Last updated on September 24, 2018

Which Shellac nail polish color palette should you stash in 2018?

If you’re building a Shellac nail polish color palette, 2018 is definitely the year to stock up on new colors.

There are collections for every nail style personality:

• nude shades – femininity, classic, minimalistic
• holiday collection – intense, sparkly, metallic shimmers
• glacial – icy tones
• night spell – bold night sky colors
• creative play – bright, playful colors

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k31_k6DFzNo?rel=0&autoplay=1;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen><!–<span class="hiddenSpellError" pre="" data-mce-bogus="1"–>iframe>Watch the Shellac colors video again >
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My fav Shellac nail colors this year

I’ve bought all my Shellac polishes on Amazon so that’s where the affiliate links below will send you. I recommend you buy yours online because I’ve never seen them for sale off-line.

Let me be your nail designer, guiding you through all the glorious shellac nail polish color options + how you can rock them in your own stylish way..
 

1. orange-red poppy ◊♦◊ If you’re drawn to pinks, try this refreshing, but not-too-drastic, burnt orange-red polish. It’s a staple for beach trips + Caribbean cruises where slushy tropical drinks are a must.
2. true red wildfire ◊♦◊ The nail polish equivalent of the timeless + bold red lip, red nails will always be in style. Especially around Feb 14th.
3. white-wash cake pop ◊♦◊ This clean-cut shade is like a rich, milky gel pen. The whitish/pink/purple reminds me of a floral watercolor, and people have literally stopped me mid-sentence to ask the name of this shade.
4. blue raspberry rapture ◊♦◊ An unexpected blue tone that coordinates with more outfits than you’d imagine – the same way blue jeans match everything. It’s modern and I love to coordinate it with stacks of simple gold rings.
5. deep red decadence ◊♦◊ Because nail color inspired by deep red wines is always a practical choice for trips to Napa + wine tastings. I mix and match all sorts of wines, I mean, outfits with this cranberry hue.
6. soft, translucent pink ◊♦◊ Like a first French manicure, this clear nude/pink-ish color makes me feel all grown up + put together. Sometimes I’ll draw on a white french tip then add a layer of this soft pink.
7. purple passion ◊♦◊ If you experiment with fun colors of eyeshadow, you’ll fancy this spontaneous and edgy purple. I turn to this high contrast shade for long-weekend getaways and trips to big cities.
8. flamingo hot pink ◊♦◊ Florida weather, summer wedding + road trip approved, it’s a nostalgic pink for past Barbie Doll owners. Three years after investing in this pink as my first shellac color, there’s still plenty of coats left in the bottle.

Why I switched to DIY Shellac nail polish

Life can’t revolve around unnecessary appointments and worry about chipping nails on vacation and during the middle of a busy work week. That’s why I started my DIY shellac manicure beauty routine in March 2013.

The polishes seem to last forever (mine are going strong 3 years later), and I save oodles of time while I paint my nails during a Netflix binge. It’s the easiest thing I’ve added into my beauty routine, and waking up to a beautiful manicure every day helps me feel put together, even if I hit the snooze button a few too many times to put on a full face of makeup.

Want to DIY Shellac manicures at home?

It’s so much more convenient to do your own shellac manicure at home than working around the hassle of spa appointments or worrying about a chipped nail in the middle of a busy work week. Check out my guide for DIY shellac manicures for more details.

Building your Shellac nail color collection at home…

Here are ideas for choosing your Shellac nail polish colors:

• Coordinate your nail color with upcoming events. Plan for the holidays, wedding outfits, or your next vaca. For a trip to Bermuda, I picked up Poppy (an orangish hue). Little fish came up and checked out my toes as I waded around the beach water. This makes for great photos.
• Go for the colors you gravitate towards at the nail salon. Start with your comfort zone (for most people this is nudes / pinks / reds) and branch out from there.
• Decide if you want to make a statement. After a foundation of comfortable shellac nail colors, I ventured to the dark side of polish and scored a feisty purple + the sophisticated Blue Rapture. I find it’s easier to choose bold colors for Shellac (vs. regular polish) because they don’t chip and look tacky after a couple of days. The super-shiny nature of shellac makes them look slick and edgy.

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k31_k6DFzNo?rel=0&autoplay=1;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen><!–<span class="hiddenSpellError" pre="" data-mce-bogus="1"–>iframe>Watch the Shellac colors video again >
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