The Absolute Best Nail Colors For Women In Their 30s

Half the fun of getting our nails done is picking the new color, and we already love mixing up our manicures to fit the vibe of the season or keep up with current trends. But there may be other factors at play — for instance, experts recommend skipping some nail colors on older hands. Does this mean we also need to tailor our nail art to our age range? To find out more, Glam spoke exclusively to Suzie from Nail Career Education.

As a professional nail technician and instructor, Suzie regularly shares her expertise with millions of YouTube subscribers and more than 625,000 TikTok followers. But what does she think about age limits on nail colors? "I think any color can be made young or old. It's how we use it," she says. In other words, there's no rule banning you from some manicures and chaining you to others. However, if you're trying to embody a certain aesthetic that reflects where you are in life — say, thriving in your 30s — that can be fantastically translated into nail art.

"Such a particularly special age," Suzie calls this decade, adding that people in their 30s might be seeking a "new phase and mindset." She goes on, "This requires serious nail color with class and style." To help narrow down the perfect manicure, the nail tech offered up her favorite colors and techniques for clients in their 30s, promising, "These colors are perfect choices to state your maturity while still being youthful and fun."

If you believe in TikTok's "black-nail theory," you may already count dark manicures among your go-to styles for a quick confidence boost. But have you considered how riffs on this timeless tone might further fit into your 30s-era point of view? Spoiler alert: Off-black colors serve beauty, mystique, and eleganza.

The key is, as with any manicure, how you choose to rock your dark nails. There are plenty of chic ways to wear black nail polish, but instead of opting for a true, gothic black, Suzie exclusively tells Glam that she suggests leaning into "classic black with a twist." In particular, the artist seems to favor black nail colors that feature a warm undertone, such as cherry black or eggplant black. These variants are less stark and potentially more intriguing to the eye than a flat, one-dimensional black, offering surprising color reveals in strong or direct light.

Ask your nail tech about their favorite off-black shades, or find some subtle, almost-black nail products to try yourself at home. Consider playing with hues like Black Cherry Chutney from OPI for a velvety hint of fruity color, or the brand's OPI Lincoln Park After Dark nail polish for a barely there breath of purple in your next black manicure.

Some looks become standards for a reason, and no manicure is more time-honored than sleek red nails. "Red is another classic nail color. It demands attention and says confidence," Suzie exclusively reveals to Glam. TikTok's "red-nail theory" — does the platform have a theory for every manicure? — takes this line of thought a step further, arguing that red nails can help you manifest attraction and desire in your life.

Whether or not you're actually trying to score a hot date, we love that red brings confidence to the table. What could be better for settling into your best life in your 30s? However, Suzie advises that different reds will convey different vibes. For anyone seeking an option that's bold yet mature, she points toward rich, luxurious wine reds rather than bright-orangey reds. These jammy colors deliver all the punch and passion of eye-catching reds without any blatant, vampy energy — in a word: sensual.

For a user-approved polish in shades of dark red, Amazon customers love Londontown's Lakur nail polish in hues like Elderberry, Lady Luck, and Guarded Jewel. Or, for an enviable old-money feel, you can also explore leathery, brown-tinged reds that edge into oxblood territory.

When it comes to trendy nail colors for the 30s crowd, Suzie predicts some unexpected options to stand the test of time. "This is unusual 'cause it's not generally a common choice; I think we are going to see a few shades of green," she exclusively shares with Glam. Her biggest picks in the realm of green nail colors include soothing sage green, earthy moss green, vibrant matcha green, and maybe even some restrained touches of lime green to set off other hues.

Happily, the past few years have seen classy and artistic green manicures gaining steam in the nail-art community, providing plenty of inspiration for your foray into leafy manicures. Sage chrome nails put a fresh spin on the glazed-donut trend, dainty seafoam green bridges the gap between earth tones and pastels, matcha-latte nails bring vivid green to the fore, and dirty-martini nails are the perfect vehicle for neutral shades of olive green.

Overwhelmed with options? Give yourself room to experiment with a green-centric nail polish set. When in doubt, Amazon's pick is the Beetles Carnival Evergreen Gel Polish Set, which offers both matte and glitter polishes in hues from forest green to matcha.

Whether you're trying to keep things low-key at an office job or just like a minimal, understated look in your everyday wardrobe, Suzie pegs warm nudes as fashionable options for your next 30s-appropriate manicure. "For a more natural nail look, I think we will see more brown nudes and pink nudes," the nail artist exclusively tells Glam. She's not alone in this opinion, either — Amazon reviewers aver that certain colors are perfect for minimalist manicures, and many of their color picks fall in line with Suzie's.

Metallics are also a strong contender for this age group. Not only have they been trending across the fashion sphere in recent years, but they can be tweaked to fit various aesthetics. "I think we will see even gold used when nude may have been the initial thought," says Suzie, adding that some manicures even call for an upgrade to gold shimmer. Moreover, the expert foresees chrome-finish nail art as a lasting and sophisticated staple, giving clients the option to add a metallic sheen to any base color.

Combining these two versatile manicure styles, neutral chrome nails are already a pervasive trend. But as Suzie reveals, chrome is also one of several easy ways to temper the impact of daring colors and create more 30s-friendly wearability.

Many people in their 30s are reorienting their goals, values, and lifestyles, but that doesn't have to mean getting locked into a certain aesthetic. Whatever your age group, Suzie emphasizes the dynamism available to flavor your next nail appointment. "What's great [are] the abundant variations available, from solid nail colors to French versions combined with matte/shiny combos." In fact, Suzie exclusively tells Glam that French manicures and chrome finishes are among the best ways to sneak a bright, whimsical hue into an otherwise grown-up nail style — or vice versa. "If you're 30 and you're in love with an old or young color, apply in a very thin French line or on the half moon, or [add] a light chrome over the color to give it a modern-appropriate look/feel."

Ultimately, color choice is more a matter of personal style and preference than any gatekeeping rules about your age. But if you're not sure that a specific hue will work for you, Suzie recommends a fool-proof trick to make it all come together: "Nothing says 'I own this look' [like] when you match your lips or shoes with your nail color." Matching your nail color to other accents in your outfit gives your look instant intentionality and flair. For example, Suzie says, "Picture a black dress, black overcoat, then red or gold nails with [the] same color of shoes or lips. ... Now that's an entrance!"