As the mother of three daughters, we used to paint our nails red, white and blue for the Fourth of July and Memorial Day (see my post, Celebrating Memorial Day with Kids!). Now that they’re older, I get exposed to a lot of the fashion trends going on at any given moment. A few years ago they started really getting manicures.

I was personally never someone who regularly had my nails done. It’s expensive, and can be annoying when the salons just offer walk-ins, no appointments. You never know how crowded it might be. The process takes a good hour (without any kind of wait), so you have to be in the right frame of mind. An afternoon when I’m off work, or when one of my daughters is in town for a break- these are perfect times.

Because it can be expensive and time consuming, we’ve tried doing them at home, and have bought an assortment of special gels, drying machines, and acetone removers. Our intentions were in the right place, but the outcome was usually never great. Painting with your left hand, it just does not work. And DIY manicures last maybe a week at the most. Maybe it’s an option for your toenails (see my post on a great at-home pedicure), but let’s just say a professional manicure is worth the price.

Of all the options, we go with the dip, the powder that’s applied in several layers. The layering makes the nail really hard, and if you get this kind of manicure it will last at least a month if not more. When they remove it, they soak your nails in remover for a pretty long time, then buff it off. So the dip is said to be better for the health of your nails overall, as compared to gel or acrylics. Since I have used it, my nails have not broken at all.

Like many people, I find Spring to be a great time to spruce up so many things. Some fresh flowers for the kitchen table, a new bathroom floor (yep we did this), some new coffee flavors for the Nespresso. Maybe a few new Spring outfits…so how about some fresh and fun new colors for your fingers and toes?

These are colors that I just LOVE. (These photos are all my actual nails, fyi!) So if you’re shopping around for colors this Spring to put you in a joyful mood, try these!

Five Beautiful Spring Colors

Peach. I think this is my all-time favorite color for Spring. I randomly noticed it when selecting colors last year, and had no idea how it would look or how I might like it. It is very different than your standard reds and pinks, and I almost passed it by. I’m so glad I didn’t! I get compliments on my nails here and there (because my salon does an amazing job), but got SO many nice comments on these! So soft and feminine.

Pink. There are just so many gorgeous hues of pink, and it feels like there are new ones coming out all the time. I love a soft and subtle color for Spring like this below. Not every color works on shorter nails, but pink really works with any length and shape.

If choosing pink for my toes, I opt for something a bit brighter and bolder. You can get away with pretty much any color on your toenails, and something bright looks so nice with sandals or flip-flops. It’s not quite time for those around here, but soon!

Blue. It may be a little different, but this sweet shade just screams Spring to me. Robin eggs, right? You have to be a little careful, because it can be hard to tell exactly how a shade will look just from the swatch samples. But lighter and softer shades like this are just so much fun. The same applies to yellows and greens that are also playful Spring colors. I’ve had some beautiful manicures in a very soft yellow that I’ve really loved, but couldn’t find the photos. Sorry!

Orange. Something brighter for the Springtime is so much fun! I don’t typically go super bright since I’m an introvert and don’t want to draw attention to myself 😜 but I couldn’t resist this color after a dismal winter. Thankfully I broke my finger after the manicure, ha!

French. Of all polish colors, this is by far my favorite. I started getting it for special occasions, because it just looks so classy. Now it’s often become my ‘go to’. Why? It is definitely classy, but also neutral enough to go with any season, outfit or occasion. Also it last so long. I’ve easily gone 2-3 months before my next manicure. The nail grows out like it does any other color, but you hardly notice it. Since with the dip your nails don’t (usually) break, it’s the perfect combination for an incredibly low maintenance manicure.

What do you think? Do you have any favorite nail colors for Spring? I’d love to hear!