Neon Nails
Neon nails are all about color that's almost too bright to look at, and this gallery shows a few ways to wear it. You'll find Neon 90s Nails, Neon Water Spotting and Fuchsia Glitter Splatter Nails, each pairing electric shades with a fun technique.
Use these pictures as a starting point for summer, festival or party nails.
3 in Neon Nails
How to wear neon nail polish
- Paint one coat of opaque white first. Many neon polishes are sheer, and a white base makes them brighter with fewer coats.
- Most neons dry to a satin or matte finish, so add a glossy top coat if you want shine.
- Pair neons with black or white details, such as dots, stripes or water spotted nails, so the color has something to pop against.
- Add sparkle by layering a fine silver or blue glitter over one neon nail, a look you'll also see in the glitter nails gallery.
- Mix a single neon accent nail into a neutral set for a softer take.
Neon gel polish and glow-in-the-dark nails
Neon gel polish works the same way: a cured layer of white gel underneath helps the color stand out. See gel nails for how gel is applied. Glow-in-the-dark polish is a different product. It soaks up light and gives off a faint glow in the dark, and it can be layered over a neon for bright color by day and glow at night.
Questions people ask
Why does my neon polish look streaky?
Neons are often thin. Use a white base, apply thin coats, and let each one dry before the next. Want to see a neon on your own hand first? Try it with Try it on.