According to Nail Artists, These Go-With-Everything Pedicure Colors Will Be in High Demand This Year
Forget everything you've heard.
Nothing in this world makes me feel more put together than a shiny new pedicure. As someone constantly bobbing and weaving through NYC foot traffic (oftentimes in heels, mind you!), my toes experience quite a bit of wear and tear every week. To mitigate the inevitable ingrowns and calluses (apologies for the visual), I like to treat myself to a pedicure once a month to give them some much-needed TLC—and test out a chic polish trend while I'm at it. Beauty journalism meets self-indulgent pampering.
With the new year here, I decided to prepare for my next appointment by consulting top nail artists for their 2026 polish predictions. "Pedicures feel more intentional now," celebrity manicurist Brittney Boyce tells me about the most popular hues. "It’s less about playing it safe and more about choosing something clean, cool, and confident, even if it’s still neutral." Below, find nine pedicure colors that fit the bill.
Silver Chrome
"For pedicures, I always prefer neutrals, but not basic," Boyce shares, adding that her go-to colors are black, white, milky-pink, and silver chrome—the latter being her current favorite. "It’s edgy, modern, and still reads neutral," she notes. It's also pretty versatile, as you can feel free to add a subtle wash of chrome, like the pearlescent pedi from London-based pedicurist Milly Mason above, or really commit to the cool-girl look with a metallic, mirror-like shine. Each is an eye-catching choice for a year-round pedi. As Boyce confirms, "It doesn’t feel seasonal; it just feels cool."
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Milky White
When it comes to classic neutrals, L.A.-based nail artist and aesthetician Lori Banks is a fan of creamy, milky whites. "Milky-white pedicures are also having a moment," she shares, noting that a cloudy lacquer "feels elevated and clean rather than stark white." That's not to say a snow-white shade is "out" entirely ("It’s clean, neutral and matches anyone!" Banks reassures), but there's something about a foggy pedi that feels more modern and fresh.
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Intense Black
Pretty polarizing! See, some find jet-black nails edgy and cool, while others would rather capture the mood with an "almost black" espresso or vampy purple. But according to Boyce and Banks, we can expect more of the style set to hop over to inky territory, especially when it comes to high-shine pedicures. "ILNP Ink was the most surprising," Banks says of the year's most popular shades. "While black polish is nothing new, this shade feels entirely different with its ultra-glossy, almost–black patent-leather finish."
It also surprisingly works year-round, despite its popularity spiking in the colder months. Trust, an onyx pedi will always look timeless and cool. "I’ll still be doing black [in spring and summer]," adds Boyce.
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Dark Academia
For those who just can't commit to pitch-black, feel free to gloss your toes with another moody, mysterious shade—sparkling merlot, forest green, deep brown, or anything that evokes an elite, gothic aesthetic. "We are definitely seeing that dark academia trend still at play with more vampy shades," confirms Banks. It's more of an overarching trend than a callout to a specific color, but you can't go wrong with a sophisticated burgundy, just like luxury manicurist Corrinna Bianca in the photo above.
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Pistachio Green
"On the bolder side, pistachio greens like Orly Matcha Foam are having a major moment, bringing a playful yet fashion-forward edge to pedicures," Banks shares. After all, the spring/summer 2026 runways were brimming with bold colors, including contrasting pops of green. Just like a turtleneck, satin bag, or wedge mule, a verdant polish provides a strong enough contrast that it winds up flattering any outfit. As my coworker Allyson Payer shared about the head-turning hue: "It goes with everything because it goes with nothing."
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Electric Blue
Also on the bolder side of the spectrum, an electric blue is especially hot for 2026. Be it a refreshing cerulean or a deep cobalt, this lacquer adds a "pop of bold, high-energy color that feels fun and expressive," notes Banks. Look no further for proof than the spring/summer 2026 runways, where Tory Burch, Loewe, Saint Laurent, and Victoria Beckham all showcased sapphire tones in their collections. Prepare for the "loud" hue to make quite the splash, but for those hesitant to sport a technicolor trench, a cobalt pedicure is the perfect way to hop on the bandwagon.
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Sheer Pink
That said, an understated, milky pink will never fall out of favor. I even hesitate to call a pink pedi "trending," but it's such a highly requested color that I'd be remiss not to include it in this list. "People want something that goes with everything," Boyce notes, which is why the sheer lacquer is practically eternal. If you find yourself with decision paralysis at the polish wall, go for a milky pink à la Chanel Ballerina or (Boyce's go-to) Aprés Pink Clouds—it'll never steer you wrong.
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Tomato Red
Care to heat things up? A spicy tomato-red pedicure never fails to look chic. According to Banks, warm shades of crimson "feel vibrant and confident, updating the classic red with a more modern twist." While the latter looks classic and elegant, intense reds with vibrant orangey undertones add a little more intrigue on the toes.
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Stick of Butter
I know, I know—butter yellow isn't the most groundbreaking nail color on the 2026 mood board. In fact, one could argue it had a huge fall from grace when Hailey Bieber deemed the pastel hue "played out" this past summer. Well, it seems the beauty mogul herself has officially changed her tune, posing before butter-hued interiors in a January Instagram post ("butter color kitchens," the caption reads). I suspect the creamy pigment will find new life this year, perhaps in the form of pedicures. Banks would agree, especially during the warmer months when her clients are "open to seeing something lighter and fun."
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