That yellow has a resurgence every summer is hardly surprising. The vibrant hue is synonymous with sunshine, warmth and golden hour and adds a certain feel-good factor to summer wardrobe dressing and holiday manicures.
Case in point: yellow has been the undisputed manicure shade for summer ’26, with butter yellow, saturated chromes, and lemon nails taking over. ‘People are gravitating towards uplifting, feel-good colours this summer, and lemon yellow taps straight into that mood,’ agrees Daisy Kalnina, founder and CEO of The GelBottle Inc. ‘We’ve watched soft yellows build momentum on the runway over the past few seasons, so it makes sense nails are catching up.’
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Simone Ashley perfectly illustrated the trend while on holiday in Panama lately, posting her eye-catching manicure on Instagram and pairing her subtle lemon nails with a matching yellow ensemble. ‘What Simone Ashley’s manicure shows is just how polished yellow can look. It comes down to picking a soft yellow and pairing it with a mirror-glossy topcoat, plus an elegant nail shape – think oval or soft almond,’ shares Kalnina.
What are lemon nails?
‘Lemon nails put a fresh spin on the yellow manicure moment, swapping last year’s buttery, dessert-like pastels for a punchier, more zesty yellow, closer to the shade of a lemon straight off the tree,’ she shares. ‘It’s bold enough to feel fun, but still refined enough to wear every day, striking that sweet spot between playful and polished.’ Their popularity is growing, too – according to booking platform, Fresha, searches for lemon nails are up 320% this month.
Finding the right shade is key for this manicure. ‘Go for a yellow with a clean, creamy base rather than anything mustard-toned, neon or fluorescent. Words like lemon, citrus or soft sunshine yellow point you towards the punchier end, while buttercream or butter yellow give a gentler alternative. Limoncello from our new Vibe collection is the perfect summer lemon shade,’ shares Kalnina.
There are plenty of trends cropping up where yellow is front and centre, too. ‘There’s a real range of ways this trend is showing up. Butter French tips give a fresh update on a classic style, while chrome versions bring a glazed, contemporary finish,’ she shares. Kalnina also suggests adding subtle nail art to elevate the look. While bolder lemons are an obvious statement, you can also try soft florals, daisy nail art or negative-space designs. ‘For anyone who prefers a quiet luxury manicure, a single glossy buttercream shade is still one of the chicest routes to take,’ she adds.
The good news is that summer is signaling an altogether brighter colour palette for nail art right now. ‘Yellow isn’t the only colour having a moment,’ says Kalnina. ‘We’re seeing a broader shift towards bright, joyful shades, from pistachio green to sky blue and juicy coral,’ she explains. As Ashley’s lemon manicure proves, there’s something refreshing about injecting a pop of colour back into your manicures for summer.
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