8 May Nail Colors That Are Pitch-Perfect for Right Now (2024)

It's all about garden tones.

Kara Jillian Brown is the Beauty Editor of InStyle. She began her career at Well+Good, where she spent five years evolving from Editorial Intern, to News Writer, to Beauty Writer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English rhetoric from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in health and science journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. She is also a certified fitness instructor and teaches barre in Brooklyn.

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Published on May 2, 2024 @ 12:45PM

8 May Nail Colors That Are Pitch-Perfect for Right Now (2)

May is all about vibrancy. The sky is blue, flowers are in bloom, and our days are finally filled with color again. As such, leaning into bright, saturated nail polishes is not only fun but fitting.

"Garden tones, as I like to call them, are amazing for May," says Hannah Lee, a manicurist who works with Sally Hansen. "Vibrant oranges, greens, and pretty pinks are perfect springtime manicures to welcome the warmer weather."

Below, find eight energetic May nail hues sure to be everywhere this spring.

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Explosive Pink

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Celebrity manicurist Gina Edwards is a huge fan of Flamingo ($18) from Bio Seaweed Gel. "This explosive pink continues to shine from the pink Barbie trend," says Edwards. "This color leans more into the neon world and is the perfect entryway into warmer weather."

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Butter Yellow

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"I’m loving butter yellow nails," says Dayanna I. Sapiens, a nail art content creator. "This color is super trendy right now, and I think it’s perfect to wear for spring and summer!" Her favorite? Le Mini Macaron Chamomile ($13) topped with their Le Glazed powder ($15), as seen above.

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Shimmery Nudes

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Celebrity manicurist Fleury Rose is super into a shimmer nude polish for May. Her go-to is the Nails.Inc Desert Luxe Nail Polish Duo ($15). "I love this set because it [supplies] a sheer nude and shimmer that would be perfect to wear to the Met Gala in May," says Rose.

Almost Coral

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As we move from the pastel peaches of early spring, we're diving into deeper oranges that teeter on coral. "Poppy'n Fresh($10) is a gorgeous vibrant orange that has coral tones," says Lee. "This shade is great if you want an eye-catching pop of color." You can also go with darker shades that have a terracotta vibe for an earthier look, like Dior's Rouge Cinéma ($32)

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Lime Green

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"Greens are trending," says Edwards. "Even if you are not a huge green fan, such as myself, Flying Out Loud ($7) by Morgan Taylor tends to be more fun and wearable. It's a lime green with a subtle yellow undertone."

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Geranium Red

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"I love a bright red to usher in spring," says Rose. "The shade Geranium ($10) by Essie is the perfect fiery red that looks good on everyone."

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Denim

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"The Manhattan 'It girls' are wearing blue nails this spring," says Rose. Her go-to shade is Lagune ($32) by Chanel. The shade is especially pretty when paired with cream, notes Sapiens. She loves Marcia Cobalt ($34) by Gucci ($35, pictured above). "Cream and blue nails instantly make me think of a Euro summer vacation; I love this color combo," says Sapiens.

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Pinkish Purple

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If you're still loving the pink energy of Barbiemania but want to venture into different colors, reach for a bright purple with pink undertones. It's a fun and playful shade that's perfect for May. The above look features Exposed ($18) by Luxio.