NaillyNude nails are the quiet classic: they make fingers look longer, go with every outfit and grow out without an obvious gap. The secret is that "nude" means your nude, not the one in the photo.
How to find your nude
- Fair skin, cool undertone: sheer pink, soft rose, pale mauve.
- Fair to light skin, warm undertone: peach, light beige, apricot.
- Medium or olive skin: warm beige, dusty rose, light caramel.
- Brown skin: caramel, toffee, cinnamon or rose-brown.
- Deep skin: mocha, chocolate, espresso or deep rose-brown.
The rule of thumb: a nude one or two shades away from your skin looks intentional; an exact match can look washed out. Not sure of your undertone? See nail colours for your skin tone.
Sheer or opaque?
Sheer nudes (a "your nails but better" look) are forgiving and grow out invisibly. Opaque nudes look more polished and hide uneven nail colour, but show chips more. Milky nails sit in between.
Nude nail designs
- Nude with glitter: a glitter fade from the tip or one glitter accent nail.
- Nude with chrome: a pearl or glazed chrome over a nude base, like the glazed donut look.
- Nude French: a white, black or coloured tip on a nude base. See French tip variations.
- Minimal line art: one thin line, a dot or a tiny heart on a few nails.
- Single gem at the cuticle of the ring finger.
Shape and length
Nude shades flatter every shape, but almond and oval make fingers look longest. Short squoval nudes look clean and practical. More on shapes in our nail shape guide.
Want to see it before you book? Design the exact set in Nailly — shape, length, colour, finish and art on every finger — then send it to a real nail artist in your city who can claim it and book you. Live on the App Store for the US and Canada; everything is open for your first week, then it is one monthly membership.
Questions people ask
How do I choose a nude nail color?
Pick a shade one or two tones lighter or darker than your skin, matched to your undertone. Pinkish nudes suit cool undertones; peachy and beige nudes suit warm ones.
What nude nail color suits brown skin?
Caramel, toffee, mocha and warm rose-brown nudes usually look best on brown and deep skin. Very pale beige can look chalky.
Are nude nails professional?
Yes. Nude nails are one of the most office-friendly choices and grow out discreetly.
What designs go with nude nails?
Glitter fades, chrome powder, micro French tips, single gems and fine line art all work well on a nude base.
Keep exploring: Nailly for beginners · The best nail design apps, compared · The Best App to Show Your Nail Tech What You Want · Nail glossary