Many things can influence your choice of nail colour; the seasons, trends and your mood.
More often nail colour is matched to clothing.
The colours you wear and look good in have a lot to do with skin tone, so it makes sense that another way to tell which nail colours are right for you is by discovering what colours complement your complexion.
Pale complexions
Pale skin tones are considered a cool skin type.
Lighter shades with pink or blue undertones are best.
Pastel colours look great. Choose pinks or reds to brighten the complexion.
Choose blue-based reds. If you’re pale with a warm tone, you can even try coral reds.
If you’re very light, you want to avoid extremely dark or overpowering shades because these will make you look too pale. If you do wear a dark colour, like black, you’ll probably want to trim your nails to a shorter length.
Light complexions
If you are light (often referred to as fair), with a warm tone, you tend to have more of a variety of shades to choose from.
Cool and warm tones can wear red, but cool undertones look better in blue-based reds. Golden or peachy tones look better in red polish with yellow or orange undertones.
Tan complexions
Tanned skin looks better in warmer colours. 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 colour.
Medium or olive complexions
Medium skin tones enjoy a wide range of colours. You look good in dark burgundy and wines, vibrant colours like pink, blue, yellow and orange, silver and metallics. Medium-dark can wear black, navy blue, dark pinks or burgundy.
Olive skin has a combination of yellow undertone and greenish hue. It looks slightly beige with yellow undertones. Peach or gold colours enhance olive complexions.
Blue-based reds and orange-reds should be avoided. Olive-dark tones look great in earthy tones and chocolate browns with red undertones.
Dark complexions
Dark complexions can wear rich, deep shades, except dark brown, which will disappear. What looks great are burgundy, vibrant purples and plums.
Bright orange and pinks take the colour out of rich dark tones. Neon yellow, orange and green can be shocking in a negative sense.
Though darker shades are better, very dark tones need to be careful with deep purples, greys and black, because these shades could make the skin appear muddy and dull.
