The 12 Best Orange Nail Polishes for a Juicy Seasonal Manicure

Citrus manicures or bust.

a pink background with oranges and a hand wearing orange nail polish
(Image credit: Getty Images)

There has been no shortage controversial nail color trends to debut in the 2020s and take over your local salon. Butter yellow, brat green, espresso brown—the "ugly" mani shades are having a true renaissance. Personally, I'm all for it. For as much as a love a tomato red or soft neutral manicure, I also embrace an unexpected color just as often because, well, why the hell not? Live a little and make your nails a statement piece à la Megan Fox or SZA.

The latest taboo color to join the ranks of can I actually pull that off? manicure choices is none other than Miss Taylor Swift's newest obsession: orange. From the pop star's Life of a Showgirl album cover and subsequent New Heights podcast appearance, Swift is all about orange at the moment. She even switched up her makeup look with an orange lipstick rather than her typical ruby red shade. Cue Internet meltdown. And while I adore an orange lip (it's shockingly wearable if you just find the tone that works for your complexion) I predict that the majority of beauty fans will gravitate towards other ways to wear what I'm now dubbing "Showgirl orange" for 2026. That means orange manicures are about to take over your FYP all the way through spring, summer, and (if you can fathom it yet) until fall.

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Unconvinced that an orange nail look is right for you? Don't count yourself out just yet. Brands are already getting on board with the vibrant shade (such is the power of Taylor Swift), which means the options to shop for an orange manicure are basically endless. Keep scrolling for the 12 best orange polishes to try this season.

The Best Orange Nail Polishes

Soft Orange

If you hear "orange nail polish" and automatically imagine of a harsh, traffic cone shade—think again. A soft, almost buttery color (read: peach-adjacent) is a perfect transitional shade from summer into fall and looks stunning on any skin tone.

Citrus Orange

The bright, cheery, classic orange shade you'd likely want on your toes all summer but I challenge you that this mood-boosting color will be the main event for manicures this spring.

Neon Orange

I mean, if you're gonna do it, do it with a neon orange nail polish. Be brave and go all out with one of these bold shades at your next salon appointment.

Burnt Orange

If you like your orange tones to feel a little richer and more sophisticated, may I suggest burnt orange? The luxe shade may feel like it belongs in your fall wardrobe, but paired with a bronze faux glow, it's the ideal shade to take your from spring to summer.

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Hannah Baxter
Beauty Director

Hannah Baxter is the Beauty Director at Marie Claire. She has previously held roles at The Zoe Report, Coveteur, and Bust Magazine, covering beauty, wellness, fashion, and lifestyle. She authors the Marie Claire newsletter Face Forward. Her writing has appeared in Harper's Bazaar, Allure, The Cut, Elle, InStyle, Glamour, Air Mail, Vogue, Architectural Digest, Byrdie, Nylon and more.

She is also the founder of Anxiety Beer, a weekly newsletter about the intersection of culture and mental health. In her spare time you can catch her reading too many overdue library books, thrifting, or hanging with her hairless cat, Norman. You can find her on Instagram and TikTok @hannahbaxward.