Black Nails Make a Comeback

For the past few seasons, manicures have been getting quieter: sheer pinks, milky whites, glazed finishes and barely there nudes. Now black is moving in the opposite direction.

Part of its return belongs to the wider revival of Y2K beauty, but black polish has always sat slightly outside the trend cycle. It can feel grunge, minimal or polished depending on the shape of the nail and everything around it. On short nails, it looks clean and graphic. On longer shapes, it becomes more dramatic.

What makes black interesting now is that it is being treated less as a statement and more as a neutral. It works with denim, tailoring, eveningwear and almost every color in a wardrobe. Add gold jewelry and a glossy finish and it can look surprisingly refined.

There is, however, very little room for error. Black shows uneven application, weak pigmentation and chipped edges immediately. A good formula should therefore give dense, even color in one or two coats and keep its shine without looking worn after a couple of days.

Editors’ Picks

Our favorite black nail polishes right now.

Chanel

Selena Gomez wore a "velvet noir" manicure to the 84th annual Golden Globes.

Another editor’s pick is YSL’s black nail polish, which offers a smooth formula and strong coverage.

YSL