With summer feeling like it’s right around the corner and many of us planning our summer trips abroad, we’re finally feeling like the time has come to dust off our sandals and head out to the pub gardens. After spending a long, cold winter with free-from colour toes that have been stuffed into house slippers, there’s no better time to give yourself a pedicure and paint job.

Allow us to run through the best pedicure colours for spring and summer. But first, here are the maintenance steps you should take before you start painting.

“Don’t forget to prep the feet – you want to have nice smooth feet for the polish to look even better,” says Lynn Gray, Mavala’s resident nail expert. “A foot scrub will remove any calluses or hard skin. After exfoliation, I make sure that the feet are always moisturised. This is something you should continue doing, even with nail polish on, to ensure longer-lasting colour.”

“You should always use a base coat for pedicures,” says Gray. “This will not only protect the nails, but it will also act as a primer for the colour, making it last longer. It’s a particularly important step on your toes as we keep our polish on for longer, making the risk of discolouration greater.

“After applying your nail colour – two coats is usually fine – always apply a top coat. This will add a gorgeous shine and protect them from chipping. My favourite is those that provide a gel finish without the potential damage.”

An extension of the clean-look aesthetic, sheer, glossy natural-looking nails are coming to the fore in a major way. Characterised by neat cuticles, smooth, rounded shapes and a semi-transparent finish, it’s a look that helps extend the time between redoing your nails – perfect for summer.

“A bright coral shade is always a bestselling spring/summer option for toes year-on-year and, as the weather is getting nicer, we’re seeing this trend rise again,” says Gray. “A coral not only adds a gorgeous pop of colour, it’s also great for elongating the toes.”

“When colour authority Pantone announced ‘Very Peri’ as their Colour of the Year 2022 – this officially made the dynamic periwinkle blue colour, with dreamy violet undertones the ‘it’ polish shade of the year,” says Nail Guru Leighton Denny MBE. “Replicate and inject some ‘Very Peri’ into your year with my almost identic al warm, vibrant, violet/blue shade Heiress that just exudes confidence and allure. If you want the polish of the moment…this is it.”

“Colour trends for this year in general – but specifically toes – are for bright colours that are full of energy,” explains Gray.

“I like to call this a ‘joyful palette’. With much of last year spent in lockdown, many have reverted to natural, free-from colour nails. But now the sun is out, people are wanting to express themselves through colour.”

Lynn recommends opting for shades like “an ardent red” or “a vibrant fuschia”.

If vibrant corals and bright hues aren’t your style, you can still bring a pop of colour to your toenails without feeling like it’s too much.

Pastel nail polishes are a huge trend this year, thanks to their ability to deliver fun colours in a softer, more muted way. Think minty greens, sunshine yellows and – one of this year’s most popular colours – delicate lilacs.

Soft and milky, upgrade your stark white for a low-key cream this sunny season. These shades are fresh without the Tipp-Ex quality white nail polish can sometimes exude.

Sometimes, a dark red is just the right move. Suitable for daytime and evening activities, it’s a universally flattering colour that works for casual and formal occassions.

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