Our summer plans this year? Indulge. It’s been a long winter (and spring).
By that measure, our summer pedicure will follow suit, taking sugary cues from our favourite sweet treats. The summer pedicure colours of 2026 are inspired by our favourite desserts, whether you crave a luscious scoop of creamy French vanilla, the perfect bite of pale green pistachio mochi, or a classic slice of deep red cherry pie.
If you’ve never had much of a sweet tooth, there are still ways to indulge. Take yourself on vacation and try a pedi that matches the clear blue sky at the beach or a pink coral reef while snorkelling. Buy yourself the bouquet of poppies and get an orange pedicure to match. You deserve it!
Below, the experts break down this summer’s sweetest pedicure colours to indulge in.
Creamy white
A scoop of vanilla ice cream is a quintessential summer treat, and while the dessert may get a bit sticky on our nails, the creamy white colour makes for a warm, clean pedicure. “The key is choosing a softer, more wearable white rather than anything too stark,” says Juanita Huber-Millet, founder and creative director of Townhouse. Much like with ice cream, there’s a spectrum to this colour. For a brighter white vanilla bean, try Townhouse Flawless Polish in Meringue. Gucci Vernis à Ongles Nail Polish in Cecilia Ivory is a true custardy French vanilla, while Chanel Le Vernis in Glaciale falls beautifully between the two.
Save when you shop with these Sephora discount codes at checkout.
Sky Blue
Picture a perfect, breezy day on the Santa Monica Pier, complete with cotton candy and a Ferris wheel ride. Your toes, we imagine, are likely the same light, crisp blue as the sky. After multiple summers of cobalt and cornflower blue, “soft blues feel fresh, calming, and slightly unexpected for summer,” says Huber-Millet. OPI Nail Lacquer in Blue Them All Away, and Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine in 853 Pillow Talk both offer a noon sky of pale blue, while LondonTown Lakur Enhanced Nail Colour in Hot Spring is a shade or two deeper (more of a late-afternoon sky).
Save when you shop with these Boots discount codes at checkout.
Pistachio
.jpg)
With comforting salty-sweet gourmands and creamy scent profiles trending in fragrance, it’s no surprise that colours have followed suit. Several of our experts predict this sweet pistachio green will appear on toes this summer. “The shade reflects a modern-day lacquer with a 50s vibe,” says Elle Gerstein, a New York-based nail artist, who likes the brighter matcha-esque hue of Manucurist Green Nail Polish in Pistachio.
For something a little earthier, Los Angeles-based nail artist Hang Nguyen recommends Chanel Le Vernis in Cavalier Seul as a sage-y, grey-green alternative. And if you’re still thinking about that ice cream from before, OPI Nail Lacquer in Appointmint Confirmed is the exact shade of pistachio mochi.
Save when you shop with these LookFantastic discount codes at checkout.
Cherry red
Stand in line for a cronut or crookie if you will, but there’s something to be said about classic desserts – pies, chocolate milkshakes, and banana splits – all with a cherry on top. If those all-American treats are what you crave, you’ll want a cool, cherry red pedicure to match. “It feels juicy and slightly moody,” says nail artist Sofiia Mazur, and that makes it perfect for those who like to stay in familiar territory without being too boring.
Look for a red with a blue undertone (as opposed to warmer orange), like Manucurist Green Nail Polish in Red Cherry or Dior Vernis in 853 Rouge Trafalgar. But as we all know, the darker the cherry, the sweeter it is, and for that perfectly ripe shade, try Nailberry L’Oxygéné Oxygenated Nail Lacquer in Le Temps Des Cerises.
Save when you shop with these Amazon discount codes at checkout.
Poppy
Come Memorial Day, our bouquets of tulips and daffodils have wilted, and we’re focused on brighter summer buds like nasturtiums and cheery poppies. That fresh orange-red will also feel perfectly at home for hot-weather pedis. “A fresh pedicure with a pop of colour is unbeatable,” says Analysse Hernandez, a Los Angeles-based nail artist, who loves the orange tint for a fun, neon-leaning twist on classic red.
Try the aptly named Hermès Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Orange Poppy or Manucurist Green Nail Polish in Coral Reef for a tinge more orange, or Orly Nail Lacquer in Hits Different if you want your poppy to skew neon without venturing into highlighter territory.
Coral
Life on land has become a little complicated as of late. So we might just file a change of address and dive beneath the surface of the South Pacific to live among the coral reefs. “Summer always brings a return to vibrant corals,” says Thea Green, founder of Nails.Inc. And the same is true for our toes: “It’s one of the most universally flattering pedicure shades because it instantly warms up the skin tone.”
So if living among exotic sea life isn’t possible (hard to breathe down there), at least your toes will get a summery escape. Try Manucurist Green Nail Polish in Bird of Paradise or Chanel Le Vernis – 121 Première Dame for a punchy, vibrant orangey-pink, or Essie Nail Lacquer in 74 Tart Deco for a sweeter, more delicate pink, like the shade you’d see on lacy sea fan coral.
Milky nude
.jpg)
Believe it or not, not everyone loves chocolate and caramel. Some prefer the lighter touch of a marshmallow, a meringue, or a coconut sorbet. For them, a milky nude pedicure will be a perfect match. “The best part is that it goes with anything,” says Katie Masters, a Santa Monica-based nail artist and founder of Nail Thoughts, who notes that you can go cooler or warmer depending on your skin tone.
Gerstein adds that it’s also a great anchor for nail art (if, perhaps, you like your coconut sorbet with a vibrant, fresh-fruit topping). Le Mini Macaron Nail Lacquer in Coconut Yoghurt is a milky, semi-sheer nude that brightens up your natural nail colour, while Nailberry L’Oxygéné Oxygenated Nail Lacquer in Almond and Manucurist Green Nail Polish in Milky Pink offer barely there, spun-sugar pink hues.
Meet the experts:
- Elle Gerstein is a New York-based nail artist.
- Thea Green is a London-based nail artist and founder of Nails.Inc.
- Analysse Hernandez is a Los Angeles-based nail artist.
- Juanita Huber-Millet is the founder and creative director of Townhouse.
- Katie Masters is a Santa Monica-based nail artist and founder of Nail Thoughts.
- Sofiia Mazur is a Scottsdale-based nail artist and educator.
- Hang Nguyen is a Los Angeles-based nail artist.
A version of this article originally appeared on Allure.
