After the BBC's 'racist nude nails' row, expert reveals what your favourite polish says about you

The humble manicure has unexpectedly become the latest battleground in Britain's culture wars.

The BBC was widely criticised this week after an article examining the rise of nude nails suggested the trend could reinforce 'white supremacist standards of beauty'.

While the debate continues to rage, a beauty expert says our nail paint choices may reveal something else entirely.

Your go–to shade could offer clues about everything from confidence and creativity to ambition, optimism and even our approach to relationships.

'Most people have two or three nail colours they reach for without thinking,' a blog post written by Jyoti Verma, founder of nail publication Mirellé Inspo reads.

'The same shades, season after season, chosen on autopilot and assumed to be purely aesthetic. Nail color psychology suggests otherwise.

'There is a documented mechanism behind those instinctive choices rooted not in personality quizzes or vibes, but in the way the brain processes colour at a neurological level, before conscious preference even registers.'

A BBC article examining the rise of nude nails suggested the trend could reinforce 'white supremacist standards of beauty' 

In her post, Ms Verma explains that nail colour psychology applies the principles of colour psychology – the study of how different hues influence emotions, thoughts and behaviour – to the specific choices people make when selecting nail polish colours.

'Nail polish sits in your field of vision all day,' she said. 'Your hands are constantly visible to you while typing, eating, talking.

'That sustained visual exposure means the colour you chose at the salon has a low–grade continuous influence on your emotional state throughout the day.'

Red

People drawn to red polish tend to be bold, ambitious and comfortable being the centre of attention, Ms Verma explained.

Red is associated with confidence, passion and high energy, making it a favourite among natural leaders.

Fans of crimson shades often enjoy making a statement and are not afraid to take risks. It is a colour linked with power and self–assurance.

People drawn to red polish tend to be 'bold, ambitious and comfortable being the centre of attention'

Pink or nude

'Nude and pink are the two shades most frequently dismissed as "safe" choices,' Ms Verma said.

However, both convey slightly different things.

'Pink nails signal warmth, social openness, and an orientation toward connection,' she explained.

'Lighter pinks project approachability and friendliness – the colour psychology research on light pink consistently finds it associated with perceived friendliness and positive social traits.'

Meanwhile deeper pinks such as fuchsia, hot pink and magenta shift the register entirely – as these shades carry energy, decisiveness, and something close to playful authority.

Nude nails, meanwhile, signify 'deliberate understatement'.

'A well–chosen nude is a considered aesthetic decision, not a default,' Ms Verma said. 'It reads as composed, self–possessed, and uninterested in visual noise. In professional settings, nude nails tend to be read as polished rather than invisible.'

Black nails, as seen on Kendall Jenner, signal independence, creative confidence, and a high tolerance for ambiguity, the expert said

Blue

'Blue nail polish signals calm, emotional steadiness, and a preference for depth over display,' the post reads.

What your favourite colour says about you

Red: Bold, ambitious

Pink: Warm, socially open

Nude: Composed, polished

Blue: Calm, steady

Black: Independent, creative

Multicoloured: Energetic, outgoing

'It is one of the colours most consistently associated with trustworthiness and competence across cultures which partly explains why it performs well in professional contexts where red might read as too dominant.'

Ms Verma explained that lighter shades lean toward openness and approachability, while darker shades signal intelligence and creative confidence.

Black

'Black nails signal independence, creative confidence, and a high tolerance for ambiguity,' the post reads.

It explains that research into preferences for dark colours often suggests that people who choose black tend to value psychological independence, favouring their own sense of what is appropriate rather than simply following established norms or expectations.

Multicoloured

Nails of different colours – also known as 'dopamine nails – are built around the idea of choosing colours that spark a positive emotional response, Ms Verma explained.

She said the colours with the strongest mood–boosting evidence are warm saturated shades such as hot pink, electric orange and vivid yellow.

These bright colours create a stronger visual response than muted shades, which may help explain their popularity among people with energetic, creative and outgoing personalities.

Warm tones such as hot pink, vivid orange and electric yellow are especially associated with joy, optimism and confidence, a separate nail blog reads.

Fans of rainbow and 'skittle' manicures, where each nail is painted a different colour, are often keen to stand out and embrace playfulness.

Rather than signalling one defining personality trait, multicoloured nails tend to reflect a love of variety, spontaneity and doing things your own way.