Nail Polish Colours and Colourful Nail Art Ideas
18 designs By colour Updated 8 Oct 2026
Nail polish colours outside pink, red and nude are where most of the fun is right now. Lavender, navy, mint, mustard yellow, tangerine and gold all look great on Indian skin when you pick the right depth of shade.
This gallery groups ideas by colour, and every picture has its nail length, shade names, time and a tip below it. The last section shows two colour nail art that suits fair, wheatish and deep skin. For the classic families, see our pages on pink nail art, red nail art and nude nail art.
Purple Nail Art and Lavender Nails
Purple nails range from soft lavender to deep plum. Light purple suits office days, and dark purple nail designs look rich at night.
- Length
- Short, oval
- Colours
- Pastel lavender
- Time
- 20 min, beginner
Plain pastel lavender with a high shine. One of the most popular light nail polish colors for summer.
Artist tip: Pastels can streak, so wait two minutes between thin coats.
- Length
- Long, almond
- Colours
- Plum, gold foil
- Time
- 40 min, beginner
Deep plum with flakes of gold foil. Lovely for Diwali and winter weddings.
Artist tip: Pick up gold foil with a damp toothpick and set it on sticky top coat before sealing.
- Length
- Medium, coffin
- Colours
- Lilac, violet
- Time
- 45 min, intermediate
Lilac at the cuticle fading into violet at the tip. Soft and dreamy.
Artist tip: Paint lilac and violet in two bands on a sponge, dab it on twice, then clean up the skin.
Blue, Navy and Royal Blue Nails
Navy blue nails are a calm, smart change from black. Royal blue nail art is brighter and great for parties.
- Length
- Short, square
- Colours
- Navy blue
- Time
- 25 min, beginner
Matte navy on short nails. Works like a softer black for office wear.
Artist tip: Matte top coat dulls with hand cream, so moisturise before painting, not after.
- Length
- Medium, almond
- Colours
- Royal blue, silver
- Time
- 35 min, beginner
Bright royal blue with a fine silver stripe. Cool and festive.
Artist tip: Use silver striping tape and trim it close to the free edge.
- Length
- Short, squoval
- Colours
- Sky blue, white
- Time
- 40 min, beginner
Sky blue with fluffy white clouds. Sweet for summer holidays.
Artist tip: Make each cloud from three dots of white pressed close together.
Green and Mint Nail Art
Green colour nail art is everywhere right now, from soft mint to dark emerald. Dark green suits mehndi functions.
- Length
- Medium, oval
- Colours
- Mint green, white
- Time
- 35 min, beginner
Mint green with scattered white dots. Fresh and youthful.
Artist tip: Vary dot sizes by using both ends of a dotting tool.
- Length
- Long, coffin
- Colours
- Emerald, gold
- Time
- 45 min, intermediate
Deep emerald with thin gold tips. Rich for mehndi and festive evenings.
Artist tip: Paint gold tips with a thin brush, pulling from each side to the centre.
- Length
- Short, square
- Colours
- Sage green, cream
- Time
- 40 min, beginner
Muted sage with tiny painted leaves. Calm enough for work.
Artist tip: Draw a thin stem, then add tiny leaves with a dotting tool pulled sideways.
Yellow Nail Art and Orange Nail Polish
Yellow colour nail polish and orange colour nail polish are cheerful picks for Haldi, Navratri and summer. Mustard and tangerine flatter Indian skin more than lemon yellow.
- Length
- Medium, almond
- Colours
- Mustard yellow
- Time
- 25 min, beginner
Warm mustard yellow. Perfect for the Haldi ceremony.
Artist tip: Yellow is sheer, so use a white base coat under it for true colour.
- Length
- Short, oval
- Colours
- Pastel yellow, white
- Time
- 40 min, beginner
Pastel yellow with white daisies. Bright and happy for summer.
Artist tip: Five white dots in a circle with a yellow dot centre make each daisy.
- Length
- Long, coffin
- Colours
- Tangerine, coral
- Time
- 40 min, intermediate
Tangerine with coral tips. Bold for Navratri and beach trips.
Artist tip: Tape a straight line for the tip, paint coral, then peel the tape while wet.
Gold Nail Art and Silver Nails
Gold nail art and silver nails are made for weddings and festivals. Golden colour nail art suits warm skin, and silver suits cool skin.
- Length
- Long, almond
- Colours
- Gold chrome
- Time
- 50 min, intermediate
Full metallic gold with a high shine on every nail. Bold for a wedding reception.
Artist tip: Ask for gold chrome powder over black or brown gel for the deepest shine.
- Length
- Medium, squoval
- Colours
- Nude, silver glitter
- Time
- 35 min, beginner
Silver glitter fading down over sheer nude. Sparkly and easy.
Artist tip: Sponge silver glitter polish on the tips, more at the edge.
- Length
- Short, oval
- Colours
- Nude, gold
- Time
- 30 min, beginner
Nude nails with one thin gold nail ring at the cuticle. A modern accessory look.
Artist tip: Ask for a thin metal nail ring fixed with gel, or paint a gold curve instead.
Two Colour Nail Art for Every Skin Tone
A good nail paint colour combination makes even simple nails look planned. These two colour ideas work for fair, wheatish and deep skin.
- Length
- Short, oval
- Colours
- Lilac, mint
- Time
- 25 min, beginner
Alternating lilac and mint nails. Soft pastels look best on fair skin.
Artist tip: Paint all lilac nails first, then the mint ones, to save brush cleaning.
- Length
- Medium, almond
- Colours
- Teal, mustard
- Time
- 25 min, beginner
Teal with a mustard accent nail. Warm tones glow on wheatish skin.
Artist tip: Keep the accent on the ring finger for a balanced look.
- Length
- Long, coffin
- Colours
- Cobalt, orange
- Time
- 45 min, intermediate
Cobalt blue and bright orange split on each nail. Bold colours pop on deep skin.
Artist tip: Tape a diagonal line, paint orange on one side, then cobalt on the other.
Trending Nail Polish Colors Right Now
- Soft pastels: lavender, mint, butter yellow and sky blue.
- Deep jewel tones: emerald, plum, navy and teal.
- Metallics: gold chrome, silver chrome and pearl.
Pastels suit summer and office. Jewel tones suit winter and weddings. Metallics suit festivals. Try one as a plain coat before adding art, or try chrome nails for a full metal look.
How to Pick Colours for Your Skin Tone
- Fair skin: pastels, lavender, sky blue and silver.
- Wheatish skin: teal, mustard, coral, emerald and gold.
- Dusky and deep skin: cobalt, orange, plum, bright yellow and gold.
If a pale shade looks chalky, choose one a little brighter or add shimmer.
Keeping Bright Colours Fresh
Bright shades in ordinary polish give you about a week. The gel version keeps going for two to three weeks, and acrylic or extensions stay longest with refills. Yellow, orange and blue can tint the nail, so a base coat matters here more than anywhere. Daily cooking and washing wear down the shine, and one more top coat midweek brings it back. Do a small patch test with any new product, and only use acetone with a window open. Nail pain, damage, or lifting with redness is a reason to see a dermatologist. New to all this? Start with our nail art guide.
Nail art questions
Which nail polish colours suit Indian skin?
Warm and rich shades suit most Indian skin: mustard, coral, emerald, plum, teal and gold. Fair skin also looks lovely in pastels, and deep skin looks bold in cobalt and orange.
Are purple nails good for office?
Yes. Lavender or a dark plum on short nails looks neat. Keep art small, like one accent nail.
Which yellow nail polish suits dusky skin?
Mustard and golden yellow suit dusky skin best. Very pale lemon yellow can look chalky.
What is a good nail paint colour combination?
Lilac and mint, teal and mustard, navy and gold, and cobalt and orange all work well. Pick one main colour and use the second on one or two nails.
Why do gold and chrome nail designs cost more at the salon?
Metallic chrome and foil need extra steps and material. Stones and freehand art take longer too. If you also choose extensions or want art on every finger, the set costs more.
How long do bright nail colours stay on?
Roughly one week in normal polish, and two to three weeks in gel. Acrylic outlasts both if you get refills on time. Bright shades lose shine first, so add clear top coat every third day.
