The 40 Best Red Nails of All Time

It doesn't get any more classic.

Rihanna red nails
(Image credit: Getty Images)
By
published
in Features

Walk into any salon, and you're bound to find The Wall (no, the other one) dripping with red lacquers—and as many women agonizing over which one sets off their hands to the greatest advantage. Our affinity for the jewel-like polish springs eternal, so ahead, 40 of history's greatest examples for inspiration/an extra 55 minutes spent trying to match the color.

Marlene Dietrich in 'Angel'
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Marlene Dietrich in 'Angel'

1937

Rita Hayworth in 'Blood and Sand'
(Image credit: Archives)

Rita Hayworth in 'Blood and Sand'

1941

Carmen Miranda in 'The Gang's All Here'
(Image credit: Archives)

Carmen Miranda in 'The Gang's All Here'

1943

Joan Crawford
(Image credit: Archives)

Joan Crawford

1945

Lauren Bacall
(Image credit: Archives)

Lauren Bacall

1950

Lucille Ball
(Image credit: Archives)

Lucille Ball

1955

Shop similar: Jin Soon, $18

BUY IT

Dior
(Image credit: Archives)

Dior

1960s

Shop similar: Dior, $27

BUY IT

Natalie Wood
(Image credit: Archives)

Natalie Wood

1965

Liza Minelli in 'Liza with a Z'
(Image credit: Archives)

Liza Minelli in 'Liza with a Z'

1972

Barbra Streisand in 'Funny Lady'
(Image credit: Archives)

Barbra Streisand in 'Funny Lady'

1975

Dolly Parton
(Image credit: Archives)

Dolly Parton

1978

Joan Collins in 'Dynasty'
(Image credit: Archives)

Joan Collins in 'Dynasty'

1980s

Chanel
(Image credit: Archives)

Chanel

1980s

Chanel, $28

BUY IT

Cher
(Image credit: Archives)

Cher

1981

Lana Turner
(Image credit: Archives)

Lana Turner

1984

Diana Vreeland
(Image credit: Archives)

Diana Vreeland

1990

Princess Diana
(Image credit: Archives)

Princess Diana

1992

Revlon, $3

BUY IT

Anna Nicole Smith
(Image credit: Archives)

Anna Nicole Smith

1994

Uma Thurman in 'Pulp Fiction'
(Image credit: Miramax)

Uma Thurman in 'Pulp Fiction'

1994

Chanel, $28

BUY IT

Gwen Stefani in "Hollaback Girl"
(Image credit: Future)

Gwen Stefani in "Hollaback Girl"

- YouTube - YouTube
Watch On

2005

Iris Apfel for MAC
(Image credit: Archives)

Iris Apfel for MAC

2011

Tom Ford
(Image credit: Archives)

Tom Ford

2012

Tom Ford, $36

BUY IT

Kate Moss for Rimmel
(Image credit: Archives)

Kate Moss for Rimmel

2012

Rimmel x Kate Moss, $18

BUY IT

Rihanna
(Image credit: Archives)

Rihanna

2013

Daria Werbowy for Céline
(Image credit: Archives)

Daria Werbowy for Céline

2013

Selena Gomez
(Image credit: Archives)

Selena Gomez

2013

Shop similar: Essie, $5

BUY IT

Beyoncé and Blue Ivy
(Image credit: Archives)

Beyoncé and Blue Ivy

2014

Janelle Monae
(Image credit: Archives)

Janelle Monae

2015

Grace Jones
(Image credit: Archives)

Grace Jones

2015

Taylor Hill for Michael Michael Kors
(Image credit: Archives)

Taylor Hill for Michael Michael Kors

2016

Erykah Badu
(Image credit: Archives)

Erykah Badu

2016

Rihanna
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Rihanna

2017

Shop similar: Christian Louboutin, $50

BUY IT

Celine Dion
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Celine Dion

2017

Charli XCX
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Charli XCX

2017

Janelle Monae
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Janelle Monae

2017

Shop similar: CoverGirl, $6

BUY IT

Charlize Theron
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Charlize Theron

2017

Shop similar: Dior, $27

BUY IT

TOPICS
Chelsea Peng
Assistant Editor

Chelsea Peng is a writer and editor who was formerly the assistant editor at Marie Claire. She's also worked for The Strategist and Refinery29, and is a graduate of Northwestern University. On her tombstone, she would like a GIF of herself that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, she's into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard she has to go lie down.