To quote Kyle Cooke, a cast member on the Bravo show ‘Summer House’—summer should be fun. This adage applies to summer nail colors, too. Rather than reaching for the same bottle of polish you’ve worn all year, consider switching things up this season. But what color to choose? Whether you’re a traditionalist or like to think a bit outside the mani-pedi box, astrology can help nail down a summer-inspired shade for you. Ahead, astrologer Seth Jubb breaks down what summer nail colors to consider based on your sun sign.
When it comes to fire signs, bold, vibrant, and warm colors immediately come to mind first. “Because of the fiery element, you can translate that literally to the colors of a flame,” says Jubb. “You can honestly take the full spectrum of color from a flame, from a fiery red to icy blues.” According to Jubb, the hottest part of the flame—the blue center—represents Sagittarius. So if that’s your sign, consider a deeper blue shade for a pop of color this summer.
Leo is the sign ruled by the sun and an assortment of hues falls into that color scheme. You could opt for a vivid coral, a striking gold, or a highly pigmented yellow. And for Aries, Jubb recommends a scarlet shade or fiery red since that sign represents the outer ring of a flame. Regardless of which color you choose, feel free to go all out. “Fire signs are the element most inclined to really be bold,” says Jubb.
Taurus is ruled by Venus, a planet that’s associated with the color blue. “You could go for sky blue, milky blue, or bright blue,” says Jubb. For Virgos and Capricorns, consider a shade of green or a bright yellow color. “Green and yellow are the colors we see most often in nature,” adds Jubb. “Tones that are more grounded, but they don’t have to be dull or muted.” Jubb suggests opting for a nail color that’s a little outside your comfort zone like an electric green or a neon yellow.
Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)
Air signs are known for marching to the beat of their own drum. For a unique twist to a simple manicure, sport a marshmallow hue and stick on whatever nail stickers your heart desires. “Pastels and blues are also perfect for air signs,” says Jubb. “Any colors on the spectrum of the daytime sky, those shades of blue and white, are also a really fun option.”
“With water signs, they have a tendency to go inwards in a lot of their energetic expressions,” says Jubb. “They do want to be perceived, but typically that doesn't translate to anything that's too extravagant. They might do a glaze or something a little bit more simple.
“I feel like water signs are also the least likely to do things that are over the top or crazy,” Jubb goes on to add. “If anything, they would probably be the ones to do the French manicure, or something really clean-cut and proper.” When it comes to nail polish colors, Jubb recommends pale tones. “You could do pale blue, yellowish-white, pale green, or a light cream,” he says.
