There are some of life’s moments where you want your hands and nails to look as good as humanly possible, and one of those is your wedding day. If you choose to get married and are into nails, I can bet that your manicure is almost as important as your outfit for the day.
Whilst I’m not a bride, I can’t get enough of probing brides-to-be and happily married folk about what their manicure looked like on their big day. There’s something about a set of classic French or an immaculate neutral that has me swooning. The same goes for bridal nail art — I adore the dainty florals, elegant gold foils, and glistening chromes.
As a nail tech, despite having a vast collection of polishes, I’m always on the lookout for a new perfect neutral pink shade. So it’s only natural that I was curious what the most popular bridal nail shades were so that (selfishly) I can work my way through trying them — and hopefully inspire you!
Unsurprisingly, it’s the nudes and pinks that take the top prize for most in-demand shades and the reason is pretty simple: “They’re so popular because they’re timeless,” says London-based minimal manicurist Alyx Lippiatt.
“You’ll never regret going with a natural, subtle finish, but you might regret a more bold choice in the future when your tastes could change,” she adds. On top of that, you’ll be able to eke out a few more precious days with a natural mani. “The growth on a sheer manicure is also a lot less obvious so it works well for people having their bridal mani a little earlier than planned, for a destination wedding, for example.”
Of course, for the nail art girlies, there’s plenty of options to still keep your nails feeling classic whilst still adding a bit of personality and flair.
If you are a bride-to-be, Juanita Huber-Millet, founder and creative director at Townhouse recommends booking a trial a few months in advance (just like you do with makeup) to make sure you’re “happy with the length, shape and colour, and avoid any disappointment at the last minute.” If you’re on a nail growth mission, you’d be surprised how easy it is to do with a nail tech’s expertise and products like builder in a bottle.
Whether you’re getting married or not, here are the most popular bridal nail shades, according to top salons and nail pros, to inspire your next manicure.
1. Biosculpture Lyrics of a Lily
“Sheer nudes are without a doubt my most requested for wedding nails. Some brides also choose to add a white tip to their sheer nude of choice for a classic french manicure finish,” says Alyx.
Biosculpture Lyrics of a Lily, £12, Biosculpture is exactly that. It’s for the ‘no-polish polish’ lovers and suits all skin tones beautifully.
2. OPI Baby Take a Vow
“An obvious choice for me is OPI’s Baby Take a Vow, £16.90, OPI; I mean, it says it in the name,” says manicurist Iram Shelton. “This is a beautiful neutral pink shade that can be worn alone or as a base for a French manicure — it’s always a winner for brides.”
To take it up a level, ask your nail artist to apply gold transfer foil to create this golden edging for an elegant finish, like Iram has done here.
3. Essie Mademoiselle
If you’re not a fan of gel manicures or are opting to do your nails at home, Alyx says Essie’s Mademoiselle, £8.99, Boots is ideal. For this one, you’ll have to be patient to build up the layers to achieve an opaque finish. But the result is well worth it!
4. OPI Kyoto Pearl
Chrome powders and pearlescent finishes are a great way to still keep your manicure feeling timeless but with a modern twist. This creation is by Iram who used OPI Funny Bunny, £13.50, Boots and added a mix of OPI Kyoto Pearl, £14.90, Lookfantastic to leave a pearlescent finish.
“It looks great on all skin tones and especially at destination weddings where the sun is shining!”
Juanita also loves this finish. “For those brides who want to add a little touch of glamour to their nails, a soft chrome finish or delicate nail art accent is the perfect choice.”
5. The Gel Bottle BIAB 19 Nude
If you’re looking to grow out your nails or add strength to them, builder in a bottle is a smart way to go. The Gel Bottle has you covered with plenty of stunning neutral shades to choose from. I particularly love 19 Nude BIAB, £20.39, The Gel Bottle with a classic French manicure design.
The Gel Bottle founder Daisy Kalnina notes that shade 19 (as well as 16, 17, 18 and 20) look really pretty applied as two thin layers.
6. Hermès Rose Coquille
Another great option for the regular nail polish fans is Hermès Rose Coquille, £45, Hermès. “This is a beautiful natural milky nude shade that is perfect for those who are looking for something on their nails without having to worry about visiting a salon to get it removed,” says Iram. “It also comes in beautiful glass packaging, which I think is a great keepsake to remember the wedding!”
7. OPI Bubble Bath
Iram also loves OPI Bubble Bath, £14.90, Boots. “This is a no brainer for me. I wear this shade all year round and I can’t get enough of it. If you’re a bride who is looking for a pink nude, this is perfect!” she says.
Juanita echoes this: “One of my favourite combinations for brides is a layering of OPI’s Love is in the Bare, £24.95, Nailpolishdirect and Bubble Bath — the colour is simply stunning!”
8. The Gel Bottle Marshmallow
“The ‘no-makeup makeup’ trend, but for your nails,” says Daisy. “This look enhances the natural beauty of your nails, giving them a very fresh, effortless, clean finish.”
Both The Gel Bottle’s Marshmallow, £14.50, The Gel Bottle and Au Naturel, £14.50, The Gel Bottle, are perfect for this.
9. Chanel Ballerina
Another absolute classic is Chanel’s Ballerina, £29, Chanel. “If a bride wants her nails done but doesn’t want gel or acrylic, this is a great option,” says Iram.
“When paired with the Chanel Le Gel Coat, £25, Harrods, it gives the same result as a gel manicure but is easier to maintain and manage at home without having to go to a salon,” she adds.
10. The Gel Bottle BIAB Dreamer
“Milky nails are quite popular at the moment and I think they look really beautiful for wedding manicures,” says Iram.
“Milky shades look so beautiful on darker skin tones,” adds Alyx. “I like to layer different shades to find the perfect one for each bride – a more prescriptive manicure!”
I think The Gel Bottle BIAB Dreamer, £16.99, The Gel Bottle, looks stunning for this trend.
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