These Unexpected Nail Colors Make for Knockout Manis

The spring shades you didn’t know you would love this much.

Rowan Lynam
Rowan Lynam
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Published: Apr 23, 2025

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hand with purple nail polish holding sunglasses — Photo by Стейси Сакс on Unsplash

Unexpected Nail Colors We Love for Spring

Stand out with these unconventional nail shades! You might be surprised by how perfect they are for the season.

Neutral Greens

Unlike traditionally bright seasonal choices, these are more muted tones of green that feel lived-in and elegant while keeping an earthy, grounded look.

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Londontown Lakur in Star Moss ($16)

This versatile shade is a go-with-everything hero that works no matter the season.

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BUY ON AMAZON - $16

Londontown Lakur in Star Moss ($16)

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ILNP in Treetop ($10)

A high-performance creme with a gorgeous mossy green pigment, this shade is a breath of fresh air in springtime without being too bright or overpowering.

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ILNP in treetop

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Londontown Lakur in Sedona ($16)

This shade is just the right side of bright. Still a perfect neutral that can perform in any season, this muted sage is a gorgeously unconventional nail color.

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Londontown Lakur in Sedona

Off-Beat Purple Tones

Unlike the lavender and lilac shades we've been obsessing over in early spring, these purple shades are a little more unconventional. Just take duo-chromes that journey from green to pink to soft purple—these feel festival-appropriate and a little alien, in the best way.

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Mooncat in Fields of Elysium ($15)

Combining a sage green with a purple shimmer makes for a hypnotizing combination.

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Dazzle Dry in Celestial Dreams ($22)

A muted magenta, this shade delivers a moody edge to your spring mani.

BUY ON DAZZLE DRY - $22

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Dazzle Dry in Celestial Dreams

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Bee's Knees Lacquer in Curses and Toads ($14)

This hand-mixed, small-batch lacquer is a favorite among nail polish junkies for a reason, and the moss-to-violet of this formula is unexpectedly perfect.

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Bee's Knees Lacquer in Curses and Toads ($14)

Bee's Knees in curses and toads

Swampcore

You might consider these nail polish shades "ugly." We consider them under-loved. These dark, murky tones are a bold neutral, especially in a pastel season.

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ORLY in Metamorphasis ($10)

A teal polish with a copper finish, this polish has a gorgeous oil-slick effect that makes it an instant standout.

BUY ON ORLY - $11

BUY ON BEYOND POLISH - $10

ORLY in metamorphosis

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Côte Beauty Nail Polish in Smokey Sage ($18)

This earthy tone is an elegant take on a neutral, with gray-brown undertones that create a low-key shade you'll love.

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Côte Beauty Nail Polish in Smokey Sage ($18)

Cote in smokey sage

Earthy Browns

These grounded shades are forever neutrals and work beautifully no matter the season.

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J. Hannah Nail Polish in Carob ($22)

This coffee-inspired brown is a captivating dark walnut that will pair beautifully with a matcha or pastel pink. Or wear by itself for a bold, earthy mani.

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J. Hannah Nail Polish in Carob ($22)

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Chillhouse Forever Wear in Not Your Princess ($12)

This gray-copper is a gorgeous brown that catches the light and transforms into a shimmery silver.

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Chillhouse Forever Wear in Not Your Princess

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Ella + Mila in Of the Earth ($11)

On the lighter side, this honey brown is an effortlessly wearable shade that makes any mani look ultra luxe.

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ella + mila in of the earth

Almost Pink

There's something so understated and elegant about these dusky pink shades. Rather than the sheer soap nails trend or the more pastel approach that you might think of in spring, these shades incorporate subtle purple, gray and even brown tones to create a more subdued look.

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