Nailed It! Top nail Trends for 2022

by Kerry Andersen

There’s nothing quite like a manicure and fresh coat of polish to boost your mood and express your inner fashion diva without making a huge investment (or commitment) to a new look. Part pampering, part fashion – nail polish always fits and is easy to switch out to match your outfit or your current vibe. If you want to branch out from your usual polish shades and inject trendy fun to your look, the top nail trends for 2022 offer something for everyone:  

Pop of Periwinkle 

Chosen as the Pantone color of the year, periwinkle is popping up everywhere! It is hands down the must try shade of 2022. Named for the lesser periwinkle plant which bears flowers of the same hue, it’s best described as a lavender blue. Periwinkle flatters all skin tones and is both sweet and versatile. 

Solar Shades 

After dreary cold months spent inside, bright nail colors are a sure-fire way to bring joy to your day while elevating your look. Sunshine filled solar inspired shades flooded the fashion runways: gold, amber, marigold, and bronze signal an end to subdued winter looks. Try fiery, fun shades of sunset red too. Think classic red nail but brighter and more fun! 

Sheer Neutrals 

Short, neat nails painted a glossy neutral shade are timeless. To elevate this classic look, ask for a soft brown shade like sand or khaki for an updated French manicure. The Milk Foam trend offers soft pink and brown shades that appear diluted with milk for a soft and sophisticated option. Envision lattes or lime sherbet on a lazy summer day. For a more interesting look, layer several milky shades on one hand. Try OPI Canyon Pink or Cactus What You Preach. 

DIY Goes Luxe

Do it yourself manicures surged in popularity during the pandemic. Press on nails continue to explode this season. The new and affordable strips are luxe, long-lasting, and mimic shiny salon results without the costly visit. Or try an at-home gel manicure. Mini starter kits by Le Mini Macaron ($35) include tiny portable LED lamps that plug into any USB outlet and cure nail polish in 30 seconds flat for results that last up to two weeks without chips. 

True Blues

Classic blue is making a comeback in nail salons this year. If you’re less comfortable with this season’s bright colors, choose a shade of blue that is trendy but a bit subdued. Navy is a more approachable way to try a darker shade while cobalt and royal blue will be a top pick for fashionistas everywhere. Bonus – classic blue tones work on fair and dark skin alike and won’t clash with your wardrobe. If you prefer pretty pastels, choose sky blue from the polish rack. 

Grown Up Glitter

80’s babies and those who embrace their inner diva rejoice – all things glitter and gold are back! Whether you call it gilded or glitzy, sparkly (square shaped) tips are trendy again. Look for more grown-up glitter that can be as simple as a shiny accent nail (or two) or a sparkly topcoat to pop against a more neutral color. For extra drama, ask for full gold foil or layer it on top of black for contrast. You can also line just the tips of your nails in shiny gold or another metallic shade. It’s your time to shine!

3D Details

Subtle is not on the menu for this fashion moment – think jewelry but for your nails. Nail techs are busy affixing shiny jewels to fingertips everywhere and even adding small gold hoops that look like tiny earrings as over the top embellishment. Prefer the more classic look of pearls? Instead of wearing them around your neck, add them to your nails as an accent to iridescent polish. Whimsical pearlcore nails have been spotted on super chic celebs around the globe. Stickers in both nostalgic and more modern graphic designs are also adding dimension and drama to nails everywhere. Bottom line – have fun! 

Dark Drama

Finally, a nail trend that never left us – black. The appeal of a deep, rich black nail is stronger than ever. Don’t be surprised to see both men and women dipping into the drama of black nails. For an unexpected alternative, brush on an earthy cocoa brown nail color to add an air of sophistication to your springtime look (think espresso and brown sugar). 

Try OPI Black Onyx or Cliffside Karaoke.