When you’re standing in a sea of fringed crop tops and white cowboy boots under the Indio sun, you want to make sure the little details set you apart from the rest of the festival crowd: a one-of-a-kind crystal choker, a stack of gemstone bobby pins, and, ideally, a show-stoppingly sparkly glitter manicure.
Shimmer on your nails is nothing new, but the trend has come a long way since the bright, sparkly polish bottles scattered across the carpet at your middle-school sleepovers. Now, it’s the perfect finishing touch to your carefully-curated desert vibe.
Ahead, celebrity nail pros break down the best grown-up glitter nail polishes to stock this spring, so you can DIY your dream Coachella mani and spare yourself the trip to the salon. Go ahead and put the cash you’ll save toward a huge Revolve haul instead.
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Silver
At first glance, this new Essie polish looks like a shiny aluminum-gray shade. But when you get up close, you see the nuanced hints of metallic teal, which may be our new favorite way to wear green shimmer.
Essie Spring 2019 Nail Polish Collection in Reign Check, $9, available at Ulta Beauty
Everyone needs a silver sequin polish in their collection. "You can’t go wrong with a true diamond-esque sequin glitter," says celebrity nail pro Michelle Saunders. "Set In Stones by Essie is a glitter lover’s dream and looks amazing on every skin tone."
Essie Luxeffects Nail Polish in Set in Stones, $6.89, available at Target
Fuchsia
If you’re not into huge flecks of glitter on your nails, try a bright base color with fine-grain glitter mixed in. "A subtly sparkly fuchsia shade is a great way to dress up your nails for the festival season," says Saunders. We’re obsessed with Côte’s glittery magenta polish — it’s fun and 100% non-toxic.
Côte Nail Polish in No. 105, $18, available at goop
If you’re at Target or CVS, Saunders recommends tracking down this Essie polish bottle in the shade City Slicker. "This polish gives this fun, retro ’80s vibe to your DIY manicure, with a softer shimmer finish," she says.
Essie Concrete Glitter Nail Polish Collection in City Slicker, $9, available at Ulta Beauty
Golden
Try a polish with a clear base and big chunks of gold floating throughout for a truly bright, festive flair. "Smith & Cult’s gold glitter polish in Shattered Souls is my personal favorite, and a must for spring parties," says Saunders.
Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Shattered Souls, $18, available at Bloomingdale’s
If you’re a fan of OPI polishes, consider grabbing the glitter shade called Gold Key To The Kingdom. "This rich metallic looks gorgeous over bare nails, giving a touch of shine that reads elegant," says Olive & June founder Sarah Gibson Tuttle.
OPI OPI Nail Polish in Key To The Kingdom, $9.25, available at Walmart
Rainbow
Rainbow glitter polish — a clear base filled with an assorted mix of colorful flecks — adds an unexpected sparkle to your mani. "I love the Lauren B polish in the shade One Night in Weho," says Saunders. "It’s festive and unexpected, but still sheer enough to keep in your rotation for the rest of the year."
LAUREN B Nail Polish in One Night in WeHo, $19, available at LAUREN B BEAUTY
The best part about swiping on a multi-colored rainbow glitter polish, like this funfetti shade by Jin Soon, over a naked nail is that it’s delightfully resistant to chipping.
JINsoon Nail Polish in Fab, $18, available at Amazon
Heart-Shaped
Glitter is inherently fun in its natural hexagonal-fleck form, but when you bling out a clear base coat with teensy laser-cut hearts, the detail is chic and unexpected. "A manicure bedazzled with hearts is always in season," says Tuttle. Bonus: It’s the perfect excuse to reuse your Valentine’s Day polish.
Essie essie Valentines Day Glitter & Shimmer Nail Polish, $8.99, available at Target
Shimmer Top Coat
When your go-to polish — be it slate gray or pale pink — isn’t packing that party-ready punch you’re looking for, try layering on a glitter top coat for some pizazz. "I love This Magic Moment by Deborah Lippmann," says Tuttle. "Because it’s sheer white mica, you can swipe it over any polish base for a fresh, shiny finish."
Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in This Magic Moment, $20, available at Deborah Lippmann
If you’re still rotating though dark, rich base colors this time of year, this glitter makes the perfect top-coat finish. "I love to layer this Crimson and Clover shade on top of a matte red to give a mani that extra-festive pop," says Tuttle.
Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in Crimson And Clover, $20, available at Deborah Lippmann
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Source: Refinery29 – Megan Decker