5 Pastel Nail Colors That Sing Spring, From Powder Lavender to Muted Mint

Spring doesn’t just bring new flower buds and rain. It also brings light, airy nail colours that replace the dark reds and berries of winter.

“Pastels come back every spring, but the way we wear them changes all the time,” says professional nail artist Olha Shtanhei. “Modern pastels are a little muted, and their bases can be grey, milky, or powdery.” This season, we’re seeing softer shades with cool undertones instead of sugary, candy-like colours. Instead of a bright candy colour, think of a milky pink or an ice blue. Instead of a bright candy colour, think of a soft, ethereal lavender with a lot of grey to ground it. Loi Lien, a celebrity nail artist, says that this season, even brighter, more fun colours like mint green feel more refined than usual because of the semi-sheer, milky finishes.

Not all pastel nail polishes are the same, though. “Pastels are hard to work with. Shtanhei says, “They show every brushstroke and uneven layer, unlike deeper shades.” “A truly strong pastel formula should give you clean, refined pigment without chalkiness and smooth application that levels itself without streaks.”

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Here are the best pastel nail colours that professionals recommend, along with the polishes they always use.

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Meet the expert: Loi Lien is a famous nail artist who works for Exclusive Artists.

Olha Shtanhei is a professional nail artist from around the world and a judge at nail art competitions.

01 of 05 Lavender Powder

Shtanhei says, “This shade bridges classic pastel and modern neutral.” It shows off manicured hands with almond-shaped nails painted in a light colour on a reflective surface. “It’s soft but has depth, and the violet colour is deep enough to feel planned instead of too delicate.” She suggests Cirque Colours Lavender Sky, a milky polish that works well for “layered effects [or] soft gradients.” Lien suggests DND Lilac Clouds for a gel manicure at home. It’s a sheer, romantic colour that is almost blush.

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02 of 05 Dusty Peach

Hands with long peach nails and gold rings. “This isn’t a sweet peach.” Shtanhei says, “It’s a softened, slightly neutralised peach that almost melts into the skin, making a refined glow effect.” Look for a sheer finish to go with an ombré French tip, like Essie’s Skinny Dip, or choose a creamy, opaque nude that has a balance of pink and peach.

03 of 05 Ice Blue Pale blue nails

This spring, blues will sound calm and soothing. For the most modern look, choose colours that are close to white or grey, like the colour of light-wash denim. Shtanhei says that Mineral Fusion Take it Easy is the best “balanced blue-gray” and that Static Nails Liquid Glass Lacquer in Cotton Candy is “a milky, slightly greyed baby blue that feels minimal yet fashion-forward.”

04 of 05 Rose Milk

Square nails in a light pink colour Pale pink nails will never go out of style, especially if you choose a sheer, milky colour. For a “soft, clean-girl aesthetic,” Lien says you can’t go wrong with OPI Nail Lacquer in I’m a Bubble Bunny, which is a mix of the popular nail colours Bubble Bath and Funny Bunny.

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05 of 05 Muted Mint.

Short mint green square nails on blue jeans Martini green might have gotten us through the winter, but mint is here to stay this spring. Shtanhei says to stay away from neon colours and instead likes “a subtle, airy green” with cool undertones. Lien likes the Chaun Legend UV Gel Nail Polish in Mint Condition because he says it has enough colour for a French tip design with just one coat.

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