Chances are, at some point in your life, you were taught that certain nail polishes are appropriate for manicures while others look best for pedicures. Newsflash: You can wear any color your heart desires on your fingers or toes—it’s really just a personal preference. That said, some colors do look better in the spring and summer than they do in fall and winter, and some hues pair especially well together, while others can seem distractingly misaligned. To save you from trying to figure this out on your own, we chatted with a few professional nail artists to determine the best mani/pedi combos for spring.
Featured experts
- Olivia Van Iderstine is Olive & June's mani trend expert + VP of content and creative
- Mazz Hanna is a nail artist and the CEO of Nailing Hollywood
“My favorite mani/pedi combos are those that feel either really cohesive and tonal or create fun, high contrast,” says Olivia Van Iderstine, Olive & June's mani trend expert + VP of content and creative. “Of course, you can never go wrong with a matchy-matchy moment across hands and toes, but why not have a little more fun?”
To help you do just that, ahead, find 10 mani/pedi nail color combos for spring.
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Pale Pink and Magenta
Preparing for wedding season? Van Iderstine likes the idea of pairing a neutral pastel pink mani with a magenta pedi (even better if it’s shimmery). You can get the look using Olive & June’s Brave Blush paired with Lily Blooms, or for a gel mani, the Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish ($20) in the shades Manoir Pink and Acai Berry.
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BUY NOW - $20
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Sheer and Opaque Mix + Match
Another way to make your mani and pedi look perfectly cohesive for spring (and any time of year)? Opt for the same shade in different opacities or finishes.
“Opting for sheer and opaque versions of the same color is a great way to add a more interesting look to your mani/pedi combo,” Hanna says. “Opt for a sheer polish on your hands and an opaque version of the same color on your toes.”
Her go-tos? Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in the shade Lavender BB Cream on the hands with the brand’s Taro Tea on your toes. “It’s a perfect mani/pedi combination for spring that is subtle but still eye-catching,” she says. “The sheerness of Lavender BB Cream enhances the natural beauty of your nails while Taro Tea elevates your look with a clean and refreshing vibe.”
Another option? Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in the shade Coconut Milk on your hands with the shade French Alps on your toes. “A sheer white manicure and opaque white pedicure is a classic wedding option that will always look beautiful in photos,” Hanna says.
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BUY NOW - $24
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High-Contrast Blue and Orange
Prefer to be a bit bolder with your nail looks? Van Iderstine says to opt for a high contrast by pairing pale blue polish (like Olive & June’s Same Day Next Year) on your hands with a vibrant spritz-hued orange (like the brand’s Lava shade) on your toes. “A bold pedi color is the perfect way to dip your toes (literally) into a trendy color—so go for it,” she exclaims. (Not sure how you feel about shimmery blue nail polish? Van Iderstine says Lava pedicures look fabulous with pale gray manicures.)
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BUY NOW - $9
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Shimmery Pink and White
For a subtle, fool-proof mani/pedi combo for spring or summer, Van Iderstine says you can’t go wrong with white polish on your toes and pale shimmery pink polish on your fingers. Specifically, she recommends using Olive & June’s Icing is the Best Part or Atlas on your hands, with a crisp white polish, like HD, on your toes. “Everyone loves a white pedi in the summer, and the softer sheer white on hands is so pretty,” she says.
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BUY NOW - $9
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Classic French Manicure with a Solid Color Pedicure
If you don’t want to be pigeonholed to a specific color combo, Hanna says you can never go wrong with a French manicure alongside a solid pedicure. “French manicures are a classic option that go well with any color pedicure,” she says. “I love the look of classic French manicures with pastel spring color pedicures.”
Get the look with the Static Nails Liquid Glass Muted Pastels Palette ($60). It includes six pastel colors ranging from nude to pistachio green, with a stunning silver glitter polish for good measure.
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Colorful French Mani with a High-Contrast Pedi
For a more colorful take on the French mani/pedi combo, try a pale yellow French manicure with a hot pink pedicure. It radiates warmth and positivity. You can make it easy on yourself with the ultra-chic Chillhouse Bougie Butter Chill Tips ($16) paired with Gucci Glossy Nail Polish ($35) in the shade Valentine Fuchsia.
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Bright Red All-Around
Red is one of those colors that’s both classic and bold. While many magazines once published that red pedicures are the be-all, end-all toenail polish color, Nailing Hollywood Artist LaTara Haye says it’s a hue that belongs on your fingernails, too—regardless of season. Her go-to shade? Big Apple Red ($12) by OPI. “A bright-colored mani/pedi equals vacation fun or a simple mood pick me up,” she explains.
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The Takeaway
Spring nails can come in every color of the rainbow. “Any rules about what you can and can't wear as a mani and pedi combo are completely made up,” Van Iderstine assures us. “It's all about having fun and wearing colors that you love.” Now, the only question is, which mani/pedi combo will you flaunt first?
