Photo: Todd Huffman
Ready to show off that gorgeous new engagement ring? Nudge yourself out of your color comfort zone with a cool new nail polish shade for your first mani as bride to be.
If you wear classic red, try boysenberry. "Boysenberry is really romantic," says Gina Carney, founder of indie nail brand RGB. "It's slightly vintage, a little Dita Von Teese."
By Terry Terrybly in #5 Trafalgar Red, $30, available at Barney's New York; Tom Ford in Plum Noir, $32, available at Nordstrom
Photo: Todd Huffman
If you wear nude, try rich cocoa-mauve. This new hue—taupe to the nth degree, but with violet undertones--looks incredible on olive skin, says Carney.
Nostalgia, $18, Jin Soon; Mink Muffs, $8.50, Essie
Photo: Todd Huffman
If you wear clear (or nothing), try ladylike dove gray. This soft neutral is an easy way to inch into color, not to mention a perfect complement to an ivory gown.
Deborah Lippmann Hard Rock Hydrating Hardener, $20, available at Nordstrom; #390 Audacious Asphalt, $3.99, Maybelline
Photo: Todd Huffman
If you wear pale pink, try opaque white. More fashion forward than its sheer cousin, this clean shade is a red-carpet fave du jour.
Sally Hansen in Arm Candy, $7.99, available at Ulta; I Will, $3.99, L'Oréal Paris
Photo: Todd Huffman
If you wear sky blue try classy-meets-edgy navy. Long dagger nails may be having a moment, but if you're joining the navy, keep 'em short.
Blu, $8, Zoya; OPI in Incognito in Sausalito, $9, available at Ulta
Plus! Here's how to make your mani last:
1 Bring your own lacquer. Some nail salons stretch their polishes by thinning them with acetone.
2 At home, try to use base and top coat from the same brand. "They're formulated to work together," says Carney.
3 No matter how rushed you are, sit still for two coats of color. Trust us, that dazzler on your ring finger is worth the extra down time.
4 Post mani, steer clear of hot water. Lacquer needs 12 hours to harden, and heat is a big no-no.