If I’m having a bad day, you can guarantee that I’ll book myself a pedicure appointment. Nothing lifts my mood quite like looking at my toes and seeing a fun color and perfectly squared off nails. Even though I love going to the salon, it’s perhaps even more satisfying to paint my toenails at home—as long as I have the right colors in my arsenal.
There are a lot of trending pedicure colors this year, but there’s one overarching theme: joy. “Colors that bring you pure joy will be big in 2022,” says Riyah Martin, Editorial Nail Artist and Color Mixologist at Orly Color Labs. “A lot of us are stressed and anxious from the state of the world, and seeking color that makes you happy and cozy, even momentarily, is big. One trick is to pay attention to your mood when different colors catch your eye, and you’ll notice colors that you’ve never thought to use for manicures and pedicures.” She recommends nature-inspired colors like shades of green, purple, and yellow.
I spoke with nail experts to find out the latest color trends to consider for your next pedicure. These colors are unexpected, sophisticated, and joyful, which is exactly the type of energy we need right now.
“We’re loving earthy, neutral tones for 2022.” —Nadine Abramcyk, Tenoverten Co-Founder and Head of Brand
“A soft blue isn’t the typical color people go for, but a very light blue, even almost white, is so refreshing.” —Martin
“A classic red is always one of our most popular pedicure shades.” —Abramcyk
“Even if I’m keeping my manicure simple with a nude or sheer color, I like to have fun with my pedicure. Metallics have been highly requested lately.” —Abramcyk
“White works for all seasons, but milky white, a sheer, semi-translucent white, is great for 2022 and goes well [with] all skin tones.” —Martin
“Mauve can have almost a neutral vibe to it, but it’s a welcoming, cozy color, and it’s honestly delightful.” —Martin
“Yellow is such an uplifting shade. A soft, simple yellow, which looks like spring flowers, has [a] mood-lifting effect.” —Martin
“We’ve seen a lot of our customers going back to basics with their nail care recently, opting for lower maintenance nude polishes over bolder shades. There’s something so elegant about a clean, simple manicure that we’ll always come back to.” —Abramcyk
“I personally love green. It’s actually been trending for the last two years and there’s no slowing down. I like a soft minty green on toes, especially during winter going into spring.” —Martin
“To me, there’s nothing chicer than a black pedicure. [It’s] an unexpected neutral that makes a big statement on toes.” —Abramcyk
“Another green that’ll be big in 2022 is an earthy sage green, as it feels calming and grounding.” —Martin
“I always mix and match my manicure and pedicure—it’s a fun way to experiment with different color combinations. For Tory Burch’s SS22 show, we kept manicures simple with a timeless nude polish paired with a bold pedicure in a deep bordeaux.” —Abramcyk
“There is always a place for neutral shades. This year the neutrals lean warmer, and [they’re] not meant to match your skin tone exactly. [They’re] meant to play up your skin tone by either complementing it or giving it a nice contrast.” —Martin
“We’re obsessed with Pantone’s 2022 color of the year, a spirited, optimistic shade of periwinkle. Nail polish is a fun and easy way to tap into that trend. We love our Prince polish for those looking for a punchy purple.” —Abramcyk
“When this color leans more on the purple side and a tad bit lighter, it has spring written all over it, like gardens full of flowers.” —Martin
“We see neon yellow becoming a big contender for nails and pedicures.” —Megan Richardson-Tiernan and Gretchen Tiernan, co-owners of Sand Spa
“A bit more blue-based than periwinkle, lavender looks gorgeous on toes. Plus it works so well with other trending shades like soft yellow and mint green.” —Martin
“Icy blue [is a] great color for pedicures all year round. Because [it’s] so subtle, [it] typically works with any opened-toed shoe or outfit, while still giving a hint of color and life as opposed to plain nude or white. —Richardson-Tiernan and Tiernan
“Our boldest prediction is that French-tipped pedicures are coming back, specifically monochromatic French. Manicure nail art and colored french tips have been trending for a while, and we think that people will want something to match the full look for their pedicure. —Richardson-Tiernan and Tiernan. Next, I Found Out Every London Girl’s Secret to Perfect Nails, and I’m Spilling
