The Vintage Nail Polish Shades We’ve Loved Since High School

Like many, we’ve been painting our nails since the good old days. How many of you remember searching through your mom’s collection of polishes without her permission? What about shaking up your favorite shade when it’s probably past the expiration date? You’re not alone! We’re brought back to our former selves with all the trending nostalgic beauty callbacks. These beauty editors were high schoolers once, too. Among the sadly discontinued shades of our youths (petition for Elizabeth Arden to bring back lacquers), there are some iconic survivors. These are the vintage nail polish shades we haven’t stopped wearing since high school!

The Vintage Nail Polish Shades We Love

Okay, you caught us. We’re being a little loose with the word ‘vintage.’ Many people consider something vintage if it’s between 40- to 100-years-old, which would put us in the mid-’80s. But it’s our humble belief that anything worn in high school or (god forbid) middle school is far enough back in history to be termed vintage. It’s aspirational, okay?

One thing is for sure, though. There’s an online community surrounding vintage nail polish shades. If you’re committed, you can even try to snag a bottle of defunct brands like Enchanted Polish or a discontinued color like Essie’s Demure Vix on eBay. Thankfully, some brands and colors from the ’80s and ’90s are still around. Even the shades themselves have survived!

“Chanel Vamp was a little luxury I could afford in my late teens and early 20s, right when it hit cult status,” says Tatiana Bido, class of ’95. “It was grunge yet sophisticated, the perfect moody statement color that captured a rebellious spirit in the air during the birth of grunge and the Riot Grrrl era. I loved the contrast of it being a luxe Chanel product. Everyone from Kate Moss to Courtney Love and Madonna were wearing it, so I had to wear it too. Uma made it skyrocket when she wore it in Pulp Fiction. Like Clinique’s Black Honey, my Anna Sui lip gloss rings and Kevyn Aucoin books, it holds a special place in my ’90s heart.”

Nostalgia Is on Trend

You may have noticed that nostalgia is everywhere right now. From Y2K’s latest rebrand, Y3K, to the iconic return of the Urban Decay palette earlier this year, we can’t get enough of a good thing. Every part of beauty is experiencing this nostalgic revival.

In hair, we’ve seen everything from the return of the barrette to the uptick in Gilmore Girls-inspired accessories. Our high school favorite tortoiseshell claw clips and headbands are back in our trending book. And thanks to icons like Sabrina Carpenter, even curtain bangs are having a moment in the sun again. In makeup, red blush is absolutely everywhere. And of course, we’ve seen every nail trend from old money nails to a twist on French tips.

Our Favorite Vintage Nail Polish Shades

1 / 10

OPI Lincoln Park After Dark ($8)

Launched in the 2005 Chicago Collection (almost two decades ago, yikes), Lincoln Park After Dark instantly became everybody’s go-to goth polish. We still love it for its deep purple that edges on black.

• BUY ON AMAZON – $8
• BUY ON ULTA – $8

2 / 10

ZOYA in Kelly ($10)

Released in 2010 (this writer’s freshman year of high school), Kelly is a grey purple that wears like a cool neutral. Perfect for a fall look, this shade is one we’ll never tire of pairing with a dark denim and an autumn burgundy.

• BUY ON AMAZON – $10
• BUY ON BEAUTY CARE CHOICES – $12

3 / 10

Chanel Le Vernis Rouge Noir ($32)

Released at the height of the goth and grunge movements in 1994, Rouge Noir was the first foray into the world of dark nails for lot of us. Still a gorgeously wearable color, this dark burgundy functions as the perfect fall neutral.

• BUY ON CHANEL – $32
• BUY ON ULTA – $32

4 / 10

Essie In Stitches ($7)

Somewhere between a blush and a brick red, this gorgeous color was every girl’s favorite way to indulge in red without going for a bright fire engine color.

• BUY NOW – $7

5 / 10

L’Oréal Caught Red Handed ($10)

This beautiful shade has been on our minds since it launched in 2007. This deep red ignites our passion for red nail theory all over again.

• BUY NOW – $10

6 / 10

Sally Hansen Diamond Strength in Champagne Toast ($5)

Were you even around in the 2000s if you didn’t know about Diamond Strength? This chip-resistant formula uses micro-diamonds that instantly bond to nails. Its diamond protective shield helps prevent nail breakage. 

• BUY ON AMAZON – $5
• BUY ON WALMART – $5

7 / 10

OPI Big Apple Red ($8)

Big, bold and perfectly New York, this shade of red is a true classic, dating back to the year 2000. Nearly 25 years later, it’s still a premium, luxe red.

• BUY ON AMAZON – $8
• BUY ON ULTA – $8

8 / 10

Sally Hansen The Devil Wears Nada ($13)

This nude shade gave rich girl manicure way before the trend took off. It’s guaranteed to give you the your-nails-but-better look you’re craving.

• BUY NOW – $13

9 / 10

ILNP Electric Carnival ($13)

Perhaps some of our very first chromatic, holographic polishes, ILNP’s Ultra Chrome Flakie collection is one of our favorites. We have a soft spot for this rainbow of chrome, especially over a black polish.

• BUY NOW – $13

10 / 10

Essie in Ballet Slippers ($9)

One of the most iconic shades of the year thanks to all the rich girl and naked nails looks, Ballet Slippers has been around since 1982. It launched a year after the brand itself and has absolutely slayed ever since.

 

• BUY ON AMAZON – $9
• BUY ON ULTA – $7