What your nail polish speaks about you.

Red means sultry

Red is the ultimate statement in glamour — as it has been for generations. “It’s the most seductive of all colors,” says Leatrice Eiseman, color expert. “We were going into a period when other colors started turning up in nail polish, and everyone wanted to try them, but a return to red means a certain nostalgia factor, in a traditional way.” In other words, this is a person who’s tried the other colors, and knows what’s sexy for her. 

Blue means fearless

Forget any tranquil blues that might pop to mind — this season’s take on the color is electric. “It’s in a class by itself. It’s very charged, it’s attention-getting and very hot — the hottest flames burn blue,” points out Eiseman. “A person who would choose that, [wants] to be unique and different; it’s a departure from the norm. It’s fun and experimental.”

 

Burgundy means sophisticated

Deep and dark, like the wine for which it’s named, this color packs the powerful combination of classic red and trendy purple. “Burgundy is an elegant shade of red, one of the most elegant colors you can think of,” says Eiseman. “It has a huge degree of sophistication to it. Someone who thinks of themselves as sophisticated leans towards this color; it’s very haute couture.”

Bling means vivacious

“I think there’s just going to be more and more effects being added!” say Eiseman, of nails’ glitziest, blingiest trend of them all. “There’s so much experimentation with technology in every substratum you can imagine, and it’s reflected in nails.” These oversize bling bombs can go on every finger, or you can disguise your wild side and just paint one finger on each hand for a surprise contrast with your natural nails. 

 

Duo chrome means visionary

This futuristic two-tone look won’t help you tap out messages on your smartphone any faster, but it does indicate a person who’s very engaged with technology. “I point to the nail polish industry in defining metallic tones like these, and many of those were inspired by the technology used to paint cars,” Eiseman says. Your manicure suggests that you’re likely to keep ahead of those curves.

Gunmetal means unconventional

These very dark shades of gray read almost black in the bottle, but on your nail, they hold their own as part of your look. “It’s a very strong neutral — it takes on the same connotation as black, which is the strongest and most stable color,” says Eiseman. “We talk about it as a color but it’s almost a psychological presence. It’s the ultimate in sophistication and high fashion, in order to make a statement.”

Neutral means dependable

Neutral colors, unsurprisingly, are the most unchanging, but this season’s take on nude is a gray-toned beige that’s natural and flattering on many skin tones. “Someone that would choose that color likes the idea of something dependable, always there. It’s a solid color that lasts,” she says.

Yellow means optimistic

“Yellow in general is associated with sun and warmth; it’s so visible that you can’t ignore it,” says Eiseman. Nor would you want to, particularly in the season’s signature shade, a very bright canary yellow. “If you use it on your nails, that’s a real statement. It’s very extroverted and happy,” she says.