Summer Nails
The busiest season at the nail desk. Clients come in with opinions, references, requests. Here’s what’s actually worth booking this summer.
What’s popular this summer
Coral nails
Coral is the most reliable summer shade there is. It sits between pink and orange in a way that works on every skin tone and looks better against a tan. Clients who never usually pick colour always seem to come back to this one in June. Easy to wear, easy to grow out cleanly. If you’re not sure which shade of coral nails suits your skin tone, I’ve covered that in detail.
Neon nails
Summer is the one season clients say yes to something they would talk themselves out of the rest of the year. Shades like neon pink, electric orange and lime green look wrong in the pot and right the moment they are on. Bold without needing nail art to back it up. Which shade works depends more on your undertone than you’d think. Here’s my honest guide to neon nails and skin tone.
Bright pedicure nails
Summer is also the one season clients let themselves go bolder on their toes than they would on their hands. If your manicure is staying minimal this year, your pedicure doesn’t have to. Here’s what I’d recommend for bright summer pedicure colours in 2026.
Simple beach nails
A week of sun, salt and swimming will ruin most manicures by day three. The format and colour choices that actually survive a beach holiday and the one shade mistake worth avoiding before you travel. Here’s my guide to simple summer beach nails in 2026.
Summer nail colours
Not sure what colour to go for? These are the four shades worth considering this summer.
Hot pink
The shade clients save all year for summer. Saturated, unapologetic and looks better against a tan than anything else in the palette.
Ocean blue
Not the cobalt of previous summers. Softer, deeper, closer to water. Works particularly well as a French tip or over a sheer base.
Peach
Warm without being loud. Peach sits close enough to skin tone that it elongates the fingers naturally. One of the most consistently booked shades from June through August.
Coconut white
A sheer, warm white that sits closer to cream than bright white. Clean, minimal and one of the best bases for nail art if clients want to build on it later.
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