Photo: Annie McElwain
Unlike edgier, more fashion-forward nail polish colors, red is at once classic, feminine, and intensely glamorous. There's just one problem: The wrong shade can make your hands look ruddy and blotchy — not the best backdrop for that stunning engagement ring you're sporting! But don't fret. With these pro tips, you'll be wearing the right red in no time.
Nail the "cool vs. warm" thing, once and for all: There are seemingly endless ways to determine whether your skin has cool or warm undertones (like that "green veins, blue veins" trick, which we still can't figure out). Luckily, Sally Hansen nail ambassador Tracylee has a much easier method figured out. "Lighter skin has cool undertones," she says. "Darker skin has warm."
After that, it's all about blue-based or orange-y reds: Light skin with cool undertones looks best in blue-based reds. (We love Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Red My Lips.) Tomato-y shades, which are sprinkled with a dash of yellow, are most flattering on darker skin with warm undertones.
See more: The 5-Step Plan For Softer, Prettier, Ring-Worthy Hands
When you've narrowed the field, test-drive your top contenders: At the salon, don't be shy about asking your manicurist to paint a few nails with different shades of red. Trust us, she'd much rather do a trial run than see you unhappy with the finished product. After all, engaged girls get lots of manis!
Keep red nails short and well-shaped: Yes, loooong red "stiletto" talons are having a moment, but brides-to-be should keep it classy. "It's best to follow the natural nail shape, which is oval or rounded," says Tracylee. "And the length that is most flattering for red is just past the fingertip. That gives nails a longer, sleeker look."