12 Trending Nail Colors to Get You Out of a Polish Rut

Does the command “pick your polish color” incite panic whenever you step into the nail salon? A wall of dozens, even hundreds, of polishes is enough to shut down the decision-making part of your brain, and instead, rely on the same old shade as usual. But why not have some fun with it? If there was ever a time to experiment, it’s with a bottle of nail polish. Ahead, we curated a list of the top shades for 2019 based on trending best sellers brands can barely keep in stock. Here are some trending nail colors to inspire you to spice up your life, starting with your fingernails and toes.

If You Like Reds…

Try pinky red neons, like Floss Gloss Cherry Ice, $9. The hot pink verges on the line of hot cherry red, making it a fresh pop of bright color on the tip of your nails.

Or if you just love a classic, deeper Big Apple Red shade, try Smith and Cult Kundalini Hustle, $18, which is a touch brighter, making it the perfect poppy bright red.  

Or want to go a bit more inspired by the Mojave Desert? Give your red a worthy winter update with a rust orange–toned polish, like Tenoverten Cliff, $18.

If You Like Nude Tones…

Love Ballet Slippers or another nude tone of polish? The classic feels less like a trending nail polish color, and more like a staple. But there’s still room for updates, like try adding a touch of pearlescent to mix things up a bit, while still remaining neutral. Give Tenoverten Oyster (in the new Daphne Oz Trio, $54) a try; the shade was actually inspired by the pearl-gray shade of oyster shells.

Want to really shake things up but remain nude? Go for an opaque white, like Floss Gloss Mrs. Tony Montana, $9. It’s a neutral with a fresh, almost badass, update, which makes sense since the shade is inspired by Elvira Hancock, played by Michelle Pfeiffer in 1983’s Scarface.

If You Like Dark Shades…

If you rely on deep tones of purples, reds, and browns, give some tonal updates a spin. Try an earth-rich brown, like Floss Gloss’s Tanlines, $9. The brand describes it as “pinto bean brown,” which nails the shade in a chic way.

Tend to swipe on a deep purple shade come fall and winter? Try a total color update with a deep navy instead, like Oribe Deep Teal, $32, which is a delicious, moody refresh to the usual blue.

Want a touch bolder? How about SinfulColors Endless Blue, $1.93, which is a fun, fashionable cerulean blue and comes in at under $2?

Still love purples like Lincoln After Dark? Try Jinsoon Jasper, $18, a deep burgundy with a cool red glitter update. How fun is that?

If You Like to Experiment…

If you already love to shake things up, then trending nail colors are probably already your thing. If you’ve been testing out bright pops of green, swap them out and give a very trendy, earthy tone a spin. J.Hannah Eames, $19, is the mossy, muted green of our dreams.

Have you been relying on vibrant yellows lately? Try a deliciously warm, buttery yellow, like J.Hannah Relic, $19. You’ll find us painting this on all winter long—so good.

If you love pink, no matter the season, keep it up and give Floss Gloss’s yummy International Hot Girl, $9, a roll. It’s a dreamy, ’80s-inspired creamy coral that’s not quite bright and not quite muted.

Or go in the opposite direction with a moody, dusty rose, like Sundays No. 25, $18, which we love to paint on all year long.