The Hottest Nail Polish Colors that Work Best for Black Women

Matte nude nail polish may be having a moment this spring season, but let’s be honest, sometimes you need a splash of shiny color when the weather breaks.

Here, our must-haves that pair well with light to dark skin tones so you won’t have a breakdown the next time you’re at the polish wall.

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The fact that at-home gel nail polishes don’t always come in our color is a grave understatement. Most never enhance our tone, are too chalky or just plain boring. Thanks to wet n wild, not only can we finally get a pastel shade (like this gorgeous peach shade we spotted on the runways) that actually looks good on us, but it comes without the formaldehyde and the annoying UV light.

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One single sweep of this shade and you’ll be instantly reminded of melting orange creamsicles (okay fine, pumpkins and prison jumpsuits, too). But the color is SO hot this season. And if you think it won’t match your skin color you’re dead wrong. Give it a try, and tell us how this chip-proof finish boosted your mood and manicure.

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Remember years ago when dark teals were only worn during the fall season? Fast forward to spring/summer 2017 and now we couldn't imagine a trip to the nail salon without pondering getting the color. Real talk, this cool turquoise shade transforms a basic mani into something magical.

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Rose, blush, salmon, magenta—we’ve seen practically every type of pink imaginable, but this fuchsia color is an upgraded barbie pink that serves as the perfect pair to our neon colored swimwear. Best of all it’s 9-free, cruelty-free, and infused with a blend of botanicals and minerals including evening primrose oil for moisture, calcium to strengthen and vitamins E and B7 to encourage growth.

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Whether it’s off-white, bone or cream, every season requires some variation of white polish. And this season we’re all about Gucci’s swan—a grayish-white sophisticated hue that’s sure to take you from the beach to the boardroom.

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This nail lacquer truly lives up to it’s name—it’s the brightest neon color you’ll ever wear and it’s the world’s first non-fade neon polish, so it will withstand the wear and tear of all your summer jaunts. For best results, pair with the neon activator to keep your mani looking bright and shiny until labor day (or at least until you’re over the blinding yellow).

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We're usually all about brighter and bolder shades when the weather gets warmer, but this oceanic blue is a much darker stand-out. It’s a cross between a cobalt, navy, and indigo, which basically means your digits will bathe in blue heaven.

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Of course you don’t need another rose gold-colored anything in your life, but this shimmer polish is so damn pretty that we couldn’t resist adding it to the list. It’s great for every tone—from the lightest to the darkest dark. Needless to say, this badass shade can be worn alone or on top of any of your favorites.

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Sure purple nails look great on us year-round, but the micro-sparkles in this violet shade scream warm summer evenings with your besties. And even if you have zero plans, the subtle shine will still make you swoon.