We're Bored of These 5 "Dated" Summer Nail Trends—These 5 Are What We're Requesting Instead
"I have long loved a glossy chocolate brown on my toes for summer, there's always been something so cool and sort of bohemian about it," says Who What Wear UK beauty director, Shannon Lawlor. "But with woven and mesh ballet flats being my summer footwear of choice, a few weeks ago I thought I'd consider a cool-toned, bright, poppy red instead to peep through—and ever since I've felt like a new woman," she says. "There is something so fresh about a bright red pedi and with sheer shoes being the footwear of choice for summer 2025, it's time to make slightly bolder pedicure choices!"
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“I love white nails for summer, but this year I’m favouring soft, milky shades over stark white nail polishes," says Who What Wear UK junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay. "Not only do milky nails flatter my skin tone a lot more, but they are bang on trend for the upcoming season."
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"While I love a red nail polish as much as the next person, this summer I’ve found myself wearing a lot of neutrals and want a softer manicure to complement my wardrobe," says Lindsay. "Enter, red jelly nails. This sheer, glossy polish manages to deliver a more subtle hint of colour while still looking impossibly chic."
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As for myself, I'm getting a little bored seeing chrome, glazed doughnut nail finishes everywhere I go (and as someone who can't wear gel nails due to an allergy, I've never been able to achieve the chrome look with regular nail polish anyway). Instead, I've been leaning more towards sheer polishes with a subtle shimmer this season. They have the same vibe as chrome nails, but the overall effect is far softer. Think the subtle sheen you see inside seashells—that's the vibe I want to capture for my manicures for summer 2025.
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I was never been lucky enough to carry off neon nails when they were popular during the 2010s, but I feel like the neon trend is staying firmly in the past decade anyway—for now, at least. Instead, I'm embracing colour through bright colours in more muted tones. Think pistachio, burnt orange and cobalt blue. They're still playful and summery, but a lot more wearable (and won't glow in the dark!)
Shop Muted Bright Nail Polishes:
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