Hands up if you’ve ever felt the stress of picking a nail polish colour at your mani appointment? 
That’s okay – it happens to the best of us. And, whilst we fully believe that nothing lifts the spirits quite like a fresh mani (okay, maybe chocolate, but other than that – nothing), knowing what you want, or what’s *in* when it comes to nail polish colours isn’t always easy.
Luckily, as die-hard mani lovers, we’ve been on the lookout for our next nail crushes – to make your choice that little bit easier.
This year, we’re loving:
- Pantone’s Very Peri
- Pearl and mother of pearl effects
- Metallic polishes
- Shades of green (Quetzal green, espesh)
- Salted Caramel
- Any and all shades of blue
- Neon red
- Neutral nude
- Sunshine yellow
- Pacific Pink
Yep, we’ll be wearing these polish colours throughout spring/summer 2022. Read why (and get your fix of inspo) below.
By Beth Ryan
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1 Very PeriPantone has declared that 2022 will be the year of 'Very Peri' – a lush shade of periwinkle with blue, violet, and red undertones – that represents "carefree confidence". Frankly, we’re already obsessed. Block colour, french tips, or nail art – anything goes.
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2 Pearl
Pearls are everywhere right now. From pearl-encrusted hairstyles to Euphoria-esque bedazzled eye make-up – we can’t wait to add it to our mani’s too. Go for pale shades of pink, milky shades of white, and anything in between – for a mani that could give your granny’s necklace a run for its money (in a good way).
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3 Metallics
The runways of fashion week called it – metallic mani’s are back. Chrome finishes, mirror effects – the shinier, the better. Dua Lipa is a fan (and so are we). Silver and rose gold are great options, but our fave? Classic gold – (still) the jewellery colour of choice for 2022.
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4 Quetzal Green
Deep forest and sage green are still go-to looks, but the newest green trend takes it up a notch. Quetzal green is a bright, tropical shade – a nod to the emerald plumage of the sacred Mayan bird. It’s fun, cheerful, and adds a bit of exoticism to your mani.
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5 Salted Caramel
The chocolate browns of 2021 have had an even sweeter update – with caramel, hazelnut, and toffee tones taking over. Sounds delicious, looks delicious, and looks good with everything.
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6 (Any) blue
We’d love to tell you that there’s one shade of blue that will rule this year, but the truth is – 2022 is full of em’. From navy to baby, through to Gucci’s favourite: cobalt. Having a hard time choosing? Go for a gradient of shades across your nails.
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7 Neon red
Somewhere between coral, orange, and a classic Marylin red – neon red is a 2022 twist on the classic. Perfect for sunny days, beach hols, and for combining with a red lip (once we can get rid of our masks, that is).
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8 Neutral nude
As the name suggests, this is the most neutral shade there is. Nude colours as close as possible to your own skin tone create a sophisticated, clean, and clear look.
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9 Sunshine yellow
According to Pantone – 2022 will be full of colours that convey joy. And honestly – is there anything more joyous than a sunny shade of yellow? Yep, marigold manis will be everywhere this year – the perfect way to add a bit of cheer to your look.
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10 Pacific Pink
Pink is always a winner, and 2022’s fave shade is the soft and serene ‘Pacific Pink’. The pretty polish goes perfectly with some of our fave fashion trends of the year (thinks greens & browns) and incorporates soothing and romantic tones. And, let’s face it – we could all do with a sense of peace and harmony this year.
