Manicures are one of the best ways to express yourself, and as such, we believe anyone can paint their nails any color at any age. Essie celebrity manicurist Stephanie Stone notes that choosing a nail color has much more to do with your personal style than age. “There are no specific rules or guidelines to follow as we age, especially when it comes to nail color. As we age, women want to feel more vibrant and alive, and often an accessory can play into feeling youthful instead of feeling like an outcast in the 50+ category,” says celebrity manicurist and KISS Nails Brand Ambassador Gina Edwards. “Having said that, there are things to consider when selecting nail styles and colors.”
If you feel you’ve grown out of some of the trusty standby colors you used to wear when you were younger, we’re here to offer some expert-backed advice. We asked the pros to share their top tips and color choices for mature nails.
Featured experts
- Stephanie Stone is an essie celebrity manicurist
- Gina Edwards is a celebrity manicurist and KISS Nails Brand Ambassador
- Nori is a celebrity nail artist
- Margaret Dabbs is the CEO & Founder of Margaret Dabbs London
- Naomi Yasuda is a celebrity nail artist and Sally Hansen global partner
Tips on picking the right nail color for you
“My wardrobe changes the older I get, and since everyone has different individual style, my biggest piece of advice when picking a nail color at any age is to look at your closet and pick a color that compliments what you’re wearing at this current stage in life,” says Stone. “You can also do this with your makeup. Look at what lipstick you’re wearing or your favorite eyeshadow. If a color looks good on your face, it will likely look good translated as a nail polish on your fingers, too. Pick colors that are cohesive with your overall look, and you can’t go wrong!”
Be sure to take care of your hands
“As we age, our nails and the texture and tone of our hands naturally change. This is perfectly normal,” says CEO & Founder of Margaret Dabbs London Margaret Dabbs. “It’s important to consider the health of our hands and nails as we mature. As we get older, our nails can thin and weaken, which can lead to splitting and breakages.”
Stone’s biggest piece of advice for those aiming to make their hands look their best is to take care of the skin and cuticles. “I have been taking pictures of my hands for nearly 10 years, and it’s been so odd to watch them age. There are wrinkles and ridges where there were none before, so I like to stick to a well-kept nail and hand-care routine,” says Stone.
“It’s important to stay moisturized, especially during the dry winter months,” says Stone, noting she loves using the essie on a roll apricot cuticle oil ($15) throughout the day. Nori often uses Kiel’s Creme de Corps ($39) on set. She also loves Take My Hand Hand Cream ($27). “If you want to go the extra mile, go ahead and put sunscreen on the back of your hands, too. Take care of your hand, and any nail color will look great on you!” says Stone.
Nail polish color recommendations
“Whatever you select, just be smart in your nail choices based on your comfort level rather than fitting into everyone else’s idea of what looks good on you,” says Edwards.
