What nail colors look best on older hands?

Over 50, over 60, or a senior? Want some tips and tricks to help you pick out the best nail colors? In this post, we’re going to answer the question “what color nail polish looks best on older hands?”.

Ready to get started?

Let’s get to it.

Here’s a table of contents for easy navigation:

What nail polish looks best on older hands? – What the experts say

What nail polish looks best on older hands? – Tips and advice

What nail polish looks best on older hands? – Color inspiration

What nail polish colors should you avoid?

Final thoughts

What better way to start out than by getting an opinion from someone high up in the nail and beauty industry?

I’ll even go one better and give you 2 expert opinions.

Our first expert is Collette Keenan. She’s the national field manager for Butter London.

Here’s what she has to say about what color nail polish looks best on older hands:

“For younger-looking hands, orange or peach-based hues work best”. She adds that older ladies should also try orange-based nail colors, like orangey-reds and corals. 

According to Keenan, nail colors with orange undertones draw attention away from the signs of aging and help to bring out your skin’s natural glow.

Let’s see if our next expert agrees.

Our second expert is none other than celebrity manicurist and polish maker Deborah Lippman.

Here’s what she has to say about what nail polish looks best on older hands:

“Orange is a youthful, bright, and uplifting color and it helps draw attention away from signs of aging hands such as age spots, veins, and wrinkles”.

So there you have it. The expert opinion is that orange is the best nail color for aging hands.

But how do you know if the nail color you like is orange-based?

Let’s find out in the next section.

What nail polish looks best on older hands? -Tips and advice

If you want to stick to the expert advice and keep your hands looking youthful and bright, then you’ll need to stock up on orange nail polish.

Finding an orange nail polish is pretty straightforward and easy.

Orange comes in lots of different shades from bright to burnt. So you should be able to find a shade of orange nail polish you’ll love.

The list below will give you some inspiration for orange shades. It should also give you an idea of some words to look for on polish bottles:

• Apricot
• Tangerine
• Rust
• Ginger
• Cantaloupe
• Fire
• Bronze
• Clay
• Spice
• Squash
• Amber
• Marmalade
• Citrus
• Copper
• Melon
• Clementine
• Terracotta

A lot of orange shades almost look gold, so you can also look for shades like honey, marigold, and rose gold.

Alternatives to orange:

Even if you love orange – you’re probably not going to want to wear it all the time. 

So, to change up your nails every now and then, you’ll need to seek out some orange-based nail polishes.

Nail polish shades with orange undertones include coral, peach, and orangey-reds.

In the shop, it can be hard to tell what the exact undertones of nail polish are.

But, if you look on the polish makers website, you can usually find a very detailed description of the exact shade.

Here’s an example I pulled from Zoya’s website, this shade is called Paz:

“Paz by Zoya is best described as an ultra-bright glowing neon traffic cone orange neon creme. This outrageous shade is sure to stop traffic.”

When you look online, it’s much easier to pin down the exact color.

Stay away from any nail polishes that are described as “cool” or cool-toned. 

They will most likely be blue-based, and that’s the opposite of what you want!

Orange-based colors will always be warm colors.

What nail polish looks best on older hands? – Color inspiration

If orange isn’t your favorite color, you’ll be pleased to know that you do have some other options, too.

Nude and baby pinks are also great for keeping hands looking youthful and fresh.

The right nude for you will depend on your skin tone. If you want to learn more about how to choose the best nude, check out this post on how to match nail polish to your skin tone.

You don’t need to stick to baby pink to keep hands looking young. Any shade of pink will look good on older hands.

If you want to draw attention to your nails and away from the rest of your hands, choose an attention-grabbing bright pink like fuchsia or hot pink.

If you have long, thin fingers, a lighter pink shade will accentuate them nicely.

Other colors that look great on older hands:

Ok, you already know you can wear orange, coral, orangey reds, peach, pink and nude.

But are there any other polish colors that look good on older hands?

Yes, there are!

If you want to draw attention away from your hands you can also try out mint green or teal nail polish.

For a more subtle look, dusty mauve and lavender are both flattering on older hands.

A bright red is always chic and fashionable, no matter your age, and a crisp pure white will also draw the eye away from your hands and towards the nails. 

Speaking of red, a blood or brick red will look fantastic on aging hands. As will a deep cranberry shade or a plum.

What nail polish colors should women over 50 avoid?

The least flattering colors to use as your hands age are dark polishes.

Black is best avoided altogether. It makes mature hands look less youthful and accentuates the signs of aging.

Cool-toned shades like navy, reds with blue undertones, and deep purples are also likely to draw attention to dullness and dark spots.

If you aren’t sure if the red shade you are looking at has orange or blue undertones, check the polish description on the manufacturer’s website.

You should avoid blue nail polishes as they can draw attention to blue veins.

Also, steer clear of yellow as this can make mature hands appear sallow. If you love yellow, then go for gold instead. It will be much nicer against your skin.

Chunky glitter nail polishes are also a no-no.

If you love shiny nails, then go for a subtle shimmer or a colored polish in a metallic finish.

Final thoughts

Well, that’s all the advice I have for you on this topic.

I hope that you enjoyed reading this “What color nail polish looks best on older hands?” post.

Good luck finding your perfect polish color and happy painting!