Having recently hit the big 60, I wanted to get the CC fashion experts advice on nail color for spring and summer. It seems that whatever color I choose are either too “old lady” (reds like Essie Watermelon, which I love but I’m told is too old looking) or trendy pastels like corals and blues that I feel are too young. I did pale pinks (Essie Mademoiselle and similar colors) for years, but I am so bored of them…
Also, I always have my fingers and toes the same color once sandal season arrives, but I’m told that’s no longer in. Is that true?
I know ultimately I should pick what I like, but I looking for some fun ideas for a bit of a fashion upgrade. Thanks so much!
I do not do fingernails. Toenails get a coat of Sally Hansen’s one coat quick dry. The color is usually very dark - those mask the bruises (I run!) better than lighter shades. Go for whatever suits you, unless your clients are really put off by unconventional fingernail colors. 
I don’t paint nails at all (fingers or toes) because I am very hard on all of them. My sibs who DO their nails swear by OPI, which is a premium brand of nail polish. It comes in a lot of “fun” colors. My sibs like adding rhinestones to their toes and nail polish and say that they stay on and look good on their toes for about a month. They are much more in fashion than I am. 
I don’t do fingernail polish either (thought I was almost alone in this–nice to see I’m not), but always paint my toenails once sandal season starts because I think naked toenails are kind of ugly. I vary the colors over the course of the summer, but I just want my toes to look well groomed, not stand out, so I stick within a pretty narrow range of soft light to medium pinks. I thought for sure this thread was going be about the trend to non-traditional colors like blue and green, which I would feel silly wearing at my age, even only on my toes. One of the reasons I don’t do my fingernails is because H hates nail polish and I don’t love it enough to make it an issue.That the case for anyone else?
Well I’ve never liked polish much myself and actually shouldn’t have polish on my nails for getting accurate pulse oximeter readings, which I take regularly.
I do toes only, and only in the summer. I currently have a coral color. May stick with that or a bright pink. Darker colors are better for fall, IMO.
I do find that the dark colors now age my hands more…just like the darker lipsticks. Oh…the beautiful plums, burgundies and reds I have!! So now I just used those for my toenails…sometimes a fun bright coral. On my hands I stick With OPI Funny Bunny. You can make it more sheer with just one coat or more opaque with each coat. I also use their silverish tone…I get tons of compliments on that. I also use Nicole’s goldish tone. DH loves that one. Sometimes I’ll wear a sheer pink. They are fashionable without being garish. I don’t like all the colors the girls wear and I think they look ridiculous on more mature women.
When I used to wear darker colors, I’d do the same color on hands and feet, I don’t see anything unfashionable about it. It’s just not a hard and fast rule anymore.
When I get gel nails before vacation or an event, I always do French.
I get a pedicure every few weeks. I change colors every time. OPI has new colors each season. If I’m doing a manicure I get a gel manicure. I do French style with color tips instead of white.
I change colors monthly, right now I have coral on.
I also do the color tips and vary the colors on fingers. I do one color on toes and vary it. I like aqua,pinks, purple… I usually get it done at the salon because I’m terrible at it.
I’m now using the new NexGen for manicure and like it. Less damaging than gel polish.
The Nicole by OPI is still in drugstores and it’s called The Next CEO. The silver I think I have to order online now and it’s called Birthday Babe.
I’m another who does toes but not fingernails. I get pedicures during “sandal season” (basically April/Oct.) and let my toenails breathe during the rest of the time, but I don’t like how my natural nails look (dried out, yellow etc.) after being under polish for months (and I do use a base coat). It seems that once you start using polish regularly, you really have to use it all the time to cover damaged nails. In the winter, I don’t care how my toenails look as they are always covered, but your hands are always on display, so I just keep my fingernails shortish, filed and buffed except for special occasions. I like the look of polished nails but a conventional manicure, for me, lasts about 2 days if I’m lucky, and I won’t do gel nails (I’ve heard too many horror stories about damage).
At the beginning of the season when my feet are pale, I use OPI Red. When they get a little color, I like Essie summery pastels.
I don’t do my nails. My fingernails have gotten weird and were always very short. The less you look at them the better. Toe nails I do either a copper or a sort of pewter color.
For the toes…OPI Dutch Tulip. It matches every color in the rainbow…as is my go to pedicure color.
I don’t do my fingernails as I chew my thumbs (I think it’s an OCD thing --) and don’t particularly care to have manicurists scold me. And I don’t do my toenails as I have fungus on one big toe and it’s absolutely gross, so I never wear open-toed shoes.
There are worse things, I suppose.
Wow! Thank you for the range of suggestions. I am going to look at the OPI colors mentioned. I’ve seen OPI at the nail salon but never tried it!
My fingers and toes are any color of the rainbow. Right now my toes are lavender, and my fingers are ocean green with silver sparkles. I wear what makes me happy and I don’t care if it looks too old or too young.
I love love love the uv gel nail polish, it’s bulletproof with no dry time.
I do my own gel nails and I don’t rough up the nail bed at all. That’s what destroys nails. It means it only lasts 5 days but that’s ok.
I’m in the camp with those who just paint toenails - especially in the warmer months. My fingernails are quite pathetic - I actually have VERY short nail beds and I just prefer to keep my nails really, really short - don’t bite them, just like them short.
I do find it hard to do my own toenails - they are far from perfect! Though I pay for very little vanity wise - I don’t really do make up, extremely basic skin care, etc. - the one thing I might pay for would be permanent toe nail polish!
My spring colors this year are OPI’s ‘Do You Lilac It’ and ‘La Paz-itively Hot’. I wore a black this winter (forget the name) and ‘Miami Beet’.
I do not paint my fingernails either - I really just don’t like that look, unless it is one of those sheer, opaque colors like “Ballet Slippers.” I have really strong and longish nails - I think it’s the Biotin supplement I take. My natural nails look like a french manicure although there is nothing on them - tips are very white. I do need to get a manicure twice a month to keep the length in check.
Wear a coral color on my toenails and I am religious about pedicures. I usually have color on my toes year round as I am always barefoot at home.
My winter color is OPI Lincoln Park After Dark. My go to summer color is OPI Charged Up Cherry. Both shades will blend, or at least not clash, with most clothing. I will do a french from time to time and just recently tried OPI Got Myself into a Jam-balaya. It’s a nice transition until my pasty winter skin get a little color.