If there is one thing we love on Who What Wear UK, it’s a timeless nail colour. Nail trends and nail art come and go, but, when it comes to looking polished, chic nail colours are a fail-safe way to instantly elevate your look and see you through any season, whether it be Spring/Summer or Autumn/Winter. Plus, the best nail colours will see you through any occasion, whether it be in the office, heading on holiday or going out.
It got me thinking: What are the best nail colours of all time? The exact nail polishes that have cemented themselves in beauty history as iconic nail colours. The ones that have loyal followings and people know by name just from seeing the bottle. To find out, I called upon celebrity nail techs, Iram Shelton and Georgia Rae, who I asked to name their best nail colours of all time.
From iconic reds to suits-all neutrals and affordable nail polishes to luxury nail colours, below are the best nail colours they landed on. These are the iconic nail colours that are not just bestsellers, but are truly iconic, recognisable and have some pretty amazing history behind their creations. These exact nail polish shades will see you through any season or occasion, and will have everyone complimenting your manicure—trust us.
The Best Nail Colours Of All Time
- OPI Bubble Bath (£15)
- Chanel Rouge Noir (£29)
- Essie Ballet Slippers (£9)
- Hermès Orange Boîte (£45)
- OPI Funny Bunny (£15)
- Chanel Ballerina (£29)
- OPI Big Apple Red (£15)
- Essie Allure (£9)
- OPI Lincoln Park After Dark (£15)
- OPI Malaga Wine (£15)
- OPI Cajun Shrimp (£15)
1. OPI Bubble Bath
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath
For many, OPI’s Bubble Bath requires zero introduction, but if you’re not yet infatuated with the sheer pink nail polish, get ready to. Loved by editors, nail techs and celebrities alike, there’s nothing to not like about Bubble Bath. “It looks great on all skin tones and has a gorgeous pinky undertone to it, making it perfect to wear alone or under nail art,” says Shelton.
One coat gives a perfecting veil of colour, while two coats gives a sheer pink wash that makes your nails look healthy and manicured. It looks great worn alone, but also makes for a dreamy base to layer chrome powder over for a glazed finish, as well as forming a great base for any nail art, from French tips to negative space nail art. As one of OPI’s bestselling shades, this is one nail polish colour you’ll never regret buying.
2. Chanel Rouge Noir
CHANEL
Ler Vernis Nail Polish in Rouge Noir
Chanel’s Rouge Noir may just be the world’s most iconic nail polish colour, and Chanel’s best nail colours ever. “If you don’t know about this iconic colour then we can’t be friends,” says Shelton. “This colour is probably older than I am and an icon for sure. This is the shade for A/W and if you haven’t tried it then what are you waiting for?”
The deep black cherry hue was born from Chanel’s A/W 94 show when makeup artist Heidi Morawetz and Chanel’s then director of makeup Dominique Moncourtois mixed a red and black pigments just days before the show to paint the model’s hands, and it was an instant hit on the runway. When Chanel decided to launch the shade (which was then name Vamp) it was so popular that people were queuing outside stores to get a bottle the day it launch. It’s also the nail colour that Uma Therman wore in Pulp Fiction, and the shade Madonna chose to wear in her Take A Bow music video. Needless to say, when you wear Rouge Noir, you have beauty history on your hands.
3. Essie Ballet Slippers
Essie
Nail Polish in Ballet Slippers
Essie has long been a beauty editor favourite for it’s affordable formulas that come in numerous chic shades, including Ballet Slippers. Rumoured to be the nail polish of choice for the late Queen Elizabeth II, it’s also popular in fashion circles, and even gets name-checked in The Devil Wears Prada novel, where the magazine staffers would layer Ballet Slippers with Essie’s Marshmallow (a sheer white) to make the sheer pink polish pop. “Essie Ballet slippers is a perfect nude which is super affordable and paints on super easily,” says Shelton. I love wearing this alone or as a base for a French tip.”
4. Hermès Orange Boîte
Hermès
Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Orange Boîte
Allow us to be a little bougie for a moment (we’re well aware that £45 for a nail polish will make most bank accounts cry) but Hermès deserves a special mention. The brand’s range of nail colours are inspired by the very enamel colours you’ll find among Hermès goods . So if you’re pining for a Birkin or a Kelly, Hermès’ Nail Enamels may help to tide you over for the time being. The most iconic shade for Shelton is Orange Boîte. “It’s a colour most would describe as the “Hermes orange” and they aren’t wrong. I love this shade so much because it looks great on everyone.” What’s even better is that these nail polishes also come in a mini Hermès box—so chic and great for gifting.
5. OPI Funny Bunny
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Funny Bunny
Whenever I ask any nail tech or salon about their most requested and most loved nail colour shades, OPI Funny Bunny is always, always mentioned. “Funny Bunny is an iconic milky shade I think everyone should own,” says Shelton. “This shade is so versatile and I love applying a couple of layers of this as it creates the perfect milky nail look.” It has a sheer finish, but it can be layered to a more opaque finish, and it’s a popular shade to layer with OPI Bubble Bath or topped with chrome powder for the iconic ‘glazed doughnut’ manicure.
6. Chanel Ballerina
Chanel
Le Vernis Nail Polish in Ballerina
Next to Rouge Noir, Ballerina is one of Chanel’s most popular nail polish colours. And it’s not hard to see why. The sheer pink is as sheer and delicate as a ballerina’s tutu, and looks flattering on everyone. One coat gives a ‘your nails, but better’ hint of colour, while two coats lends a milky pink finish that is endlessly pretty—this is my personal favourite nail colour ever. It’s versatile, working as a base for French manicures and nail art or as a minimalist manicure that whispers luxury. “Ballerina is an iconic nude that I think most people have owned,” says Shelton. “There isn’t anything like the simplicity of a simple Chanel manicure. If you’re in doubt this is what I’d go for.”
7. OPI Big Apple Red
OPI
Big Apple Red® Nail Polish
Ask any nail tech about their favourite red colour, and Big Apple Red is bound to be mentioned. “It’s one of my favourite reds to date,” says Shelton. “I always reach for this in summer. It’s beautiful and a classic colour that can really make a statement.” Many people are loyal to this true neutral red (the perfect balance of warm and cool undertones) which looks just as good on all skin tones, chic short nails as it does on longer lengths, and it’s also an elite pedicure colour year-round. It rose to fame in the 2000s when it launched as part of OPI’s New York collection and was so popular that it became a permanent colour in the brand’s core collection. It’s just as timeless today, so if you’re ever in doubt about what colour red to choose, you won’t regret picking this one—the glossy finish is unmatched.
8. Essie Allure
Essie
Nail Polish in Allure
Another affordable nail colour that you’ll often find nail techs recommending is Essie Allure. It was named after Allure magazine, when the the founding editor tapped Essie to create a sheer, milky beige that would look on all skin tones, and this nail colour was born. It even was the nail colour of choice for Kate Middleton on her wedding day, so it’s pretty special. It has a. subtle hint of pink to it, but it’s predominately a creamy sheer white and makes nails look bright and groomed. It’s a shade that Rae likes to use as a foundation shade to layer with other polishes. “I always apply a sheer white polish beneath every colour,” says Rae. “I like using Essie Allure, it’s a really sheer white that looks good on everyone. And then on top of that, you can layer pretty much anything,” she says.
9. OPI Lincoln Park After Dark
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Lincoln Park After Dark
OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark has a loyal following, making it one of the best—and most iconic—dark nail polish colours in the game, and it’s instantly recognisable. It’s an almost black, deep purple that is endlessly chic, and fans of it won’t just reserve it for autumn and winter—they wear it year-round. “This OG is an iconic colour year after year,” says Shelton. “This pairs perfectly with your Autumn/Winter wardrobe and looks great on all nail lengths and shapes.” It’s deeper and more purple-toned than Chanel’s Rouge Noir, and adds a cool “IYKYK” vibe to your manicure.
10. OPI Malaga Wine
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Malaga Wine
Yes, it’s another OPI nail colour that’s made this list—the brand has several iconic nail colours that we couldn’t miss out. Malaga Wine is for those who love a deep, sophisticated red nail colour. “if you’re looking for a deep red but nothing too dark, then this is what I’d recommend,” says Shelton. “It’s a gorgeous shade that screams sexy and sophisticated.”
11. OPI Cajun Shrimp
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Cajun Shrimp
Last but not least, we have Cajun Shrimp by OPI, a coral-red that many count as their go-to in the summer months. “This is a summer classic,” says Shelton, who says this is a great shade to make your nails pop. It’s more pink and orange-toned than Big Apple Red, which adds a bright and cheerful to your fingertips and toes. It dates back to 1990, when OPI co-founder went to dinner in New Orleans and tried Cajun spiced prawns for the first time.
