The Best New Nail Colors For Spring

By Kate Foster

It seems like every spring, without fail, we remove our dark, vampy nail polishes, fully ready to replace them with a crop of pastels. But, if you’re like us, you’re only thinking one thing: yawn. This season, mint green, baby blue, and lilac just feel so…expected.

Here at Refinery29, we’re all for breaking the rules. Thankfully, our favorite nail-polish brands are on board, too, with spring 2015 releases that are coming up dusty rose, plum, and even deep green. Read on to find your newest, most unconventional spring nail color — we promise you’ll be psyched to pack up your pastels once you get a peek at these.

Related: The Best Of New York Nail Salons

Off-White: Jin Soon x Tila March Nail Lacquer in Doux

Some of our favorite nail shades of all time have been results of stellar designer collabs — Sally Hansen and Prabal Gurung, anyone? Jin Soon x Tila March is helping us continue the love affair, namely with its effortlessly sophisticated Doux shade. Bright-white? So boring. Off-white? Too cool. Need we say more?

Jin Soon Nail Lacquer in Doux, $18, available at JinSoon.

Deep Jade: Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Black Jade

That’s right, a shade usually reserved for holiday parties is about to make an appearance at your spring soirees. And, as gorgeous as this deep green color looks in its ever-chic Tom Ford bottle, it’s even more awe-inspiring on nails: dark and moody, but with the subtlest hint of shimmer. It feels hopeful, just like spring.

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Black Jade, $32, available at Neiman Marcus.

Related: Here’s What Nails Will Look Like In The Future

Gray-Blue: Butter London Nail Lacquer in Kip

So many nail polishes attempt to evoke the most expected of spring moments — picking colorful flowers; standing in the bright sunshine. Kip, however, is reminiscent of rainy April days indoors, complete with a good book and a cup of joe. In other words, it’s perfect for getting your cozy vibes on.

Butter London Nail Lacquer in Kip, $15, available at Macy’s.

Dusty Rose: CND Shellac in Fragrant Freesia

If you recognize this shade, it’s because it’s been having a major moment in fashion, splashing across peacoats and work-ready heels left and right. Now, your nails can get in on the trend, and for much less cash than a designer jacket. The key is the dusty aspect; it gives sassy pink a much more dimensional quality.

CND Shellac UV Gel in Fragrant Freesia, $15.48, available at Amazon.

Related: MAC Wants To Give You My Little Pony Nails

Sequined White: YSL La Laque Couture in Nuit Blanche

Before you call us hypocrites, going on and on about fresh new nail shades only to feature even more white, we challenge you to google swatches of this killer color. It’s like an icy wonderland on the nails (read: oh-so-shocking for spring), and its texture gives off a futuristic flair. Best of all, it’ll be the ultimate multitasker in your arsenal, flawless both by itself andlayered over any of the other chic shades we’ve featured here.

Yves Saint Laurent La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer in Nuit Blanche, $27, available at Nordstrom.

Sheer Melon: MAC Nail Lacquer in Lightness of Being

We almost put this lacquer right in the reject pile — in a word, colors like melon feel so “blah” at the moment. That is, until we realized how stunningly sheer Lightness of Being is. The company describes it as a “pale beige,” but we definitely see some citrus-y tones. All in all, it’ll be your nail-color version of a silky dress this spring: subtle, but insanely sexy.

MAC Studio Nail Lacquer in Lightness of Being, $12, available at MAC.

Related: This Nail Polish Has The Best Name, Ever (& Looks Rad On Your Nails)

Plum Gray: Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Tenderly

It wouldn’t really be spring without some variation of purple, right? Chanel took the idea of incorporating dusty tones into otherwise expected shades and ran with it, producing Tenderly, one of the most gorgeous hues you’ll slick on all season.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color in Tenderly, $27, available at Chanel.

Matte Glitter: NCLA Nail Lacquer in Ever After in L.A.

This is more of a lacquer type than a style, but still: No matter what color you choose, you’ll be missing out if you don’t try a matte-glitter polish this spring. May we suggest NCLA’s Ever After in L.A.? It’s like a silver disco ball on your digits. Party!

NCLA Nail Lacquer in Ever After In L.A., $16, available at NCLA.

Read This Next: Kristen Bell Chats Skin Care, Smoothies, & Awards-Show Snacking