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Break out your favorite sandals from the cruel prison of winter storage, because open-toe season is upon us!
Tons of fun nail polish colors have already been popping up on fingertips and toes this spring, so we’re rounding up all of the summer 2026 pedicure colors that should make your short list for these warm-weather days. While some are predictable classics with a fresh spin, others are a little unexpected and entirely refreshing.
So take this as your official warning: If your hands and feet (especially) are not quite ready to show off, now’s the time to get them primped, preened and perfectly polished for summer. Read on for the top nail color trends of summer 2026, plus a handful of essential tools to really nail your at-home mani-pedi.
Table of Contents:
- The Vivid, Vivacious Classics
- The Creamy, Dreamy Neutrals
- The Bold Pops of Nature-Inspired Color
- The DIY Mani/Pedi Essentials
The Vivid, Vivacious Classics
Red polish is always in style — but there are two particular shades that we’ll be seeing everywhere this spring and summer. Rather than the wines and burgundies of winter, warmer weather calls for big, bright reds like cherry and poppy.
Just like with makeup, your skin’s undertone can guide you toward the perfect shade of red nail polish. While it’s not critical to coordinate your skin tone to your nail color like you would with your makeup, it can still help narrow your choices when we have so many red options out there. Cherry, for example, is a cooler shade with a blue undertone like JINsoon’s Ardor, while poppy runs warmer with an almost neon infusion of orange like Orly’s Hit the Gas. The poppy pedicure, in particular, is a red-hot choice for warmer weather!
JINsoon in Ardor
Image: JINsoonPrice: $18 at JINsoon
Orly in Hit the Gas
Image: UltaPrice: $7.87 (orig. $10.50) at Ulta
The Creamy, Dreamy Neutrals
Just like reds, you really can’t go wrong with nude-y neutrals either. This summer season, one of the hottest ways to bare your toes is with an au naturel vibe, easily achieved with sheer, so-called milky polishes. Surely, the most milky white of these shades — like ILNP’s Coconut Cream — take a little inspiration from Pantone’s contentious pick for Color of the Year, “Cloud Dancer.” But you can jump on this milky trend with a little touch of color, too! Nude, peach and pink jelly polishes (like Cirque Colors’ Rose Jelly) are also trending for this milky look, offering versatility no matter what color or style you’re wearing.
These sheer lacquers create an almost jelly-like look that creates a little depth, especially when your nails catch the summer sun. But the best part is their buildable opacity. Keep ’em to one or two coats for that milky, jelly-like vibe, or layer on more for an opaque look. You can even layer different colors of jelly polishes for more interest, or dab different shades across your nail for a gorgeous watercolor effect!
ILNP in Coconut Cream
Image: AmazonPrice: $10 at Amazon
Cirque Colors in Rose Jelly
Image: AmazonPrice: $12.50 at Amazon
The Bold Pops of Nature-Inspired Color
If you really want to make a big statement with your fingertips and toes this summer, you can take a little inspiration from sunny skies, juicy fruits and other pops of nature all around us.
Sky blue is emerging as one of the most popular summer 2026 pedicure colors, and it’s no surprise as it’s been popping up everywhere this year, as predicted by Pinterest. But instead of the icy blues we saw for winter, the summer version of the hue — like Gucci’s Lucy Baby Blue — is more inspired by lounging poolside or cloud-watching while sunbathing at the beach.
Maybe you call it matcha or maybe you call it pistachio, but there’s no denying that soft green nail polish — like Lakur by Londontown’s Lichen — is having a moment. The sage-like hue popped up all over the Spring/Summer 2026 fashion runways, from Carolina Herrera to Gucci.
If you can’t decide on blue or green, maybe meet somewhere in the middle with a “millennial mint” throwback, as seen in Essie’s Mint Candy Apple. The bold, bright hue is rising in popularity once again — just like so many other early aughts trends these days!
And if you’d prefer to warm things up with a more sunny hue, then juicy citrus-inspired orange nails are sure to brighten up your spring and summer days. This orangeade shade (like China Glaze’s Orange Knockout) plays a big role in the Aperol Spritz nail trend, too. Just layer on a glossy gold shimmer to complete the ode to the quintessential summer aperitif.
Gucci in 716 Lucy Baby Blue
Image: SephoraPrice: $35 at Sephora
Lakur by Londontown in Lichen
Image: LondontownPrice: $16 at Londontown
Essie in Mint Candy Apple
Image: UltaPrice: $10 at Ulta
China Glaze in Orange Knockout
Image: Macy’sPrice: $8.50 at Macy’s
The DIY Mani/Pedi Essentials
Essie On A Roll Apricot Cuticle Oil
Image: UltaSoften up those dry cuticles on your fingers and toes with this easy-to-apply, mess-free, roll-on cuticle oil. It instantly hydrates and conditions with apricot and jojoba oils, and it absorbs quickly so you can move on to the next step in your mani/pedi routine.
Price: $15 at Ulta
DrMode Angled Head Toenail Clippers
Image: AmazonYou probably already have a go-to nail clipper for your fingernails. But if you need something a little more specialized to tackle your toenails, these have a wider jaw to accommodate thicker nails, and an anti-slip handle and angled head for more ergonomic clipping. They also collect your toenail clippings so they don’t go flying across the room!
Price: $12.98 at Amazon
Pueen Nail Art Peel-Off Cuticle Guard
Image: WalmartIf you’re not great at coloring inside the lines (guilty!), this peel-off polish barrier will make manis and pedis a breeze. Just brush this stuff on the skin around your nail, polish your nails without abandon, and peel off your mess to reveal a neat and clean manicure or pedicure.
Price: $4.98 at Walmart
Collapsible Foot Bath with Massage Acupoint
Image: AmazonTo get the true nail salon experience at home, treat your tootsies to a nice soak that’ll soften them up for exfoliation and easier toenail clipping. While you could splurge a little for an option with heat and bubbles instead, we like this easy-to-store, collapsible basin, especially if you’re short on space. It also has lots of massaging nodules on the bottom to ease sore, tired feet.
Price: $18.99 (orig. $28.98) at Amazon
Dr. Scholl’s Hard Skin Remover Nano Glass Foot File
Image: AmazonIf winter boots and dry air have left your feet calloused and cracked, this foot file will help you get ’em soft and smooth once again. The textured nano glass surface gently buffs and exfoliates skin, and it has a comfy, soft-touch handle for easy use. Plus, it’s waterproof and rust-proof so you can easily rinse it clean.
Price: $8.47 at Amazon
Baby Foot Original Exfoliation Lavender Scented Foot Peel
Image: UltaIf your dry, cracked and calloused winter feet need a little extra attention, prep ’em a week before your pedicure with this exfoliating foot peel. You just soak your feet in these bags of specialized gel for an hour, then watch as the dead skin of seasons’ past sloughs off like a snake, revealing baby-soft skin within 3–7 days.
Price: $25 at Ulta
ILNP Glass Candy Top Coat
Image: AmazonNo matter what color nail polish you choose for your manicure or pedicure, just be sure to add an ultra-shiny top coat at the end. It’s a must to achieve the high-gloss nail looks that are so on-trend this summer — even (and especially) if your colored nail polish has a matte finish. A layer of this Glass Candy top coat easily makes any polish pop and sparkle under the sun.
Price: $10 at Amazon
The post How to Nail Your DIY Mani-Pedi With Summer 2026’s Prettiest Nail Trends appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
