We’re seeing a steady slew of surprisingly wearable — and super-flattering — green shades flooding into spring trend reports, which can only mean one thing: manicure inspiration aplenty. Serendipitously, this color-trend uptick also happens to coincide with the all-shamrock-everything vibes of next weekend’s beer-chugging celebration, also known as St. Patrick’s Day.
So to help you plan for April’s DIY mani and next Sunday’s bar hop, we thought it the perfect time to break down the best green nail polish to add to your collection before then. Ahead, we talked to a few trusted nail pros, who shared their favorite green shades of all time. From gemstone emerald to pastel mint, scroll through their guide to find your new favorite bottle of green — a fashion-forward investment for March 17 and beyond.
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If you’re looking for a deep, rich green, Chanel’s Fiction is the easy pick. "In the seasonal transition, we’re loving a deep green, borderline-black manicure," says nail pro and Olive & June founder Sarah Gibson Tuttle. "This is one of my personal favorites because the gem-like tones come through, giving the nails an unexpected pop when the light hits your fingers."
Chanel LE VERNIS Longwear Nail Colour in Fiction, $28, available at Nordstrom
Tenoverten is one of our favorite clean nail-care brands, and is newly shoppable at Target. Though every single polish is chic and wearable, this fresh seafoam is one of the most flattering shades, nail pro Nadine Abramcyk tells us. "Liberty is a green with cool blue undertones, which makes it a soft spring shade that looks great on every skin tone," she says.
Tenoverten Nail Polish in Liberty, $12, available at Target
Unlike the $17 kale salad you wish you could order for lunch everyday, this earthy green is a totally worth-it investment. "If you’re looking for an army green polish, this is the chicest bottle out there," Tuttle tells us.
Nails Inc. NAIL KALE Nail Polish in Bruton Mews, $15, available at Sephora
If you prefer your green to go on sheer, Lauren B’s pale sage Mandeville Maven is a timeless choice. "This shade is so soft and muted that it could almost fall under the pastel trend," says celebrity manicurist Skyy Hadley. "It completely transcends seasons, and is perfect for spring or fall."
LAUREN B Nail Polish in Mandeville Maven, $18, available at LAUREN B BEAUTY
Just try not to feel refreshed and spring-y with a glossy mint-green polish on your fingers. "This light green shade immediately reminds me of warmer weather," Hadley tells us. "It adds that pop of fresh lightness to any look."
OPI Nail Polish in That’s Hula-rious!, $10.5, available at OPI
If you’re looking at your green manicure from a transitional standpoint — a polish to bridge the gap between seasons — grab this long-wearing gel polish. "This lush shade is glossy and glamorous, perfect for moving into spring," says Hadley. "For a green, it comes across as very sophisticated."
Sally Hansen Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish in Leaf Me Be, $5.99, available at Target
NYC fashion girls are obsessed with L.A. jewelry brand J.Hannah ‘s gold signet rings, which they style with the brand’s similarly chic collection of nail polish for the perfect flat lay. The mossy-green Eames shade is J.Hannah’s best-seller — and for good reason. As Abramcyk tells us, "It’s the most stylish earthy green color I’ve ever seen in a polish."
J.Hannah Nail Polish in Eames, $19, available at J. Hannah
Talk about a vacation manicure: This shade is basically a bottled-up version of the ocean floor. "This is a tropical green to mirror the Caribbean water," says nail pro Jin Soon Choi. "It’s a rich, cool teal, saturated in pigmentation."
JINsoon Nail Polish in Scuba, $18, available at JinSoon
This Essie pastel is your subtle dip into the green trend. "I always recommend Essie’s Bon Boy-age to clients looking for a minty green that feels soft," says Tuttle.
Essie Nail Polish in Bon Boy-age, $9, available at Essie
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Source: Refinery29 – Megan Decker