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You know how it goes: new month, new must-wear nail colors. “I’m getting a lot of requests for brown colors and milky white colors,” celebrity manicurist Zola Ganzorigt reveals. “Since it’s award season, I’m getting a lot of glazed donut nail requests as well.”
That’s not to say all January manicures have to be neutral, though. According to Aprés Nail Educator Priscilla Nguyen, pastel shades like lavender and baby blue are trending for the month, as are more unexpected shades like sheer light green and glittery gold.
Ready to plan your perfect mani lineup for the first month of 2025? Keep reading for the full rundown on the top 10 January nail colors. While reading, remember that the color is just the first part of the equation. To create a truly stunning winter manicure, you’ll want to consider your finish and nail art, too. Will you go glossy or matte, subtle or bold? If you ask us, every color on this list looks stunning with a velvet finish—another January nail trend, BTW.
Milky White
Manucurist Paris
Craving a neutral nail look that’s anything but boring? Ganzorigt and Nguyen say milky white manicures are the must-wear mani of 2025. “This color has been trending tremendously,” Nguyen says, noting that milky white feels cleaner and more subtle than your typical bold white polish. “It can be used on its own or as a base for nail designs, layered with other colors on top.”
Sheer Light Green
Cirque Colors
Green nails may seem a bit witchy, but Nguyen says that sheer washes of pale green are very in for January 2025. “Soft green is perfect for January since we will be phasing from winter to spring,” she explains. “It’s a soft neutral color that can complement different looks. Wear it with a matte topcoat to switch it up from the standard glossy finish.”
Brown
Olive & June
Chocolate brown manicures have been trending for months with no signs of slowing down. “Brown offers the perfect pop of color without being too loud,” Nguyen says. “There are a variety of shades to choose from, [making it] an easily attainable color that can complete any look or outfit. Go with an opaque brown for a standard feel or use a jelly brown to add some fun.”
Dark Mauve
essie
Looking for a cool feminine color to give your pink and red nails a break? It’s time to swap dark mauve polish in. “It’s a ruddy color without the Christmas red,” Nguyen says. “Mauve comes in different warm and cool shades to suit any skin tone.”
Sheer Nude
OPI
If you prefer true nude nails for your neutral mani, you can switch up the look for 2025 by ditching the opaque finish in favor of something sheer. “Keep it clean and simple with a sheer nude,” Nguyen says. “You can never go wrong with this effortless aesthetic. It’s manageable for anyone and everyone! Go with a peachy, pink, or beige shade to complement your skin tone.”
Gold Glitter
Gelcare
The holidays may be over but our love of all things glitter and gold isn’t going anywhere. “Glitters are always fun to wear, and glitter gold is perfect for January,” Nguyen says. “It can be added over a base color or worn alone to let the gold truly shine.”
Baby Blue
Manucurist
In past years, cool, ashy blues have been popular for winter. This January, Nguyen says to try a baby blue polish. “There have been a lot of baby blue colors used for different nail looks and designs,” she points out. “It’s a lively color without going too bold. For extra oomph, use a sheer baby blue and make it matte.”
Cherry Red
Le Mini Macaron
No matter the season or the year, cherry red nails will always be in style. “For a bold look, you can’t go wrong with a classic red,” Nguyen says. “It’s like red lipstick; it looks good on everyone.”
Gray
Olive & June
Looking for something a bit moodier? Nguyen suggests reaching for a cool gray polish, whether light or dark. “Gray can be more than just black and white mixed together; there are blue and purple undertones that can be found with gray colors,” she points out. “For a softer look, go with a sheer finish.”
Lavender
Le Mini Macaron
For a girlier January nail look, lavender polish if worth getting your hands on. “It offers a pop of color but still within the pink and nude range for a soft look,” Nguyen says. “For anyone in their ‘soft girl era,’ this color is for you. Opaque lavenders will look beautiful with a glossy finish; for sheer light purples, a matte topcoat will give a subtle finish.”
