Blue nail polish comes in every hue and shade imaginable, allowing you the opportunity to be as fierce or demure as you want. Since the craze of cobalt blue nails took over again in the last year, blues of all shades and hues have been peeking out everywhere.
Blue is intimidating – it is a very strong color and people tend to shy away from it. Shades of blue include bright neon blue that can rival any sign in Las Vegas to the deepest dark, nearly black twilight blue.
How do you make the decision on which blue nail polish color to choose? Start with the ones you genuinely believe are beautiful, then check it against your skin tone. If you’re impressed with it, it’s a good color. The next step is just deciding if the shade is right for you.
We, of course, want to help you out, so here we bring 15 of our top choices for the best blue nail polish colors to try, and some tips for nailing blue nails! Whether you want to try the blue nail trend for summer or winter, these blue nail polish colors are sure to appeal to your senses!
1. Nails Inc. Foiling in Love Nail Polish in Space Cadet
Space Cadet is the metallic sheened shade of denim blue nail polish that is a very complementary cool blue. The clever name of the brand that creates this blue nail polish makes it easy to remember. After all who will forget Foiling in Love in Space Cadet? You can wear a stunning shade of blue, and if you’re feeling gracious you can recommend this fun color to anyone who asks. Order yours from Sephora!
2. Smith & Cult Nail Lacquer in Exit the Void
If you need a soft shade of blue nail polish that isn’t faded out, it can be a pain to find, but Exit the Void by Smith & Cult is the perfect option to meet this need. It sounds like a shade of blue with a lot of pigment and it certainly holds up to expectations. The long-wear formula also has a great shine to it. Order a bottle from Nordstrom!
3. TenOverTen Nail Polish in Austin 032
If you are looking for the blue nail equivalent of light-wash denim, TenOverTen’s shade of blue named Austin is designed to be an homage to the prevailing denim culture of the city. The smooth-drying formula supports strong nail growth as you wear it. It is easy to apply and easy to remove cleanly. Pick up yours from Net-a-Porter!
4. OPI Classic Nail Lacquer in Blue My Mind
The juxtaposition of brightness on a deep color is easily noticed and effortlessly achieved with OPI’s blue nail polish in Blue My Mind. The color swathes your nails in a darker than medium shade of blue with a high shine and very cool overall brightness. You can order yours from Ulta.
5. Christian Louboutin Nail Color – The Noirs in Blanca
Christian Louboutin’s blue nail color is synonymous with quality application and long-lasting wear. The custom triangle shaped brush eases the application process and evenly applies the highly pigmented shade, which in this color is a shimmering deep blue shade of denim. The color is smooth and shiny accented perfectly with the included shimmer for an incredible finish. Order a bottle for yourself from Sephora!
6. Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Color in Sorry Not Sorry
Deborah Lippmann’s shade of blue nail polish known as Sorry Not Sorry was an Allure Best of Beauty award winner in 2018. The color is a rich, cool shade of blue that is described as a deep cobalt crème. It’s amazing and in the Gel Lab Pro Color formula it is full coverage, and long-lasting. You can order your shade of Sorry Not Sorry from Nordstrom.
7. Burberry Beauty Nail Polish in Imperial Blue No 429
Burberry Beauty’s blue nail polish is a shade designed to mimic the color of classic blue jeans. The glossy finish that is inherent to Burberry Beauty nail polishes really makes the soft medium blue color shine after application. Considered a runway shade, this blue nail polish shines for a good amount of time thanks to the long-wear formula. You can order a bottle from Net-a-Porter.
8. Essie Nail Polish in Blue-Tiful Horizon
Essie’s nail polish is relatively popular because it has a reliable formula and strong bright colors, one of which is Blue-Tiful Horizon. This particular shade of blue nail polish is a trendy mix of medium blue with an iridescent quality that makes the color seem to shift. This blue nail polish is chip-resistant and long-lasting as well as a fan favorite. Order yours now at Ulta!
9. Dior Vernis Gel Shine & Long Wear Nail Lacquer in Junon
Dior’s first couture gel-effect nail polish is this lacquer. The formula is designed to provide intense vibrant color, in this case a bright light blue color reminiscent of the sky. The ideal amount per application is a single sweep, as the color is full coverage and the ideal consistency. Even though this blue nail polish is made in France you can order or pick up a bottle for yourself from Nordstrom.
10. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Sugar Fix
Designed to give you the same quality, high-shine salon look at home, this blue nail polish by Sally Hansen is a 2-step gel manicure system that doesn’t need a UV light to cure. You get a high shine of the soft light blue known as Sugar Fix with an easy at-home application. It is a highly pigmented blue nail polish that can be worn reliably without fear of being boring. Order yours from Ulta!
11. Zoya Nail Lacquer in River
If you’re looking for a glittering medium shade of blue, check out Zoya’s nail lacquer in River. Described as a shimmer light cobalt blue, this is the shade you want when you want equal parts shimmer and shine in your blue manicure. Order your bottle of River blue online from Ulta!
12. Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Bleu Trompeur
Bleu Trompeur is a rich shade of deep blue nail color in Chanel’s well-known long-wear nail lacquer line. The formula includes bioceramics and ceramides for enrichment designed to strengthen your nails as you wear it. Tis blue nail polish color is the perfect shade of blue right between medium and dark blue. The color is very pigmented and can be perfectly applied over a primer with just two coats and a top coat. You can order yours from Nordstrom.
13. Ella + Mila Nail Polish in Blindfold Me
Ella + Mila’s Blindfold Me is the ideal medium dark blue for easy wear in a strong color. When used with the base and top coat, this blue nail polish can easily last up to 10 days without the color fading or washing out. If you want to try a medium blue that isn’t too intimidating, this is the color to choose. You can order yours online at Ulta.
14. YSL La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer in Bleu Majorelle
Bleu Majorelle is the perfect light shade of blue that still contains a “pow” of pigment. This isn’t a washed-out blue hue, it’s a fun, bright shade of blue nail polish that is designed for optimal long wear. You can order a bottle for yourself from Nordstrom.
15. Oribe Nail Lacquer in Deep Teal
The Oribe nail lacquer in Deep Teal is a glamorously deep blue nail color. The packaging itself is gorgeous but the depth of color and the long-wear, chip-proof shine are everything you want from an impressive blue nail polish. You typically only need 2 coats of this full-coverage Shade Lock technology-employing nail polish. Pick it up online at Net-a-Porter!
Photos via Sephora, Nordstrom