In my humble (and manicure-obsessed) beauty editor opinion, summer is the best time of year to experiment with fun, vibrant nail polish shades. Even if you’re usually devoted to a classic nude or minimalist manicure, there’s something about the season that makes a pop of color feel right.
To help you get ready for all your June plans—whether that means attending an outdoor wedding, lounging at the beach, or simply soaking up the sunshine—I rounded up the best nail colors to try this month. From trending butter yellow to playful summer pinks, there’s no shortage of nail colors to choose from. Better yet, I found the perfect polish picks to help you recreate each look at home.
Ahead, all the best June nail polish colors to try for your summer manicure.
1. Popsicle Pink
This nostalgic shade reminds me of melting popsicles and sticky fingers during childhood beach days. Essie’s Throw in the Towel is a sorbet-esque pink shade that’s perfectly chic for an early summer manicure. It toes the line between red and pink, like a mid-day strawberry ice pop.
2. Poolside Blue
Match your mani to your pool days with this bright blue hue. The aquamarine shade is the epitome of a warm, sweaty day spent on a float while soaking up the sun (with tons of SPF, of course) in a bikini. It’s the color of tropical waves and a refreshing dip in the pool, thus the color of pure summer.
3. Butter Yellow
Butter yellow was trending for spring and is taking over our fingertips for the summer season, too. Go for the classic yellow mani with OPI’s Buttafly, or top it off with some chrome for a reflective finish.
4. Cheeky Coral
Coral is one of the best colors for flattering sun-kissed skin and matching the vibes of tropical getaways. Just imagine your pinky-orange fingertips holding a fruity drink of choice while relaxing during a chill pool day.
5. Creamy Lilac
Essie’s Go Ginza is my favorite summer polish of all time. If you want something slightly more summery than your classic Ballet Slippers, it’s the perfect blend of pastel pink and purple. It also looks great peaking through your summer sandals for a matching pedicure.
Why Trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things nails. For this story, she compiled all the trending manicure colors and found the best nail polish shades to try them out.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.