While I'm always game for a bright, bold manicure and intricate nail art, there comes a time when a nude nail reigns supreme. Think about it: What other shade will match every outfit, every event, and every occasion? But my favorite part about a nude nail polish is that it looks nice while growing out. Translation: I can get away with a few more weeks without spending money on a fresh manicure.
Celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen loves a neutral nail for its versatility, elegance, and ability to pull a look together. "They give a polished, understated finish that aligns with current 'quiet luxury' and minimalist beauty trends," she says, adding that a nude nail look communicates sophistication without trying too hard—and like a nail extension, a nude can elongate the hands.
Erica De Los Santos, a nail artist and founder of Nail'd It Beauty Lounge, also thinks the manicure will forever be a favorite, as she says it's one of the most classic and universally flattering looks. "Whether it’s for a clean everyday style, a professional setting, or even the red carpet, nude nails have always been a go-to," De Los Santos says. "Plus, they tend to grow out more discreetly and hide chips better than bold colors, which makes them practical as well as timeless."
Keep scrolling for 30 nude manicure ideas that are perfect for every event, ever—plus celebrity nail artist's polish picks and polish-perfecting advice.
The Best Nude Nail Ideas
Classic Nude Nails
Nothing beats a classic. Sometimes, the best neutral manicure is the one that features your favorite nude polish and most flattering nail shape. In this case, that means a light pinky tan shade and coffin tip by celebrity nail artist Christina Duong.
French Latté Nude Nails
There are a million iterations of nude out there, and while a shade might be your nude, that doesn't mean you can't switch it up from time to time. How does a different color on every fingernail in French tip format sound?
Polka Dot Nude Nails
OPI Global Ambassador Zola Ganzorigt is a manicure legend, both for her work with Hailey Bieber (they coined the glazed donut look together!) and for basically every other design she's come up with. Recently, she gave the model a fun and summery polka dot manicure that made good use of nude shades (in this case, the model's natural nail) and chrome powder.
"Use one coat of OPI Nail Lacquer in Kyoto Pearl over naked nails and top them with white dots using OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow to get Hailey’s look," she tells Marie Claire.
Tiramisu Nude Nails
If you don't want fancy nail art? Keep things simple with a sheer look. "I created a nude set for Hailee Steinfeld for Paris Couture Week. I used OPI Nail Lacquer in Tiramisu for Two as the base with chrome over top," says Ganzorigt. "The shade is a little sheer and looks like an extension of her skin. Apply OPI Nail Lacquer in Glazed N’ Amused over OPI Nail Lacquer in Tiramisu for Two to recreate Hailee’s nails."
Silver Drip Nude Nails
According to Duong, this silver drip manicure is "the perfect summer addition, bold and reflective of the season’s sweltering heat." This is proof that a fun trend and a nude base are the perfect pairing; you can make the color scheme work with anything.
Gold-Plated Nude Nails
An unexpected touch of dimension and texture is foil detailing. This nude velvet manicure by De Los Santos was made all the better with the addition of some gold foil trim and base decor.
Soap Nude Nails
Truong crafted this "soap nail" manicure for Halle Berry to wear to the 2025 Met Gala. "Nude manicures are trending this season—in fact, they are trending for all seasons because of their versatility, simplicity, and timeless aesthetic," says Truong. "Trends we are seeing now are the 'quiet luxury,' 'clean girl,' and 'soap nail' vibes—where manicures are polished, simple, and gorgeous."
Negative Space Nude Nails
Celebrity nail artist Tara Hayes made these cute shorties happen. The black line work over a nude base gives a negative space effect (one of our favorite 2025 nail trends).
Galactic Nude Nails
Reach for the stars—if you miss, at least you'll have inspiration for a cute manicure. This design by Nguyen features a nude base with a jelly finish and some fun star details. You can get a similar look with Deco Beauty's Golden Hour nail sticker set.
Snakeskin Nude Nails
Snakeskin is so chic that it can work on your boots, bag, or even your nails. Ganzorigt says you can get this look by applying one coat of OPI Nail Lacquer Natural Nail Base Coat. Then, try one coat of Tiramisu for Two, a foil adhesive, and snakeskin foil transfer sticker before sealing the look with the OPI Nail Lacquer Top Coat.
Berry Nude Nails
Celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein is known for her realistic designs. For this fruit nail design, she drew some tiny blueberries against a pale nude base.
Classic French Nude Nails
Behold, the classic French manicure—on a nude base, naturally. "Nude manicures are having a major moment this season because they’re the ultimate blend of low-effort and high-chic. As minimal, clean girl aesthetics continue trending in beauty, nude nails perfectly complement every outfit—from quiet luxury linen sets to bold summer colors, without clashing," says Nguyen. They also photograph beautifully, making them a favorite for content creators, brides, and girls on the go. Think of them as the 'no-makeup makeup' for your nails."
If you need a little base polish help, the artist was kind enough to share her favorites from ORLY. Roam With Me is "a sophisticated rose nude crème with a subtle pink undertone," Country Club Khaki is "a muted neutral taupe that gives a sophisticated edge," and Pink Nude offers a classic 'your nails but better' look by offering "a healthy, clean appearance."
White Linework Nude Nails
Aren't these sweeping white lines fun and different? That's another reason that Truong loves a nude manicure: the adaptability. "They can be worn alone for a timeless, chic look or they can be the foundation for minimalistic or maximalist nail art," she says.
In the polish world, the DND Gel ambassador is into Flower Girl (a sheer, buildable pink color that's great as a base for French tips), the soft and rosy Tea Time (it "gives nails a natural and elegant pink glow), and the soft, creamy beige How Do U Neutral?, which she calls "universally flattering." If you need to get those white details right, try Coconut Silk. The shade is a semi-sheer, milky white polish with a very subtle shimmer that you can build up to increase opacity.
Lip Gloss Nude Nails
Here, you can see an ideal nude that gives lip gloss. The high-shine nail set is done by artist Mateja Novakovic, and proves that, yes, pink can be a nude.
Bedazzled Star Nude Nails
"If you ask me, there is never enough sparkle," said nail artist Miss Pop while talking to Marie Claire about short nail designs. "You can bedazzle small stars—no need to get all five points in there."
Reverse French Tip Nude Nails
This look was pinned on nail artist Novakovik's Instagram grid forever because she had to explain it so often. Can you blame the world for asking, though? It's such a good one.
To get the look, she used Manucurist polishes: Milky White was the shade for the lunula nail art. While the base shade has since been discontinued, she says you can use one of the brand's Active Smooth shades to get a similar look.
"I painted the whole base in the nude shade, then lined the half moons with a nail art liner brush, and filled them in with the same brush," she shared in an Instagram post. "Such an easy but effective look!"
Silver Swirl Nude Manicure
Duong calls this little number "a side French with a twist." To get the look, grab a sheer nude base and configure a triangle design on one side of the nail with a singular thin line on top.
"To bring the look up a notch, the design can be done with a silver chrome color," she adds. "That way it’s still neutral but has a wow factor."
Cateye Nude Nails
It's giving Greek goddess nails. This luxe style by De Los Santos has both a pretty cat-eye shimmer base and even more glitter going on with the trim.
Almond Nude Nails
Sometimes the best way to dress up your favorite nude nail polish is with a fun shape. For this look, celebrity nail artist Elle Gerstein worked pop starlet Tate McRae's fingernails into a long almond shape with Après Nail's Gel X stiletto tips in the size medium. Then she used a layer of their gel polish in "Kana Believe It" (you can add a second coat if needed!) and finished up with their Glossy Non-Wipe Top Gelcoat.
Ombré Nude Nails
Another Gerstein number, this pretty set transitions from a yellowish nude at the tip to a pinkish nude near the cuticle. It's a classic ombré effect, tuned down for the nude manicure aficionados among us.
Textured Mocha Nude Manicure
"An order of mocha with added textures, please," wrote Nguyen when sharing this mani. For what it's worth, one of her favorite coffee polishes is ORLY's Coffee Break, a "warm brown-nude crème with a subtle, smooth coverage and a cozy undertone, evoking the comfort of your favorite latte."
Chrome Border Nude Nails
Hi, natural nails! This set by Hayes proves that shorties can have nail art fun by framing the natural (albeit shimmered up with nude polish) nail bed with some coordinating gold trim.
Dainty Floral Nude Nails
"Micro florals or dots using white or soft pastel detailing" is one of Nguyen's favorite nude manicure ideas. For this look, she used ORLY's Milky White Builder Gel as a base before getting to work on those pretty hand-painted roses.
Modern Nude Nails
Why visit the MOMA when you can check out some modern art via your bestie's manicure? Nguyen got to work with the black paint for this set, dotting and lining an almond-shaped nude manicure until it reached a museum-worthy place.
Paisley Nude Nails
Prince loved purple the most, but this paisley look might've convinced him to try out the nudes. After adding the beige base coat, Truong hand-painted some pretty paisley designs with black and white polishes.
Cherry Nude Nails
With a nude nail polish base, you can be anything—even a cherry girl. These cherry-heart-shaped designs are ultra-adorable, and Truong has more unique ideas where this came from. "For creative and eye-catching nail art using nude polish as your base, experiment with chrome or metallic polka dots, French tips in different colors on each nail, or layer various cat eye gels to achieve a dynamic, multidimensional effect," she tells Marie Claire.
"A simple yet elegant look that was recently a hit with a celebrity client featured a sheer nude base with a micro French tip using a more opaque nude in the same shade family, creating a tone-on-tone French manicure," Truong says.
Cateye Chrome French Nude Nails
Duong created this maximalist nude manicure for Keke Palmer at the SNL 50th anniversary party. Didn't we tell you the French manicure was reinventing itself this year?
"A cat-eye chrome French has the classic French tip element, but the French is a soft champagne cat eye then outlined with a gold chrome. And if we’re feeling bold, we can add a few pearls," says the artist. "An intricate look that exudes a soft, elegant aura with an undeniably expensive touch."
Bedazzled Polka Dot Nude Nails
Polka dots are it for summer 2025. If you don't want to use a dotting tool like Ganzorigt, you can apply tiny rhinestones for your dots like Nguyen did here.
Sheer French Nude Nails
"There’s something so captivating about a sheer nude base paired with a delicate French tip—it’s understated yet undeniably chic," wrote De Los Santos in an Instagram post showing off this gorgeous, sheer French manicure.
How to Make Your Nude Nails Last
De Los Santos says that if you want your nude manicure to last, proper preparation is key. "You always want to start by removing any oils or shine from the natural nail, gently pushing back the cuticles, and making sure the nail surface is clean and smooth," she explains.
This helps your polish or enhancement adhere better. And don’t skip the cuticle oil—keeping your cuticles hydrated makes your manicure look fresher longer and prevents lifting or cracking around the edges, De Los Santos says. Whether it’s gel, dip, or regular polish, good prep and daily cuticle oil are game-changers for long-lasting nude nails, she adds.
How to Find The Right Nude Nail Polish Shade
"Nude" is a different color for everyone, but there is one out there for you. According to De Los Santos, it comes down to your skin tone and undertone. "The goal is to pick a nude that complements your complexion—not one that makes your hands look washed out or dull," she says.
As a rule of thumb, De Los Santos says that fair or pink-red undertones should look for a soft pinky nude as it tends to look fresh and flattering. Medium to olive skin tones usually sit well with beige or warm peachy nudes, and deeper skin tones are complemented by richer brown, caramel, or mocha-toned nudes. This is because they will pop beautifully without looking too stark. "You can also play with sheer versus opaque finishes depending on how natural or bold you want the look."
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Meet the Experts
Christina Duong is a Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington D.C.-based celebrity nail artist with 8 years in the industry and a passion for intricate design and major wow factor. Her work can often be seen on the hands of *the* Keke Palmer, or on the runway at a Sergio Hudson show.
Queenie Nguyen is a celebrity and editorial manicurist based in Los Angeles, California who specializes in natural nails and contemporary nail art.
Erica De Los Santos is a freelance nail artist and founder of Nail'd It Beauty Lounge, based in New Jersey. She is a skilled and passionate nail artist specializing in gel, Gel-X, Acrylic, hard gel, and dip techniques, with a reputation for precision and creativity. With years of experience in the industry, she has built a career offering high-quality manicures that blend artistry with durability. Her expertise has taken her beyond the salon, working on editorial shoots for elite magazines like L'Officiel, and assisting on brand campaigns including Fenty, ULTA Beauty, as well as leading for Express. She's also assisted backstage at fashion shows including Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Helmut Lang, and New York Fashion Week, where she thrives in the fast-paced, high-energy environment of backstage beauty.
Kim Truong is an A-list celebrity manicurist known for her work with Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Dua Lipa, Miranda Kerr, Katy Perry, and more.
Zola Ganzorigt is a Los Angeles-based manicurist. Her celebrity clientele includes Hailey Bieber, Adele, Kendall Jenner, Sydney Sweeney, Christina Aguilera, Sabrina Carpenter, Kylie Jenner, and Vanessa Hudgens. Ganzorigt’s nail art ranges from minimal, nude manicures to bold, artistic designs, and has been featured on covers and in campaigns for brands such as Miu Miu, Tommy Hilfiger, Tiffany & Co., Acne Studios, Good American, and Skims.
