Red nail polish will rule 2026

Our favourite beauty trick for instant polish (excuse the pun)? Red nails. Timeless, chic and bold, the enduring appeal of a scarlet mani will never fade. Sure, we love a fun trend, (see: milky pink, glazed donut chromes and even surprise smash-hits like baby blue and espresso) but, throughout 2025, and continuing confidently into 2026, red has never lost ground.

“I feel like red nails have come into a chic era at the moment,” confirmed celebrity manicurist, Michelle Humphrey, who counts Dua Lipa and Sabrina Carpenter as clients. “Less is more and what better way to sex up a look than a statement red nail," she insists. “Think expensive and luxury vibes here,” she adds.

The good news is, there's room to play within the one trend - after all there's a big difference between shouty orange-red and sophisticated bordeaux. “It works perfectly for all seasons, as it's so timeless,” A-list manicurist, and senior Mylee ambassador, Tinu Bello, told us. “Deep cherry and merlot reds will be hot [at the beginning of the year], with tomato and post box reds dominating the summer months,” she added.

The fact is, red is a classic, especially on your nails. It's stood the test of time, from ‘20s flappers, to ’40s Jenny Wrens, to '50s Marilyn Monroe, to today where bright fire-engine and sultry merlot are as covetable and versatile as ever.

And, it offers a whole spectrum of opportunities. Sunny days, when you're dining al fresco, calls for a cheery orange-spiked sunrise red (cracking with a tan). For chilly spells when you're back in your favourite cosy knit, you might fancy a sultry deep cherry. For off-duty days a brick red is a cool switch from ruby. And for a shade you can't go wrong with, pillar box red works well on everyone.

Best DIY red nail polishes

OPI Nail Lacquer in Big Apple Red

£14.90

Boots

Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Pirate

£30

Sephora