and add a subtle infusion of joy to any manicure.

Elevated Neutrals

Sure, you could go with a pretty beige manicure, but why not lean into the fashion set's current neutral favorites: brown and clay-toned green? They're the chicest and least boring hues that are also super versatile and muted at the same time.

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Green on Green

Speaking of green, vacation is the perfect time to go all out with hues across the spectrum. Forest green, seafoam, and variations of jade and mint are all great options.

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Blush and Bubblegum

Pink nail polish is always a vibe, but on vacation, it's all about those ultra-light blush tones and saccharine hues of bubblegum pink. Mix-and-match or wear them alone for an undeniably sweet manicure.

Neon Dreams

Whether or not neon nails feel appropriate for your everyday life and style, vacation is the perfect opportunity to let loose and sport a vivid, eye-catching manicure that can light up a room. Every time you look down at your hands, you'll be reminded to keep the party going.

Get the look:

French… But Make It Fashion

You really can't go wrong with a French manicure, and the trend has gotten revived in a major way over the last couple of years. A stylish update to the classic design—think double lines, negative space, or a unique color choice—is the perfect way to adapt it to match your vacation vibe.

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