Winter Nail Colors to Embrace the Moody Vibes of the Season

The winter months can make even the brightest of us want to reach for our darkest shades – from our clothes to even our nail polish colors. However, we feel it's time to switch up the narrative and infuse some much-needed color into the season, whether you follow a bi-weekly nail appointment or subscribe to the DIY manicure. Let's be clear: though we still love our dark colors, this year lends itself to a different take on the classics.

This winter, "it's time to level up artistry with high-opacity, hyper-pigmented colors for graphic prints, pop art, modern art, graphic line work, and every level of expressive hand painting," Jan Arnold, co-founder of CND, says.

The biggest themes in winter nail colors mirror our fashion trends, from Pantone's color of the year to updated classics. It's every color for every mood during the year. Ahead, we're breaking down the best dark winter nail colors and neutrals you can expect to see everywhere this season — plus our favorite shopping options.

Experts Featured in This Article

Jan Arnold is the co-founder of CND.

Eunice Park is the brand director at Aprés Nail.

Tasama Craig is the founder of Vanity House NYC.

Sharon Ladokun is a manicurist and gel-X specialist.

Vanessa McCullough is a celebrity manicurist and CND education ambassador.