11 Nail Shades for Your August Manicure

To quote Taylor Swift, this summer truly is slipping away like a bottle of wine. With August just days away, we’re all scrambling to get in those last-minute beach trips and savor the last seconds of late sunsets and warm weather. The end of summer doesn’t have to be scary, though, and a fire manicure is a great way to ease you into your seasonal transition. Ahead, experts pick the best nail colors for your August manicure to carry you from the dog days of summer into the early days of fall.

Featured Experts

• Mazz Hanna is the CEO of Nailing Hollywood
• Tom Bachik is an essie celebrity manicurist

11 August Nail Shades

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Poppy Orange

“Nail shades in August tend to be a mix of bright, poppy shades and soft muted shades as the summer begins to wind down,” says Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna. “To fully embrace the last days of summer, go for bold, poppy shades,” like Dazzle Dry’s Poppy Poison ($22). 

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Sunset Orange

While we bid adieu to summer and let the final 8 p.m. sunsets drift away, Hanna recommends bringing that calm, peaceful energy into your August manicure with sunset oranges—orange shades with a red base, like Manucurist’s Green Natural Nail Polish in Coral Reef ($14).

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Classic Coral

Speaking of coral reefs, another one of Hanna’s recommendations for your August manicure is a classic coral shade, like Dazzle Dry’s Oh My! Polish ($22). With an opaque formula and a creamy finish, this is the perfect shade to carry you from summer into fall.

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Seafoam Green

Green nails are all the rage right now, and that’s not going anywhere this August. In fact, essie celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik recommends seafoam greens for your summer and end-of-summer manicures, like the brand’s Cactus Jelly ($13), which also features that viral jelly-like finish.

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Tiffany Green

Classic and timeless like Audrey Hepburn herself, Tiffany green is another one of Bachik’s recommendations for your transitional summer manicure. One great option is essie’s It’s High Time ($6)—perfect for accompanying you to afternoon tea or to your final beach outings.

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Muted Pinks

The “clean girl” aesthetic is still going strong, and muted pinks are a truly timeless way to channel that energy and keep your manicure fresh, minimalist and classy, according to both Hanna and Bachik. “The delicate tones of muted pinks add a soft hint of color that will instantly elevate any look,” says Hanna. One to try: Gelcare’s Anemone Pink ($24).

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Denim Blue

While Megan Fox might have invented denim blue hair, the shade is also perfect for your manicure, as Hanna recommends it as one of her favorite blue tones for August. If you want a denim blue shade that is versatile and transitional, try Dior’s Vernis in 796 Denim ($32).

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Periwinkle Blue

Hanna notes periwinkle blue as another good blue shade for August if you’re looking for a more “relaxed vibe.” If your August plans are to stay home and practice self care or enjoy some much needed relaxation by the shore, try Olive & June’s Quick Dry Polish in Royal ($7.50).

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Cobalt Blue

If you’re not quite ready to let go of the summer energy and want to maintain that bright, sunny vibe for a bit longer, a cobalt blue is Hanna’s prescription, and Addiction Tokyo’s Moroccan Blue ($19) is just the fix.

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Champagne Beige

There’s no better way to ring something in (or out) than with a bottle of bubbly, and that champagne energy doesn’t need to stop at your glass. For your August nail shade, consider a champagne beige, Hanna says, like The Gel Bottle’s By Appointment Only ($19).

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Sandy Beige

While we may have to leave our beach days behind soon, we can still take remnants of those sunny days with us with a sandy beige manicure, easily created with neutral shades like Chanel’s Le Vernis in Légende ($32).

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