End of Summer Nails: 7 Gorgeous Ideas to Try Now

My take on the micro french — one of my favorite end of summer nails.

This piece originally appeared in Women Fitness Magazine.

There’s something about the end of summer that makes me want to squeeze every last drop out of it. One more dinner outside. One more weekend away. One more fabulous pair of sandals. And absolutely one more great manicure before everyone starts pretending they’re ready for sweaters and fall.

I’m not there yet.

For me, end-of-summer nails are about beautiful, sophisticated color with just enough fun to remind us that summer is not over until it’s over.

As a celebrity makeup artist, I’m always paying attention to the little details. Makeup gets most of the attention, of course, but never underestimate what a great manicure can do. There’s something about looking down at beautifully polished nails that instantly makes you feel a little more pulled together—even when the rest of your life may not be.

Milky Pink, Always

If you know me, you know I love a milky nail.

A sheer milky pink is clean, feminine and expensive-looking without screaming for attention. It works with absolutely everything—from jeans and a white T-shirt to a beautiful dress for an event.

I especially love it on shorter, softly rounded nails. It’s that I just naturally look this polished manicure, even though we both know somebody spent an hour making it happen.

Yes, please.

Tomato Red

I will never get tired of a fabulous red manicure.

For the end of summer, though, I want a juicy tomato or poppy red—not the deep wine and burgundy shades that will be everywhere soon enough.

Tomato red looks incredible with summer whites, denim, a tan and gold jewelry. And the best part? It carries beautifully into September, so you don’t suddenly look like you missed the memo when Labor Day is over.

Butter Yellow

OK, stay with me on this one.

I know yellow nails can sound slightly terrifying. But I’m not talking about neon yellow that enters the room five minutes before you do.

A soft, creamy butter yellow can actually be incredibly chic. The key is choosing a shade that feels muted and buttery rather than bright. It’s happy, fresh and unexpected—and isn’t that exactly what summer beauty should be?

Peachy Coral

Coral will forever make me think of summer.

But as we get closer to September, I like taking it down just a notch and choosing something with a softer peach undertone. You still get that gorgeous warmth without it feeling like you’re headed to a pool party in the middle of October.

And on your toes? So good.

Especially while we’re still wearing those sandals we absolutely refuse to put away.

Chocolate Milk

Now we’re flirting with fall.

And I said flirting, not committing.

Instead of going straight from summer pinks and corals into a dark chocolate brown, try something softer—a creamy latte, caramel or milk-chocolate shade.

You get that rich, sophisticated feeling of fall without your nails saying October when the weather is still saying 85 degrees and rosé outside.

The Micro French

The French manicure will probably never leave us, and I’m perfectly happy about that.

But I love the modern version: a sheer, natural-looking base with the thinnest little white tip.

That’s it.

It’s fresh, elegant and incredibly flattering. You can wear it to a wedding, a business meeting, dinner in Napa or sitting at home in your pajamas. It just works.

A Little Chrome

Chrome isn’t going anywhere, but that does not mean we all need disco-ball nails.

If you love the trend but want something more sophisticated, ask for a subtle pearly chrome over a milky pink or nude base.

Think pearl, not spaceship.

You still get that beautiful little reflection when the light hits your nails without feeling like your manicure needs its own Instagram account

Absolutely not.

This is one beauty rule I’m very happy to break.

I actually love going lighter on my hands and brighter or darker on my toes. Give me a beautiful milky manicure with a tomato-red or peachy-coral pedicure any day.

Polished on top. Little party happening below.

And please don’t make yourself crazy trying to match everything perfectly. Your manicure doesn’t have to match your pedicure, your lipstick doesn’t have to match your dress, and beauty isn’t supposed to come with that many rules.

At the end of the day, beauty should be fun.

Your nails are one of the easiest places to experiment because, really, what’s the worst that happens? You don’t love the color and you change it.

So try the red. Give butter yellow a chance. Add a little chrome. Keep that coral pedicure going for another few weeks.

There are no nail police patrolling the beach.

Go get that last fabulous summer manicure.

Fall will get here soon enough.