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How to choose the color of nail polish for pedicure?
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025

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There are a great many colors of pedicure polish. It is easy to get lost among this variety. Moreover, the color of pedicure polish can depend on the time of day, the purpose (formal, romantic, business), the season, and finally, the symbolism of the colors. How to choose the right color of pedicure polish?
Base clear coat of varnish
The base coat is a clear nail polish that is specifically designed to strengthen nails. Although this pedicure nail polish may look like any other top coat, the base coat has a unique chemical composition for a smooth manicure or pedicure. Applying a base coat will prevent the base pedicure nail polish from peeling.
Applying the base coat directly to your nails can cause it to chip and look unsightly. The base coat polishes the surface of the nails and uses specialized products that are good for the other ingredients in the base coat. As the solvents evaporate during the application of the pedicure polish, the other ingredients adhere well to the nail.
Properties
The ingredients of the coloring polish in a pedicure quickly penetrate the base coat and hold on better. The natural cellulose fibers in the base coat can help it adhere well to the nail bed, smooth out tiny cracks and unevenness. In addition, the top layer of cellulose fibers is receptive to the color of the base coat, providing priming for the nails.
The nail bed on the toes is subject to many movements during the working day. Especially if the person is wearing shoes. The base coat in a pedicure adds plasticizers that provide protection to the nails. Changes in temperature and movement require the application of a mandatory base coat to provide good protection against chipping of the varnish.
Peculiarities
Colored varnishes have different ingredients based on the need for pigment selection. Each pigment has its own unique chemical composition, which requires different mixture combinations for plasticizers, cellulose and solvent. Such varnishes are designed to focus on chemical harmony and enhancing the functionality of the varnish, rather than the aesthetics of the coloring.
Using a base coat during a pedicure does not guarantee that your nails are protected from damage by chemicals that may be in the color polish. The main function of a base coat during a pedicure is to cover and protect your nails from chipping, but it does not prevent allergic reactions and irritation from poor-quality color polish. Color polish usually has strong chemical bases that can irritate the sensitive nail bed and cuticle tissue during a pedicure.
Best Nail Polish Shades
There are thousands of nail polish shades available when it comes to choosing a color. It should best match your skin tone and pedicure style. This may not be as easy as it may seem at first glance. Most people are drawn to nail polish colors that look good on them. But what does pedicure polish have to do with skin tone? But you wouldn’t use pedicure polish and manicure polish of different shades. They should be the same, in the same style. Therefore, manicure and pedicure polish are selected to match the skin tone of the face.
If you have a warm skin tone, you will probably choose nail polish with orange undertones. Cool skin tones are less common, but if you have this skin tone, blue nail polish will be the most attractive. There are also mid-tone nail polish colors that have an equal balance of warm and cool undertones, which are suitable for people with any skin tone.
The Best Winter Pedicure Shades
While the summer months usually call for light, fruity shades or beach-inspired tones, winter is the perfect season for darker or more metallic nail polish colors. Choosing the best winter nail polish shades for a pedicure depends on a number of different factors, including personal preference, your skin tone, and your wardrobe. The color of your winter nail polish also depends on whether you decide to follow the season's fashion trends or establish your own style.
If you want to stay up to date with pedicure trends, keep in mind that they change every year, the nail polish that was popular last winter may not be as popular this year.
There are many ways to stay up to date with the latest trends, including reading magazines, watching celebrity news to see what the hottest stars are wearing and what shades of polish they prefer, and finally, asking a professional at a beauty salon for their opinion. If fashion trends aren't important to you, there are many more options for pedicure polish.
Red
Red is a classic winter nail polish that rarely goes out of style. There are many different shades of red, and finding the right shade depends on your skin tone. If you're a fair-skinned woman, stick to shades that have pink undertones when getting a pedicure, like a very ripe strawberry. Shades of red with orange, like rust, look best on brunettes with dark skin.
Dark
A very dark, almost black nail polish color may seem out of place in the hot summer sun, but it is much more acceptable in the winter. Almost any skin tone can be paired with dark nail polish colors, but keep in mind that they tend to make pale skin look even paler. These shades are best for going out for a night out, but they are not suitable for professional settings.
Metallic
Metallic colors like silver and gold are popular for winter holidays, especially when paired with a black dress. When choosing a metallic nail polish, keep in mind that your accessories should not clash with the color of the polish. For example, if you wear gold or gold-plated jewelry, gold nail polish may be the best choice. If you mix silver and gold, the same color polish is usually good for your nails.
Changing the color of your pedicure polish is easy, experiment with the many different shades of winter nail polish until you find the one that best suits your personality and preferences.
Pros and Cons of Dark Nail Polish
Dark nail polish can be a flamboyant fashion statement. It usually looks great on short nails. It is important to note that this type of nail polish may be inappropriate in some situations. For example, in a business setting.
This type of polish has seen its share of ups and downs in the fashion world. Generally, dark nail polish is now considered acceptable, even fashionable. Regardless of style, most women can look good when choosing dark nails. Although black nail polish is often chosen for Halloween or gothic style, it is important to keep the nails the right length and shape to avoid looking like a ghost of the night.
Girls with short nails usually look better when they choose dark nail polish. Some experts think that the trend of dark polish on long nails looks a little strange. In addition, many experts recommend applying dark polish to slightly rounded nails.
Matte nail polish
Matte nail polish is a type of non-shiny polish. Most nail polishes have a shiny base, but matte nail polish tends to make your nails look very flat and smooth. Matte polish can come in any color, but the most popular shades tend to be dark. Although women generally like non-matte polishes, they use dark shades of matte polishes to look fashionable.
Matte nail polish for pedicure is not a new invention in the field of nail care. But it still remains at the peak of fashion, especially business.
Peculiarities
Drying times for each matte polish vary greatly, meaning that using a fast-drying matte topcoat with a slow-drying base coat can prevent the polish from peeling.
The purpose of the base coat is to protect and strengthen natural nails during a pedicure. The purpose of matte polish is to be well fixed on the base coat. A distinctive feature of matte coatings is the absolute absence of the shine typical of polish. As a rule, matte polishes for pedicure and manicure are distinguished by a very fast drying time. Matte polishes are usually applied in one layer.
Glitter nails help to look more feminine, so women who cover their nails with glitter polish tend to use it more for parties. Matte polish has a more subtle and professional look than glitter polish, it is used for business dinners, office work, business meetings.
Semi-matte nail polish for pedicures is also a good alternative for those who want to try the matte trend. This polish lasts longer on the nails than glitter.
What is matte pedicure polish?
Matte nail polish contains ingredients that reflect or absorb light. For example, glossy pedicure polish reflects light and gives the nail surface a glossy, shiny appearance. Conversely, a matte pedicure finish makes the nail appear flatter.
Matte nail polish on top of the base coat is used to seal and protect the nails and prevent sloppy manicures. Matte polish provides sealing and protection, but only if the woman is wearing open-toed shoes. However, the matte trend is considered somewhat more fashionable than shiny.
The advantage of matte polish for pedicures is that it can be used to even out the surface of any type of nails. When matte polish is applied over glossy polish, the result is somewhere between satin and matte, depending on the quality of the base and top coat.
Matte polishes for pedicures sometimes tend to be thick in appearance. Applications of matte polish – you can use it to create artistic nails where matte and glossy finishes alternate. For example, a modern French manicure can be achieved by applying matte nail polish in any combination of colors. Applying different polishes in several layers can open up endless creative possibilities for different pedicure styles. If you have acrylic or gel artificial nails, rest assured that you can use matte polish on them and it will look beautiful.
Cracked nail polish
This is a type of polish that helps in pedicure to get a stunning artistic effect from the application. It destroys the surface of the previous polish, and these patterns give a magnificent effect. Unlike regular polishes, cracking nail polish has a formula that destroys the layer of another polish to cracks during pedicure.
Many cosmetic brands have many versions of cracked nail polish structures in a variety of colors. Most nail polishes are very similar to regular nail polish in its liquid form. The special formula for cracking makes this nail polish not compatible with all nail polishes. Therefore, when it dries, the effect can be as if someone scratched your nails. Through these cracks, the base coat of polish is visible.
Peculiarities
Using crackle nail polish for a pedicure is quite simple, especially considering how beautiful the resulting manicure and pedicure can be. First, regular, non-crackle polishes should be applied to clean, neat nails. Any nail length is acceptable for this process. It is recommended that the base color contrasts significantly with the color of the crackle nail polish, as this will make the cracks more visible. More subtle effects, however, can be achieved by repeating a base color similar or adjacent to the color of the crackle polish.
The best way to deal with chipped nail polish on a pedicure is to apply it in one thin coat. It is important to apply a good protective top coat over the chipped nail polish once it has dried. The polish can chip if not sealed properly, which will ultimately make your nails look sloppy.
With so many beauty brands that make crackle polishes, it's hard to pick a favorite. But you should remember that the texture of the base coat usually doesn't affect the crackle polish. This means that matte polish, metallic polish, and glitter polish are all acceptable options to use under the crackle polish.