10 Must-Have Nail Colors for Spring

A new season means it is time to add some new nail colors into rotation. An at-home mani/pedi is one of my favorite forms of self-care…and it’s way more budget friendly than going to the salon every couple of weeks. With spring in the air and the warmer weather finally starting to make its appearance, I’ve rounded up 10 of my must-have nail colors for spring.

In the epitome of being #basic, 99% of these are some shade of pink. I’m not one for really bubble gum pink or hot pink shades but I do gravitate towards more of the muted, mauve shades. Also if you couldn’t tell from my previous nail posts [here, here and here] I’m definitely an Essie girl at heart. I love the creamy formula, the wider brush and the names of them always keep me entertained!

So without further ado, here are 10 must-have nail colors for spring [in order from lightest to darkest].

Essie Marshmallow - I’ve mentioned this one before and it is a staple for me year round [I have only about a third of the bottle left]. I think every girl needs a go-to shade of white nail polish in their arsenal. Not only does it go with everything, it’s great for both casual and dressy looks. 99% of the time I wear this on my toes but something about spring makes me switch things up every now and then and I’ll do a fresh mani with it.

Essie Lighten the Mood - this color was a must as soon as I saw it! It’s more on the ivory side with some dusty undertones. This shade is great if you aren’t fully into a white nail and will be a great compliment to your entire spring wardrobe.

Essie Topless & Barefoot - I currently have those on my toes right now and love it! It’s a soft pink-ish beige so it has that hint of color while still remaining neutral. This shade is great if you aren’t ready to commit to a full pink shade.

Essie Lady Like - I’ve had this color for a while now and love how versatile it is throughout the seasons but I’m exceptionally excited to wear it this spring. It’s classic soft mauve, which for someone like me who isn’t into pink, is perfect. Similar to topless & barefoot mentioned above, it’s a great neutral with a subtle hint of color - just a few shades deeper.

Essie Young, Wild & Me - this was a recent new find for me and so far I’m loving it! It is actually what I have on my nails now. It is more of a dusty rose pink, but it still has some nude undertones so for someone like my who doesn’t love a full pink shade, this is perfect.

Essie Eternal Optimist - this is another color I’ve had for a bit and seem to rotate in and out during different seasons. I was thinking of how to best describe this shade and resorted to the Essie site…they describe it as a spiced tea with a dash of cream. Sounds silly but y’all it does describe it perfectly! It’s a great dusty mauve color while still keeping those nude undertones.

Essie Perfect Mate - this is probably the most pink of the bunch. It’s more of a coral-mauve combination so it’s the perfect pink shade for spring. This will definitely be a go-to when the warm weather is here to stay!

Essie Clothing Optional - if you’re looking for a classic mauve nail color, this one is it! I’ve been trying to find one for a while and when I finally spotted this at Target recently, it was in my cart before I could even think! Excited to wear this in the spring but also think it will be a great transitional shade during the fall, too.

Essie Stop, Drop & Shop - if you like a bit more of a pop to your nails, you’ll definitely love this shade. It’s a deep pink with red and burgundy undertones. This will really pop with the bright, clean and pastel colors of spring!

Essie Drive-In & Dine - this is another great option if you are looking for more of a pop. Again, it’s a deep pink but it has heavier purple undertones, almost raspberry like [now I’m craving black raspberry ice cream!]. Though this color adds a pop, it still has subtleties to it that won’t make it too overpowering in the spring.

And that’s a wrap on 10 must-have nail colors for spring. I wish I could wear all of these at once but I’m excited to rotate through all of these this season. Do you have a favorite nail color for spring? Share below in the comments!