What Each Nail Polish Color Means

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How to manifest your goals using your manicure plus what TikTok says about your polish choices

Co-authored by Mia Rubie and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: November 26, 2024 Fact Checked

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Nail Polish Color Meanings

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Manifesting with Nail Colors

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Boosting the Power of Your Manicure

Painting your nails is a great way to express your personal style. But what are the deeper symbolic meanings of nail polish colors, and can they be used for manifestation? If you’ve come looking for the answer to these questions, look no further! We’ll go over everything you need to know about different nail colors, from their spiritual and symbolic meanings to any TikTok trends that may be associated with them. We’ll also go over how to manifest using nail polish colors, so keep reading!

What do different nail polish colors symbolize?

Red nails attract romance and passion, orange nails symbolize enthusiasm and creativity, and yellow nails boost positivity. Green nails are associated with good luck, blue nails create serenity, and purple nails enhance intuitive powers. Black nails are a protective force, and white nails bring clarity and focus.

Section 1 of 3:

Nail Polish Color Meanings

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Red nails represent romance, passion, and confidence. The color red has long been associated with desire and sensuality.^{[1]
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Research source} As a result, many people believe that red nail polish can help you attract passionate love into your life while also getting more in touch with your sensual side.^{[2]
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- The “red nail theory” has also become a popular topic of conversation on TikTok. Users claim that potential suitors are more attracted to women with red nails, so they suggest wearing red nail polish if you’re navigating the dating scene.^{[3]
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- Eye-catching shades of bright red are associated with boldness and confidence, so they’re great choices if you’re looking for a self-esteem boost!
- Deeper burgundy shades, on the other hand, are associated with a chic and sophisticated aura.^{[4]
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Pink nails have a lighthearted, feminine energy. They can signal that you have a playful, sweet personality, and they can also represent flirtation. If you’re looking to embrace your girly side or show off your fun, carefree personality, opt for pink nail polish at your next manicure.
- Vibrant shades of bright pink or fuschia make for a very flirty, attention-grabbing manicure if you’re hoping to make a good impression on a date.
- Muted blush tones, on the other hand, can convey a more subtle beauty and grace.
- Classic bubblegum pink makes the perfect middle ground between the two!^{[5]
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Orange nails symbolize spontaneity, enthusiasm, and creativity. This vibrant nail polish color can be an energizing force in your life, inspiring you to be more spontaneous and get out of your comfort zone. If you’re drawn to the color orange, you’re likely a playful, enthusiastic person who has a zest for life.^{[6]
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- Many people also believe that the color orange sparks creativity and expression, so it’s a great choice if you’re an artist.^{[7]
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- Orange is also thought to increase your sociability.^{[8]
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  Research source} If you’re hoping to become more outgoing and make some new friends, go for orange nail polish the next time you paint your nails.
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Yellow nails represent joy, optimism, and innovation. This bright, cheerful nail polish color is perfect if you’re looking to boost your positivity and bring some sunshine into your life. The color yellow is also associated with intellect and curiosity, so it’s a great choice if you’re working on an academic project, or if your job requires a lot of innovative thinking.
- You can also wear yellow nail polish to signal that you have a friendly, cheerful personality.^{[9]
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Blue nails symbolize trust, calm, and serenity. You might be familiar with the common phrase “true blue,” which makes sense since the color is associated with loyalty, reliability, and honesty. Blue is also a very soothing color, and it’s thought to bring calm feelings.^{[10]
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Research source} Wearing blue nail polish is a great way to signal your trustworthiness to the people around you, or to increase a sense of serenity in your life.^{[11]
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- Light blue nail polish has also been trending on TikTok as part of a code that alerts people to your relationship status.
- According to TikTok users, wearing light blue polish on your nails signals that you’re “taken” or “spoken for.”^{[12]
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The color purple has long been associated with royalty, so purple nail polish is a great choice to invite wealth and luxury into your life. Purple also represents enlightenment and intuition, so it can help you explore your mystical side or embrace your spirituality.
Green nail polish can help you feel more grounded and connected to the natural world. It’s also associated with vitality and growth, so it can help you feel more motivated to achieve your goals. Green is connected with good fortune as well, so if you need a boost of luck in your life, try out a green manicure.^{[13]
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White nails symbolize purity, clarity, and new beginnings. The simple, clean look of white nail polish is like a blank slate. It can inspire you to clear confusion and disorganization from your life and cultivate clarity. If you’re looking to make a fresh start, consider going with this elegant, polished, and minimalistic look.
- White nails can be used to signal your relationship status, just like red and light blue nails can.
- According to TikTok users, white nail polish means that you’re single and open to dating someone.^{[14]
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If you’ve been going through a tough time and you’re in need of a little spiritual protection, choose black nail polish. Many people believe that this color brings a grounding, stabilizing energy into your life. Black nails are also a pretty bold fashion statement, so they’re associated with power, independence, and individuality as well.^{[15]
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Gold is thought to draw in abundance, so it’s the perfect choice if you’re hoping to attract money or financial stability into your life.^{[16]
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Research source} Try wearing gold nail polish for an extra manifestation boost if you’re going after a higher paying job or asking for a raise.^{[17]
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Section 2 of 3:

How to Manifest With Nail Colors

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Let your nail color remind you of what you want to manifest. Manifestation involves setting an intention and visualizing it until it becomes a reality.^{[18]
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Research source} Choose a nail color that represents what you want to attract in your life. Each time you see your nail color, let it serve as a reminder of the things you're hoping to attract or achieve. These subtle reminders throughout the day will help you stay focused on manifesting your dreams!^{[19]
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- For example, if you want to attract passionate love into your life, paint your nails red. If you want to manifest wealth, opt for green.
- Each time you see your painted nails throughout the day, remind yourself of your intention, and direct positive energy toward it.
- Visualize yourself receiving or achieving the thing you’re trying to manifest. Picture yourself in a happy, loving relationship, or getting the high-paying job you’ve been dreaming of.

Section 3 of 3:

How to Boost the Manifestation Power of Your Manicure

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Pair your nail polish color with essential oils. To supercharge the manifestation powers of your nail color, consider using an essential oil that has similar properties. You can either dab the oil on your body like a perfume, or you can use a diffuser to fill your living space with the scent.^{[20]
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Research source} Here are a few powerful nail color/essential oil pairs to try out:
- Rose essential oil & red nail polish: Rose essential oil is thought to raise your love vibration and activate your heart chakra, which makes it a perfect complement to red nail polish. This combination can help you attract romance.
- Neroli essential oil & gold nail polish: Neroli oil attracts abundance, so it pairs very well with gold nail polish. This supercharged combo can help you manifest wealth and financial success.
- Rosemary essential oil & orange nail polish: Rosemary oil energizes the mind and pushes you to action, so it makes a great complement to orange nail polish, which also has energizing properties.
- Lavender essential oil & blue nail polish: Lavender essential oil is one of the most relaxing, calm-inducing oils out there. It pairs perfectly with the serene energy of blue nail polish.
- Clary sage essential oil & white nail polish: Clary sage essential oil increases clarity and focus, which makes it a wonderful complement to white nail polish. This combo can help you clear the air and get ready for a fresh start. ^{[21]
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Use crystals to enhance the manifestation powers of your nail color. Many people believe that crystals have powerful healing energies, which makes them the perfect addition to any manifestation ritual. Pick a crystal that has similar properties to the nail polish color you’ve chosen, and display them around your home or carry them on your body to experience their benefits. Here are a few combinations to try:
- Black tourmaline & black nail polish: Like black nail polish, black tourmaline is associated with protection and grounding energy, which makes them a powerful pair.
- Rose quartz & pink nail polish: Rose quartz can help you manifest love and romance, so it pairs well with flirtatious, open-hearted pink nail polish.
- Amethyst & purple nail polish: Amethyst enhances wisdom and promotes spirituality, just like purple nail polish. This pair can awaken your intuitive powers and attract enlightenment.
- Carnelian & orange nail polish: Like orange nail polish, Carnelian is thought to spark creativity. This makes it a great pair to inspire artistic expression.
- Moonstone & white nail polish: Moonstone acts like a guiding light on your life path. It goes well with white nail polish, which is thought to enhance clarity and promote fresh starts.
- Jade & green nail polish: Jade is associated with good fortune and luck, just like green nail polish. Use this pair to attract abundance into your life.
- Citrine & yellow nail polish: Citrine has a very positive vibration, so it’s perfect to pair with yellow nail polish. This combo is brimming with optimism and joy!^{[22]
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Light a colored candle to add to the manifestation effects of your manicure. Many people perform rituals with colored candles to attract various things into their lives. Generally, the different candle color meanings line up with the different nail polish color meanings.
- For example, if you’ve painted your nails green to attract luck or connect with nature, use a green candle to amplify these effects.
- The same goes for using orange candles with orange nail polish, purple candles with purple nail polish, and so on.^{[23]
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