Neon Nail Polish

Now that spring is here, and with summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to try the neon nail polish trend. Sandal season calls for beach-ready toes, and the shades below are sure to get them noticed. Read on to see the best neon nail polishes for all skin tones and learn how to get your nails ready to rock these bright shades.

The Best Neon Nail Polishes

When it comes to nail polish brands, I’m partial to Essie, OPI, and China Glaze — all of which are budget-friendly so you can try out a few shades. My favorite neon shades to try are purples, blues, and pinks since they work better with my skin tone (pale white skin), but if you have olive or darker skin you can pull off the fun yellows, greens, and oranges.

Here are a few of my favorite picks.

1. Essie “The Fuchsia is Bright”  |  2. MAC “Al Fredo”  |  3. Color Club “Mrs. Robinson”  |  4. Deborah Lippman “On the Beach”  |  5. China Glaze “Orange Knockout”  |  6. OPI (Nicki Minaj Collection) “Did It On ‘Em”

How to Wear Neon Nail Polish

File Them into a Squoval Shape

Before trying any bright colors, your nails need to be in good shape. If your nails are a hot mess, the neon color is going to draw more attention to them. Start off by filing down your nails to a “squoval shape” (a mix of square and oval) and keep them fairly short. Pointy talons are a bit too much when painted with such a bright shade.

Apply a Base Coat of White Polish

To make your neon color even brighter, apply a white base coat before the color — it will make your nails a blank canvas for the bright hue to stick to and will also amplify the color.

When in Doubt, Paint Your Toes

Too scared to try this on your nails or worry that it’s not work-appropriate? Or maybe you don’t want your nails to be too matchy-matchy? Rock your favorite bright shade on your toes and keep your fingernails simple.