Best nail color for tan skin summer

44 Gorgeous Nail Colors for Dark Skin Tones

Get out of your nail comfort zone.

Reviewed by

Nail Educator

@paintboxnails

Out of all the decisions you have to make in a day, choosing your nail color probably isn't the hardest. But with so many shade options, it can take quite some time. Thankfully, widely inclusive color options make finding shades that suit your skin tone fun. Practically every day, another new nail shade launches. And brown-skinned beauties, there are so many shades made with you in mind. The best nail colors for dark skin tones span, well, pretty much all hues of the rainbow. It's true—there's not one shade that doesn't look good on your melanin-rich skin. High-impact shades pop against dark skin tones, and deep, sultry shades look seamless. Rejoice: We lucked out in this category (unfortunately, there are still limited foundation shade ranges for dark skin tones). 

If you usually stick to the same nail shades for your dark skin, rest assured that you can't go wrong with having a little fun. We're all guilty of being creatures of habit with our favorite nail shades, but allow yourself to experiment more with vivid, brighter shades that'll pop against your deep complexion or neutral shades that suit your skin just right. Feast your eyes on these 44 fun nail colors that look amazing on dark skin tones. 

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Fire Red

@paintboxnails

Go bold or go home with a vibrant red shade. A slight squiggle in the middle will add dimension and intrigue. Use precisely applied tape to achieve this negative space style.

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Aqua Blue

@paintboxnails

Choose a bright blue like this vibrant aqua hue. If you're feeling spicy, recreate the above by adding a metallic adornment in the center for an edgy finish. 

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Pastel Pink

@paintboxnails

Stand out this season and choose a pastel-colored hue, like baby blue or soft pink, that will look gorgeous against your skin. 

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Sky Blue

@paintboxnails

Pairing a neutral skin shade like this brown hue with a bright blue will make for the coolest-looking contrast. 

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Bright White

@paintboxnails

White nails look incredibly chic on dark skin. Add some pizzazz with a sharp, silver cutout design like this. 

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Chocolate Brown

@paintboxnails

This modern style shows how playing with lines seamlessly meshes opposite colors together in the best way. Chocolate brown will always look like it was made for dark skin—adding a splash of ocean blue takes this shade up a notch. 

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Peachy Perfection

@justpeachy.studio

A light peach shade gives nails a nice wash of muted color. Add as many accents as you like, but seriously, the peachy tone here looks fantastic.

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Fuchsia Fun

@paintboxnails

Redo a classic French manicure with a high-impact shade like fuchsia, which will pop with your complexion.

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Rainbow

@orosabeauty

A chic rainbow never hurt anyone. Go simple by painting a different vibrant color on each nail, or get creative with a fun design.

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Berry Bright

@paintboxnails

Berry shades will instantly brighten up the look of your nails, which are made especially sweet when mini polka dots are involved.

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Neon Yellow

@jinsoon

Neon yellow makes a chic statement, as shown in this classic mani. The bright hue is almost out of this world and garners a second glance.

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Shades of Sand

@ellamila

Not sure which neutral color you want to wear on your nails? Try them all. A range of sandy shades looks creative and classic all at the same time.

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Lemon Yellow

@paintboxnails

Add a freshly squeezed lemon shade into the mix, and don't be surprised when you fall in love with this joyful look. 

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Classy Caramel

@jinsoon

A neutral caramel shade is ideal for a minimalist and looks especially great against matching accessories. If you want something that leans on the professional side, go for a simple, glossy finish. 

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Orange You Lovely

@chillhouse

Dive into warm weather with citrus-inspired nails that look especially stunning on deep skin tones. Using the entire spectrum of orange and yellow with cool designs is the way to go. 

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Sparkly Metallics

@paintboxnails

Get festive with metallic shades that run the gamut. As proven with the foil design here, these are sure to shine on your skin.

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Highlighter Orange

@oliveandjune

Looking for nails that will make the ultimate statement this season? This fiery color blends highlighter nostalgia with fresh, fruity vibes for a nail look that really pops against dark skin tones.

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Sultry Burgundy

@emenstudio_

A simple burgundy shade is a classic for colder weather and evening affairs, but we say you should embrace how it pops against a darker skin tone any time you want. Plus, the half-moon design adds a modern touch.

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Pastels All Around

@jinsoon

Try out any pastel hue for an extra sweet look, or combine all your favorites for a multi-colored mani that's perfectly suited for spring. We love the use of wavy lines and white polish here to create an artsy look.

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Liquid Chrome

@jinsoon

A chrome hue like this one has flecks of gold and silver woven throughout the polish for a standout manicure that matches whatever jewelry you're wearing that day.

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Earth Tones

@hannahbronfman

Sure, this design doesn't paint your whole nail in an earthy wash of color, but as you can see, the deep green, mustard, and earth-toned accents look seriously divine against partially bare nails.

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Light Pink and Metallic

@paintboxnails

Sheer pink is universally gorgeous, but we especially love how this translucent blush iteration, complete with a raw stripe of metallic pink across the middle, looks against a deep skin tone.

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Classic Red

@paintboxnails

It's classic for a reason. This shade exudes elegance and makes a statement every time, and we love how the white stripe makes cherry red pop even more against partially bare nails and a rich skin tone.

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Glossy Black

@paintedbyjools_

Sometimes you need your nail polish to match your all-black outfit, and a glossy finish of the classic shade looks stunning against a deep skin tone. Find your favorite formula and turn to it whenever you need an easy yet put-together mani.

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Gold and Peach Brushstrokes

@oliveandjune

We showcased a punchy peach earlier, but this design takes it to the next level by mixing a white base with black standout lines, plus additional peach and gold detailing. The whimsical brushstrokes look like a painter's palette in nail art form.

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Succulent Green

@orosabeauty

Call it a green thumb, but we're smitten with this succulent-inspired shade. It works for almost any season. An edgy fall shade, or perhaps, a holiday-inspired addition to a Christmas-themed nail? No matter when you wear it, the plant-inspired tone always looks fantastic.

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Lavender

@paintboxnails

Lavender is a gentle, whimsical shade we can't help but return to again and again. Lavender oil may have serious calming properties, but we can say even the color leaves us feeling pretty relaxed. It's got it all—a minimalistic design, an eye-catching color choice, and a hint of colorful sparkle to seal the deal.

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Brilliant Blue

@md_onglesnice

Rich colors of any shade know how to shine, and we love how this cheery blue looks in a marbled finish.

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Primary Colors

@jinsoon

Spin a color wheel and choose your favorite shade. Better yet, combine a few, like this manicure that pairs classic red and yellow with pale pink for nostalgic art-class vibes.

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Silver and Gold

This futuristic, negative-space design incorporates muted silver and gold tones for a standout look. It's not exactly the bright shimmer you'd expect, but there's something subtle and classic about the mixed metals here, and honestly, we can't look away.

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Cream

@jazzhe.arts

Cream doesn't have to mean boring. Here, a slick of cream polish gets an added pop via a statement finger (with polka dots, naturally).

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Yellow

@_tiffanybydesign

A sunny and bright shade like yellow goes perfectly with an added striped detail.

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Tangerine

@ht.polished

Here, a little added length allows for more impact from the bright, tangerine hue.

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Cobalt Blue

@nailsby_tokyo

This electric hue looks great even when matte. Here, it packs an added punch thanks to a mix of longer, square-shaped nails with some that are pointed.

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Taupe

@lizzyyellylifestyle

This elegant shade goes with anything and looks particularly sophisticated with a glossy top coat.

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Neon

@peopleofcolorbeauty

Neon packs a punch, so don't worry about adding accessories or rocking a statement nail. Here, the statement is all about the vibrant hue.

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Emerald

@peopleofcolorbeauty

Add a jolt to the every day with bright, emerald polish.

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Gray

@xamaira.nails

A goes-with-anything hue, gray is a great in-between shade for those who appreciate a neutral, but still want something a little different.

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Silver

@nailsbyxioooo

This silver polish is ideal for a nighttime look—or just a way to add some oomph to your daily look. Here, abstract silver splotches over clear nails make for a serious statement.

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Soft Pink

@beautyby_kaylinklassen

This soft pink ballerina slipper-esque shade is nearly beige, with an added touch of femininity.

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Lilac

@libbyrose.nailartist

Lilac nails offer an interesting yet fresh departure from basic pink.

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Eggplant

@polished_engineer

This shade—deep purple, aubergine, or eggplant, whichever term you prefer—is a great winter hue and an option that offers more personality than basic brown.

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Magenta

@mamiiandhues

This magenta polish looks great with the addition of rounded white tips.

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Olive

@nailbarbyalice

We don't often think of green as a neutral, but olive shades work with just about any other hue.

What nail colors look best on tan skin?

Because blue and orange are complementary on the color wheel, a blue shade will make your bronzed tan pop. Cabana Boy from Static Nails or the more periwinkle Soul Surfing from Nails Inc. are our favorites. A number of neon shades will pop with tanned skin, and you can't go wrong with hot pink.

What Colour nails are best for summer?

In summer 2022, light, neutral colors are on the back burner in favor of brighter, lighter hues in every color of the rainbow. Pink, red, green, blue, orange—you'll find yourself having a hard time choosing.

Which nail color should be avoided with the tan complexion?

Tan Complexions Lighter shades can accentuate tanned skin, like warm pale shades of brown, light blues, pinks, and purples. Avoid gold, which will just blend with your skin color. Polish tip: Blue and (possibly) yellow base.