This Next-to-Nothing Nail Color Is Set to Be the Year's Most Popular Shade

Whether you're still mastering your at-home mani or are finally able to venture back to the salon, there's a nail color that dominates the rest in terms of popularity. Now, we know you might be thinking of classic red or even soft pink (Ballet Slippers by Essie has definitely reached icon status), but neither is as universally loved as beige nail colors. That's right. Beige shades—from light tan to rich, near-brown hues—can be spotted on the fingers of more celebrities and fashion girls than any other. In the "less is more" beauty landscape of 2021, it's set to become even more popular.

If this revelation is making your head spin, it's probably because you think of beige as a boring shade. But as our most stylish pals have proven via gorgeous beige fashion looks, this neutral hue is a classic staple that always makes a statement. Not to mention, there are literally dozens of variations of it to fit any and every skin tone or finish preference.

Still skeptical? Challenge accepted. Ahead, check out 21 of our favorite beige nail colors to carry out your chicest manicure yet.

Deep Beige

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(Image credit: @basicstouch)

Shades of beige run the gamut from almost white to deeper hues reminiscent of the lightest variations of brown. Aside from adding a bit more impact than their much lighter counterparts, deep beige nail colors also serve as the perfect neutral tones for those with darker skin. 

Sheer Beige

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(Image credit: @samantheah)

Though beige is already considered one of the most subtle nail colors out there, sheer beige options take the idea of barely there to the next level. This milky varnish is perfect for those who want just a little something while still letting their natural nails shine through. Additionally, it's a beautiful base for endless nail-art designs.

Tinged Beige

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(Image credit: @ch.phr8ph)

If you tend to find beige too dull, you might be happy to hear that there are tons of hues for which it simply serves as the base color. This means shades in the beige family can skew pink, green, blue, and more, making for much more lively colors fit for the more adventurous among us.

Beige Press-Ons

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(Image credit: @nails_of_la)

Nail polish is great if you've got a steady hand and the time to commit to a full-on paint job, but for those who want claws that look professionally manicured faster than you can say boo, then press-ons are the best bet. There are so many stylish options out there these days, too.

Beige Ombré

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(Image credit: @maddiebriell)

When you can't settle on just one nail color, an ombré set is the most stylish way to scratch that itch. Whether you're committing to varying shades of beige or a coordinated collection of colors, you really can't go wrong.

True Beige

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(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

All variations aside, true-beige nail colors are in a league of their own. There's really nothing better than a light, natural-looking, and creamy polish to give you the cleanest minimalist manicure or even set the stage for some masterful nail art.

Beige Nail Art

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(Image credit: @thehangedit)

While it might be more common to see nail art that calls in all the colors of the rainbow, you can create equally fun looks anchored by neutral shades. It's just further evidence that beige nail colors are anything but boring.

Associate Beauty Editor

Courtney Higgs is a Cancer sun, Libra rising beauty enthusiast with about six years of experience in the editorial space. She was previously Who What Wear's associate beauty editor after spending many years working on the West Coast edit team at InStyle Magazine. She graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a BA in communication studies and pivoted to editorial after spending her college years working in the legal field. Her beauty philosophy is simple: She believes there are no wrong answers and that discovering our favorite beauty products and rituals is a journey, not a sprint. When she's not geeking out over products, she can be found adventuring around L.A. with her fiancé; watching reality TV with their French bulldog, Bernie Mac; or relating way too hard to astrology memes.