Every time fall comes around all we want to do is cover ourselves in orange, from orange nail polish to orange clothing and makeup. Each season has its own color palette and for fall it is all around burnt reds, mustard yellows and orange hues, and this nature-inspired color palette has dripped its way into manicure trends.
Orange is a more versatile color than most people expect it to be. It can range from smokey burnt shades to pastel salmon colors and bright pops of citrus. Not only does it represent our natural autumnal surroundings, but also it embraces this season’s ‘70s safari trend.
We have put together a bright list of the best orange nail polish colors to try not only in fall, but also summer, as well as a beauty guide that will help you pick the best orange nail color for your skin tone to rock orange nails with confidence.
In this article:
- Our Picks of the Best Orange Nail Polish Colors
- How to Choose the Best Orange Nail Polish Color for Your Skin Tone
Our Picks of the Best Orange Nail Polish Colors
Since orange is the new black, here are our favorite orange nail polish colors to try this fall!
1. Christian Louboutin Nail Polish in Crosta Meteor
Inspired by Voodoo, the 2012 Crazy Horse cabaret show that Christian Louboutin choreographed, this neon orange nail polish is created to deliver a high impact pop of color in one coat. The stiletto-shaped bottle has a weighted cap for ultimate comfort and control when painting your nails. Pick it up from Net-a-Porter!
2. Dior Vernis Gel Shine & Long Wear Nail Lacquer in 531 Hot
Dior reinvents the gel-effect nail polish with this orange nail polish color with a gold metallic sheen. Enriched with organic silicon, this lacquer not only looks stunning but also strengthens the nail surface for extended wear. This polish is also formulated without all the bad toxins that damage your nails, for a smooth and shiny finish.
The metallic finish in this orange nail lacquer is more like a sheen rather than a high impact glitter, so this is perfect for those people who don’t want to wear a matte or cream polish but still want a wearable day-to-day shade. You can grab a bottle at Nordstrom.
3. OPI Classic Nail Polish in Hot & Spicy
Hot & Spicy is a slightly more coral toned shade of orange nail color but it’s a perfect transitional color between summer and fall, as it sits between watermelon and pumpkin. This is the perfect orange nail color for those with medium skin tones who don’t want a neon orange nail, but will appear a bold almost neon coral on paler skin tones.
High impact with only 2 coats, OPI’s expert formula is chip-resistant and long-lasting with many of the brand’s fans reporting 2 weeks of glossy chip-free nails. One of the brightest and best orange nail polish colors, this option is available for purchase at Ulta.
4. Base Coat Nail Polish in Leo
Created by women who want to make the healthiest polish possible, Base Coat’s Leo shade is a bold salmon orange crème nail color. Fear not if looking at the bottle scares you – the color is more salmon toned on the nails and not nearly as yellow as it appears in the bottle. Not only toxin-free, but also gluten-free and vegan, this orange nail polish color is a stunning all-year-round tone of orange you can take from fall to spring. You can pick up this bottle from Nordstrom.
5. Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish in Hot Child In The City
This bright hue of orange nail polish is perfect for those who want to replace the classic red nail color with something bolder and edgier. Deborah Lippmann’s polishes are a healthier alternative to a gel manicure, without having to use a UV lamp or suffer the nail damage it often causes. It applies as a classic toxin-free crème formula but has a much longer-lasting life than other crème polishes. You can find this wearable orange nail color at Net-a-Porter.
6. Essie Nail Polish in Tart Deco
Tart Deco is a ladylike crème coral that leans more towards orange on fair skin tones and has a striking matte finish. This orange nail polish color is a unique cross between peach and bright orange, and will look amazing on all skin tones. For fans of Essie’s Peach Side Babe, this has a similar effect but is more pink toned and less peachy. Available at Ulta, this shade will work better for light to medium skin tones.
7. Christian Louboutin Nail Polish in Escatin
Louboutin’s nail polishes are high-end, long-wearing and chip-resistant with highly pigmented glossy finishes, and UV protection that will keep your nails strong. Their unique short bristle brush will prevent air bubbles with just two coats needed for the full effect. This orange nail polish color is a little deeper than Crosta Meteor but the unique yellow tones will add a bright punch to any look. You can find it for sale at Sephora.
8. TenOverTen Nail Polish in Cliff 040
Cliff 040 is a deep orange rust hue that will look stunning on any skin tone. This formula is great for those with weak nails that have a tendency to split and break. This shade is TenOverTen’s best-selling polish and is the perfect accompaniment for fall’s safari beauty trend. This orange nail polish is vegan-friendly and cruelty-free, free of any harsh chemicals so the polish will do no damage to your nails. Get it now at Net-a-Porter!
9. Londontown Lakur Nail Polish in Camden Chic
Londontown Lakur works to prevent nail breakage and splits. The brand not only offers a glossy finish to the nail but also is non-carcinogenic, non-toxic and paraben-free, vegan, gluten-free and cruelty-free. A true citrus orange shade, this is a bright bold statement that makes a great modern alternative to the classic pin-up red. You can find this bright orange nail color at Neiman Marcus.
10. Smith & Cult Nail Polish in Tang Bang
This burnt brown-toned red is the adult way to wear orange nails. The burnt orange hue looks amazing on all skin tones, looking a little more apricot-toned on darker skin tones. The 7-free, gluten-free formula comes in a luxurious and hefty bottle that will give you unique on-trend nails perfect for any season. Get this orange nail polish color at Net-a-Porter!
11. Paul & Joe Beaute Nail Enamel in Paprika 19
Paul & Joe makes vintage-inspired polishes that have been compared to Dior, with luxe bottles and a mix of classic and modern color collections. Paprika is an orange nail color that sits right between red and orange, and is a nice twist on that classic red nail. You can find this rich color at Dermstore.
12. butter London Nail Lacquer in Tiddly
Infused with horsetail extract and hydrolysed silk, this melon-toned orange nail varnish promotes stronger, healthier nails, whilst delivering long-wearing, chip-resistant color with a high-gloss finish. Tiddly is a yellow-toned orange that will look stunning on darker skin tones, as it’s neither a bold color nor a soft pastel. Grab this shade on Amazon!
13. Suqqu Nail Polish in 104
104 may be an unimaginative nail polish name but this burnt orange is a sophisticated autumnal approach to orange. A little brighter than the Cliff 040 but more pastel than Paprika 19, this orange nail polish color is uniquely subdued but still bright. The brand is dedicated to making long-lasting, chip-resistant nail polishes that don’t hold back on color. Find this lovely orange nail color at Harrods!
How to Choose the Best Orange Nail Polish Color for Your Skin Tone
Orange continues to be a wardrobe and beauty staple but so many people are scared of wearing it. There are so many different undertones and hues to orange, and not every shade of orange nail polish will suit your skin tone. Here is what shade of orange will enhance your skin tone.
Orange Nail Polish Colors for Fair Skin Tones
Lighter skin tones may struggle with the bright pops of orange, so try a more muted blood orange shade because it will bring out the warmth in your skin tone. Corals and red-toned orange nail polishes will really enhance your hands.
Those who are very fair often have a pink undertone and will want a warm-toned orange nail polish like a peach or coral. This will warm up your features and give you an instant back-from-holiday look.
Orange Nail Polish Colors for Medium Skin Tones
People with a medium deep complexion are one of the few who can really look amazing in bright pops of orange nail polish colors and those neon shades most of us are afraid to go near, as they contrast their complexion.
Oranges that lean towards red or have a red undertone will brighten up medium skin tones and will make the skin look even more luminous.
Orange Nail Polish Colors for Olive Skin Tones
Because of the warmth in olive skin tones, orange nail polish can sometimes make you look sallow so choose a burnt orange shade for your skin to look bronzed and gorgeous. Pops of bold orange will also complement your complexion, so you have lots of options when it comes to orange nail polish.
Orange Nail Polish Colors for Dark Skin Tones
If you have a deep skin tone, you can pull off a variety of shades of orange, from neons to tangerine to moody rust tones. The deeper the tone, the better it will look on you. Avoid pastel and salmon orange nail polish tones, as they won’t enhance your nails, and instead stick with jewel-toned orange nail colors.
Photos via Sephora, Nordstrom, Instagram