Nail color is a very personal thing. One color may look stunning on one fashion diva, but drab on the next. Plain and simple: Nail-polish choice should accentuate your unique complexion.
A good starting point for choosing a shade of polish most becoming to you is your wardrobe. The colors that make you look fabulous have a lot to do with your skin tone. Once you’ve discovered those particular colors that most complement your complexion, you’re on your way to finding your personal custom shade.
Another approach is to find a shade that pairs well with your skin undertones. To determine what undertones your skin has you’ll want to find a natural light source. Stand directly in the light and take note of the color of your arm skin. Skin with pink, blue or red undertones is considered cool. Skin with golden, beige or olive is considered warm.
Here is a guide to skin undertones, and their corresponding flattering shades:
Pale Complexions: Pale skin tones are considered a cool skin type. Lighter shades with pink or blue undertones are best. Pastel colors look great, too. Pinks or reds can make your complexion really pop.
Fair Complexions: If you’re fair-skinned with a warm tone, you have a lot to work with! Women with both cool and warm tones can wear red, but cool undertones look better in blue-based reds. Warm (golden or peachy) tones look better in red polish with yellow or orange undertones.
Tan Complexions: Tanned skin looks better in warmer colors. Lighter shades can accentuate tanned skin, like warm pale shades of brown, light blues or pinks and purples. Avoid gold, because it will blend with your skin color.
Medium/Olive Complexions: Those women with medium skin tones may enjoy a wide range of colors. Seek out dark burgundy and wines, vibrant colors like pink, blue yellow and orange. Silver and metallics (like metallic blue) are also good choices. Women with olive-dark tones look great in earthy tones and chocolate browns with red undertones. Some reds — russet for example — work well, too. And gold is always a winner.
Dark Complexions: Women with dark complexions may choose rich, deep shades, except for dark brown, as it will disappear into the background. Burgundy, vibrant purples, and plums are your best friends. Though darker shades are better, women with very dark tones need to be careful in using deep purples, grays and black, because these shades may make the skin appear muddy and dull.
If you’re feeling unsure about committing to one color, you might want to seek out a sample online first. OPI.com has a great feature that lets you try on nail polish to see how nail shades will look, when applied to your skin tones. Additionally, InStyle.com has a cool resource for women of all skin tones, who want to find their perfect makeup look.