NAIL COLOR THEORY

 

Your guide on cool vs. warm shades— and how to choose your next polish.

Nail Colour Theory Cool Vs Warm


It must be said that there is no such thing as color that’s “bad” or “wrong” for you—with even the smallest amount of conviction and confidence, any shade can work. There is, however, a science behind why certain colors seem to be your colors whether it’s neutral, bold, or bright in tone. This is where color theory comes into play: by analyzing hues, undertones, and complementary shades, you’re able to grasp which types of polishes might best suit your skin tone.

 

HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR SKIN TONE

Skin tones fall under cool (blue in undertone), warm (golden or olive in undertone), or neutral (somewhere in between). Though it may be easy for some to determine their undertone with one look, it may not be so obvious for others; skin tone, after all, is incredibly nuanced. One of the simplest—if not quickest—tests to help find out where you fall on the spectrum is to use a standard sheet of white printer paper to compare against your inner wrists.

1. Compare your skin to the paper; does it look pinkish or blue-toned, or does it look golden to red? If the former, your skin is on the cooler side. If the latter, you have warm undertones.

2. Take a look at your veins, too. Blue veins are typical of cooler skin tones, green representative of warmer skin tones, and purple is usually indicative of a neutral undertone.

 

COOL VS. NEUTRAL VS. WARM

Cool shades, no matter the color, have a blue or pink tint. If you have a cooler undertone to your skin, choose shades like:

In The Clouds

Keep your feet on the ground, and your nails in the clouds. Baby blue skies are here to stay!

 

    Neutral shades are that perfect balance between cool and warm. If you have neutral undertones, try shades like:

    • LIGHT: Murray Me, a vanilla French crème with the slightest greige undertone
    • RED: Double the Deck, a true, full-bodied red
    • BLUE: Dainty Daze, a dreamy periwinkle
    • BRIGHT: Tipps Time, a modern, tropical green with (surprise!) neutral undertones
    • DEEP: Chim Cher-ee, a jet-black cream

    Murray Me

    With this perfect french vanilla cream, you'll have your suitor down on one knee.

     

    Warm shades—again, no matter the color—have a gold or red tint. If you have a warmer undertone to your skin, choose shades like: 

    Lakur Enhanced Colour - Radiant Sunset Orange

    Flashback

    A radiant sunset orange.

     

     

    What are your current go-to lakurs? Share your favorite shades with us over at @londontownusa.

     

    With Love,

    team londontown logo

    Keep Reading...

    All About Probiotic Nail Boost

    All About Nail
    Probiotic Instant Boost

    A love letter to our new Nail Probiotic Instant Boost, a can't-live-without nail kur staple.

    Manicure Tips

    Manicure Tips
    & Nail Polish Tricks

    Capping? Shimmying? Don't worry- we'll explain it all.


    Goof Proof at Home Manis

    Tips & Tricks
    For A Fool-Proof Mani

    The ultimate guide for an easy, at-home mani routine anyone can do.


    Leave a comment

    Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.