From the softness of a lavender field to the intensity of a stormy sky, purple is all about contrast. Sometimes delicate, sometimes magnetic, it moves effortlessly through the seasons. Pastel lilac in spring, luminous wisteria in summer, intense aubergine in autumn, mysterious purple in winter… We’re sharing our favourite manicure ideas, along with our tips for finding the perfect shades of Green™ nail polish or Green Flash™ for you. Let’s go purple!
Which shade of purple suits your style?
Soft, magnetic and decidedly modern, the purple palette offers endless possibilities for your nails, whether you prefer regular nail polish or Gel Polish. From delicate light purple nails to richer, more intense shades, there’s a purple for every mood.
From pastel lilac to deep aubergine: your guide to purple shades
Purple comes in a wide variety of shades, each creating a different mood:
- If you love a romantic look, lilac and lavender shades are an easy choice, perfect for a delicate pastel purple manicure that’s right on trend.
- Mid tone purples, such as wisteria and periwinkle, strike the perfect balance between softness and character.
- Deep purple and aubergine shades create a more sophisticated look, perfect if you’re looking for a richer, more intense purple manicure.
- Very dark purples verge on charcoal and black for an incredibly chic and mysterious finish.
Do you prefer soft purple nails or something darker and more intense? There’s a purple shade to suit every personality.
Which purple works best with your skin tone?
Good news: purple looks beautiful on every skin tone!
- Fair skin tones are beautifully complemented by lavender, lilac and pale mauve shades.
- Medium skin tones work particularly well with vivid purple nails and wisteria shades.
- Dark skin tones can embrace the entire palette, lucky you, from luminous pastels to the deepest purples.
💡Tips: for a harmonious result, choose a purple nail shade with an intensity that creates a subtle contrast with your skin tone.
Mystic, Lisa Lilas, Aubergine… discover the purple nail polish that matches your skin tone.
(@matejanova, @bara.hoyle)
Purple Rain: a purple shade for every season
Purple nails evolve with the seasons, much to the delight of our hands!
Spring: floral inspiration
As brighter days return, it’s time for pastel shades inspired by lavender garden nails. Light purple nails are perfect for capturing that fresh spring feeling.
Fall for Halo, a milky mauve nail polish with a subtle luminous glazed effect, like a veil of frost resting on delicate flowers.
We also love Lisa Lilas, a fresh and joyful pastel shade with a playful nod to the 90s, brought right up to date.
Fall for pastel mauve and purple nails with Halo and Lisa Lilas.
Summer: bright and fresh
Summer is the perfect season to experiment with lighter purples or go all out with vibrant shades. The choice is yours. From delicate purple summer nails to something bold and electric, anything goes.
Meet Wisteria, a beautiful lavender nail polish with subtle blue undertones. Think poetic wisteria flowers swaying in a gentle breeze. A wonderfully refreshing pastel shade!
For a completely different mood, there’s Fizz, an electric purple nail polish with magenta reflections, inspired by the abundance of gardens in full bloom at the height of summer. A vibrant, irresistible purple manicure that you’ll definitely want to try.
Whether cool or warm, mid tone purples look beautiful against sun kissed and dark skin.
(@matejanova)
Autumn: purple takes centre stage
As the leaves begin to change color, purple shades become warmer. Take Violeta, a purple with pink reflections that sits somewhere between the richness of burgundy and the softness of a ripe berry. Sensual yet luminous, it’s a color we love wearing as the days grow shorter.
Another autumn color that’s very easy to become obsessed with is Aubergine, a deep purple with an almost velvety finish, packed with character and made for curious minds.
Violeta and Aubergine, two autumn colors we love pairing with teal, camel or pearl grey.
Winter: mysterious allure
Winter puts deep, captivating shades firmly in the spotlight.
See for yourself with Mystic, an intensely pigmented and enveloping blue purple reminiscent of the mesmerising depth of a starry night. One of the standout shades from the Autumn Winter 2026 27 catwalks!
Another option is Queen of Night. A dark purple with muted grey notes, introspective and intriguing, like a stormy sky just before the rain. It’s a big YES from us.
Our favourite purples for the festive season: Mystic & Queen of Night.
(@mani.minimalist)
6 purple nail art ideas
Want to go beyond a monochrome purple manicure? Here are six seriously on trend purple nails ideas spotted across social media:
Ube Shake Ombré
Inspired by the famous purple drink, this delicious looking manicure plays with a gradient technique, somewhere between a purple French manicure and Ombré nails.
Start with Milky Pink as your base, then create a soft gradient using Lisa Lilas and Fizz with a nail art sponge. A gorgeous summer purple nail art look that’s perfect for the sunny season.
Lavender Glazed nails
The glazed trend is still going strong! Apply Lisa Lilas as your base, then add a fine layer of Blue Glazed Effect powder to create a pearly finish and luminous effect. The result? Delicate, almost weightless light purple nails that look simply divine!
Purple Rainbow
Can’t choose just one shade? Go for a rainbow manicure and create a spectrum of purple nails using Fizz, Lisa Lilas, Wisteria, Mystic and Queen of Night. It’s one of those simple summer purple nails designs that’s easy to create yet guaranteed to make an impact.
Purple works beautifully with every nail art trend.
(@irasnailroom, @shanivynails)
Double Mini French
The French manicure remains an essential, whatever colors you choose.
For a colorful twist with a bright, playful feel, apply Shell as your base, then draw two fine lines using Candy and Fizz with the Mani Stamper. This ultra trendy double mini French has just the right graphic touch to make it stand out.
Purple Polka Dots
When it comes to popular geometric patterns, polka dots are right at the top!
Over a Pale Rose base, add a few purple dots using Fizz and a Dotting Tool. It’s a playful minimalist design that’s easy to recreate at home.
Purple & Red two color nails
Purple and red are one of the most stylish color combinations in manicures right now.
Start by applying Spicy as your base. Once the red polish is completely dry, paint the same corner of each nail with Wisteria. A simple nail design that uses bold contrast to instantly catch the eye!
With purple, embrace bold color combinations and playful patterns.
(@irasnailroom, @look8thenails, @shanivynails)
Which colors go with purple nail polish?
Versatile purple works just as beautifully with soft shades as it does with bolder colors. Looking for more purple nails ideas? Here are the combinations we’re loving this season:
White x purple: a fresh, luminous classic that looks particularly beautiful in a pastel French manicure or as subtle details over light purple nails.
Chocolate x purple: a seriously current combination. Chocolate brown has been everywhere for several seasons and creates a sophisticated contrast with lavender, wisteria and aubergine purples.
Silver chrome x purple: metallic nail polish and silver glitter beautifully enhance dark purple nails. A perfect combination for the festive season.
Neutrals, grey, beige and nude, x purple: ideal shades for putting purple centre stage while keeping the overall result beautifully refined.
Red x purple: the unexpected duo. Red and purple were once considered difficult to combine, but today they’re a seriously on trend pairing across both beauty and fashion.
Your to do list for a longer lasting purple manicure
Beautiful colored polish deserves impeccable staying power! Follow these simple but essential steps to keep your purple manicure looking glossy and flawless for longer:
Prep your nails like a pro
Before applying your favourite purple nail polish, remember to:
- File your nails to even out the length and create your desired shape.
- Soften your cuticles before gently pushing them back with a Steel cuticle pusher.
- Gently mattify the nail surface with a nail priming emery board.
- Remove any oil, dust and residue from the nail that could prevent the polish from adhering properly.
These four steps are the foundation of a successful manicure routine.
Base coat and top coat: your long lasting manicure essentials
You probably already know that applying a base coat is essential for creating a smooth nail surface, whatever color you choose. Ideally, use a base coat from the same range as your polish or a compatible treatment base.
Always finish your manicure with a layer of top coat to protect the color and help your polish stay flawless for longer:
- With Green™ nail polish, apply Sunshine Top Coat for up to 7 days of wear.
- With Green Flash™ LED polish, apply Green Flash™ Top Coat for up to 12 days of wear or Xtrem Flash™ Top Coat for up to 21 days of wear.
Moisturise and protect
Well nourished cuticles make all the difference, helping them fully perform their role as a protective barrier for the nail matrix. Apply Nourishing Cuticle Oil every day to keep your nails looking neat and your manicure flawless for longer. Remember to protect your nails in everyday life too. Wear gloves while doing household chores to avoid excessive exposure to water and detergents.
Purple has a rare talent: it can reinvent itself without ever losing its appeal. Sometimes as soft as a lilac petal, sometimes as intense as a summer night, it moves effortlessly through seasons and trends. From soft purple nails and glossy finishes to glazed effects and graphic designs, this chameleon color definitely deserves a place in your nail polish collection. Long live Purple Nails! 💜💅
