You get a lot of time to yourself during a beach vacation. With so many hours, you might not know what to do with yourself without the stresses of work life. And since there are no offices, who knows how your nails will look? Don’t worry, I have some suggestions on what color toenails to paint for the best beach vacation ever!
Toenail polish is NOT supposed to be a conversation starter. It’s supposed to be something that blends in with your toes, and no one cares about it. But if you’re going to a beach vacation, maybe that changes things…maybe.
In June we took a beach vacation. The temperatures were hot and the water was warm, so we spent most of the week on the beach (and by “on the beach” I mean we were floating on various colorful rafts—not that we could touch any part of the sand). It was a great trip, but one thing about these pictures stayed with me for the rest of the year: my toes! Specifically, how gross and terrible they looked against my super-white legs! Did I mention these pictures were going to be all over Facebook?
The best toenail colors for beach vacations are the ones that are easy to apply, don’t take too long to dry, and can be removed easily with soap and water.
You should also choose colors that will look good in the sun—bright colors are great for tropical beaches and white sand, but if you’re going to be spending more of your time in the shade or near the water, then darker colors may be better.
Our favorite toenail color for a beach vacation is [color].
Why? Because it’s the perfect shade to wear while you’re relaxing on the sand, sipping cocktails and taking in the sun. It’s also a great choice for your pedicure because it’s so easy to match with any outfit or color scheme—and you won’t have to worry about your toes looking like they belong in one place when they’re clearly not.
If you want something that really makes a statement, try [color]. This bold hue will work well with any skin tone and can be worn with ease by both men and women. The only thing you’ll need to worry about is whether or not your friends will be able to keep their eyes off of your feet!
Fiery Coral
If you’re looking for a summery alternative to tried-and-true crimson, you can’t go wrong with a rich coral. Goldstein’s go-to is Chanel’s Le Vernis polish in Cruise, a highly pigmented orange she considers “sophisticated but playful,” while Choi’s fiery Pop Orange shade “works great on warmer skin tones,” she says.
Chanel Le Vernis in Cruise
$28
CHANEL
Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Strong At 1%
$9
ESSIE
J. Hannah Nail Polish in Saltillo
$19
J. HANNAH
JINsoon Choi Nail Polish in Pop Orange
$18
JINSOON
Sheer Pink
“For a lighter, easy-breezy look, a sheer pink is beautiful and works great with every skin tone,” says Choi, whose shade Muse is a mainstay on many of her editorial shoots due to its universally flattering hue.
Paintbox Single Nail Lacquer in Like Blush
$22
PAINTBOX
Mented Nude Nail Collection in Pinkish
$8
MENTED
JINsoon Nail Polish in Muse
$18
JINSOON
Nails. Inc London Make Mine Rosé Nail Polish
$15
NAILS INC. LONDON
Turquoise Blue
A shade the Vogue beauty team recently spotted on Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele, turquoise is both fresh and timeless. “It’s refreshing yet bold,” says Qin of the azure hue. “It reminds me of a translucent ocean.”
Sundays Studio No. 34 Eggshell Turquoise
$18
SUNDAYS
Gucci Vernis à Ongles Nail Polish in Dorothy Turquoise
$30
GUCCI
Olive and June Nail Polish in Yes Please
$8
OLIVE AND JUNE
Essie Nail Polish in In the Cab Ana
$9
ESSIE
Sun Yellow
Last December, Pantone named bright yellow 2021’s color of the year, and since then the lemony shade has been everywhere. It’s no wonder why: “2020 was tough for everyone, and seeing yellow really evokes a new spirit of optimism and resilience,” says Qin.
JINsoon Nail Polish in Tweety
$18
JINSOON
& Other Stories Calendula Sun Nail Polish
$7
& OTHER STORIES
OPI Nail Lacquer in Don’t Tell a Sol
$10
OPI
Holo Taco Nail Polish in Banana Hacks
$11
HOLO TACO
Electric Green
“An electric green gives a white linen summer outfit the perfect pop of color but also goes perfectly with a black minidress for those summer nights out,” says Goldstein, who has been reaching for Essie’s new limited-edition Feelin’ Just Lime polish as of late.
JINsoon Nail Polish in Palma
$18
JINSOON
Essie Nail Polish in ‘Feelin’ Just Lime’
$9
ESSIE
Côte No. 62 Fern Green Nail Polish
$18
CÔTE
Kiko Milano Nail Polish in Lawn Green
$2
KIKO MILANO
Off White
A pale off-white is perfect for a summer wedding or bridal shower. “When everyone else is sporting a basic nude, marshmallow puts a unique spin on your ideal summer look,” says Qin. For a touch of shine and dimension, Goldstein loves an “opalescent sheer” effect.
Chanel Le Vernis in Perle Blanche
$28
CHANEL
Essie Nail Polish in Marshmallow
$9
ESSIE
Nails. Inc What the Shell? Pearl Effect Nail Polish
$11
NAILS. INC
Sundays Nail Polish in No.48 Cream Parfait
$18
SUNDAYS
Periwinkle Blue
With its hints of pink and purple, Qin calls periwinkle a “showstopping” blue that also pairs beautifully with florals by way of flower crowns or corsages. Choi also loves a lavender-tinged blue for summer, calling her baby blue Aero shade “crisp and clean.”
OPI Infinite Shine Long-Wear Nail Polish in To Be Continued
$13
OPI
Deborah Lippmann Iconic Nail Polish in Blue Orchid
$18
DEBORAH LIPPMANN