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Whether it’s a holiday dinner party, a date night to see The Nutcracker, or a visit to Grandma’s house, these occasions call for looking your best from head—to toe. We're here to help with the latter. Whether your feet stay nestled in socks or are warming bare by the fire, you'll be filled with that much more joy with a fresh pedicure.
“Winter is a great opportunity to treat your feet,” says Sonya Belakhlef, a New York City-based nail artist, who adds that the cold months are the perfect time to try a pedicure color that’s outside your comfort zone. “Since [your toes] won't be on display much in the coming months, why not try a new exciting shade?”
Beauty looks transition from bright and bubbly to dark and moody for fall and winter, and pedicure colors are no exception. “The season begins with deeper, richer colors like wine reds with brown undertones and warm espresso brown that feel cozy,” says Amy Ling Lin, founder of Sundays, a New York City-based nail studio and polish brand.
But this winter won’t be all about gloomy shades. It is the holiday season, after all. Expect to see festive colors like gold and pearly white, too. “This winter will be about being in our glowy champagne era,” says Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton, founder of Chillhouse nail salon. Belakhlef also predicts people will be leaning into navy blue and milky white polishes on their toes.
Ahead, discover the winter pedicure colors experts can’t get enough of this season.
Merlot
Dazzle Dry
Nail Lacquer in Merlot
Dazzle Dry
Tenoverten
Nail Polish in Market
Ulta Beauty
Dior
Vernis Nuit
Dior
Dark reds always trend in the colder months, but Lin says burgundy with brown and black undertones will be a particularly popular pedicure color this season. We love Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Merlot, which has chocolate undertones and an ever-so-subtle shimmer. TenOverTen Market nail polish is also a stunning deep cherry. Just be mindful that it looks lighter in the bottle than it does on your toes. Sarah Chue, a Los Angeles-based nail artist, says Dior Vernis Nuit is her go-to vampy red shade. “It's very rich and wine-y.”
Snowy White
DND
Chrome Effect White Silk #02
DND
Olive & June
Long-Lasting Nail Polish in Atlas
Amazon
Chillhouse
Chill Paint Forever Wear Twinkle Toes
Chillhouse
Nothing beats the feeling of waking up to freshly fallen snow, so why not match the vibe with an equally glistening pedicure? This extra-bright white stands out against your skin, while also complementing your wintery outfit.
Nail artists suggest adding a chrome finish (we recommend using the DND Chrome Effect in White Silk ) for an icy touch. If you want a super-metallic chrome (a white that’s borderline silver), try Olive & June Long-Lasting Nail Polish in Atlas to give your pedi an otherworldly luster. We also love Forever Wear Chill Paint in the shade Twinkle Toes, a pearlescent white with a slightly blue shimmer.
Midnight Navy
Londontown
Lakur Enhanced Colour in Buckingham Blue
Amazon
Jinsoon
Nail Polish in Beau
Amazon
Jinsoon
Olive & June
Gel Nail Polish in Suited
Target
To Lin, this color is “mysterious.” To me, it’s preppy, perfectly pairing with a collared Breton or rugby shirt. Navy is trending for winter because it's versatile and flatters a wide range of skin tones. Londontown Lakur Enhanced Colour in Buckingham Blue and JinSoon Nail Polish in Beau are two vivid takes on this hue. The former is darker with purple undertones, while the latter is more of an ultra-dark teal. We also love Olive & June in Suited for its long-lasting opaque finish.
Pine Green
Aprés
Gel Couleur in Pine-ing Fir You
Aprés
Kokoist
Once Upon A Time
Kokoist
Orly
Pine-ing For You
Orly
ILNP
Studio Nail Polish in Ivy
ILNP
The best part of a ski trip is the après. (You can’t convince me otherwise.) Sipping hot chocolate indoors while looking at snow-draped evergreens will melt away all your stress. This pedicure color will give you that same cozy feeling. Chue recommends using Aprés Gel Couleur in Pine-ing Fir You, a dark forest green, while we love the similar Kokoist Once Upon A Time. Don't have an LED light? Try Orly Pine-ing For You or ILNP Studio nail polish in Ivy, both of which impart that same calming green color.
Espresso
Hermès
Les Mains Nail Enamel in Brun Bistre
Nordstrom
Côte Beauty
Nail Polish in Tabacco
Côte Beauty
Londontown
Midnight Mocha
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Speaking of hot beverages, they’ve inspired a pedicure favorite this winter. Chocolate- and coffee-colored polishes feel cozy and luxe, pairing perfectly with other popular shades of the season, like navy and cream. Belakhlef always reaches for Hermès Les Mains Nail Enamel in Brun Bistre for a rich espresso brown pedicure. We love Côte Beauty Nail Polish in the shade Tabacco for its subtle shine and Londontown Midnight Mocha for its glossy, gel-like finish.
Champagne
Sundays
S.01 Nail Polish
Beyond Polish
Sundays
Essie
Metallic Nail Polish in Good as Gold
Amazon (2-Pack)
Ulta Beauty
DND
Diva 9D Cat-Eye Daydream Gel in Fur-St Place
Beyond Polish
DND
Match your toes to the bubbly you plan to sip as you ring in the new year. Whether it’s champagne or apple cider, the shimmery polish adds a touch of playfulness to your pedicure, says Lin. She recommends her salon’s Sundays S.01 nail polish, a gold shade with champagne glitter. We’re partial to Essie Metallic Nail Polish in Good as Gold, a bright, festive shade that looks like your favorite glass of prosecco. If you want a more dynamic shimmer, try magnetic nail polish like DND Diva 9D Cat-Eye Daydream gel. It transforms into a glistening work of art when the glitter particles are dispersed with a magnetic wand.
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