From soft dove through to the deepest slate, grey is an often overlooked nail polish color. Some think because it lacks the sophistication of black and the clean starkness of white, it has nothing to give, but this is blatantly untrue. Grey is gorgeous, a color in its own right, to be valued and appreciated.
Representing balance and calmness, it possesses a self-assured elegance, a subtle air of mystery and a touch of aloofness. Never the dynamic leader, grey doesn’t feel the need to be the center of attention, watching and taking it all in an all-knowing manner from the sidelines instead.
Grey nail polish is an eye-catching choice and looks great when teamed with purples, reds, yellows and blues. It has the unique ability to draw out the underlying tones within any color it’s paired with – the hidden blues in a scarlet red, or the green behind a vibrant sunny yellow for example.
Here are my favorite grey polish picks!
1) essie Nail Polish – Without A Stitch
What Makes it Great
Verging on a soft lilac, this is a beautiful shade from Essie. Worn with a matte top coat, it gives a fuzzy, touchable quality to your nails, bringing visions of small grey kittens to mind. Under a coat or two of gloss, however, it adopts the famous grey ambiguity and stand alone self confidence. Of course, I went for my usual gloss and, like with other Essie polishes, my manicure remained chip free for nearly two weeks.
Where it Could be Improved
The polish needed a few drops of remover to reach the right consistency as it was a little gloopy initially.
essie Nail Polish, Glossy Shine Finish, Without A Stitch, 0.46 fl. oz.
- High, glossy shine finish nail polish ; provides flawless coverage along with outstanding durability; brush fits every nail size for streak-free application
- Essie nail enamels come in an extensive palette of shades from iconic classics like ballet slipper to trendsetting nail polish colors straight from the runway; nudes, blues, purples, black, white, rose gold, and more
2) Sally Hansen Nail Polish – Slate-R Girl
What Makes it Great
Sally Hanson produces polishes that are justifiably popular, and this gorgeous bluey-grey is beautiful. Verging on slate, the plushness is undeniable, and what’s more, a lamp isn’t necessary to cure this Miracle Gel polish. It has an almost imperceptible sparkle that catches you unawares which adds depth to the unusual shade of grey. Highly durable, it remained damage free for just under two weeks.
Where it Could be Improved
In order to spread the minuscule glitter pieces throughout the polish, it did require a little mixing. But after a few gentle palm rolls (remember folks, no shaking the bottle if you want a long-lasting manicure) it was perfect.
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish, Slate-R Girl, Pack of 1
- THE SALON LOOK: Get the salon look at home with Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish Lacquer
- NUMBER 1 SELLING GEL LIKE POLISH IN THE US: The only truly 2-step gel hybrid manicure with no UV/LED light needed
3) OPI Nail Polish – I Can Never Hut Up
What Makes it Great
Smokey and shiny – what more do you want? Stunningly seductive, the “infinite shine” in this polish catches the light attractively, transforming your nails into beautiful gems. Evoking images of timeless quartz crystal seams, OPI have done it again by producing yet another amazing product. My nails kept their stunning looks for nearly two weeks before the first tiny chip developed.
Where it Could be Improved
The odor can be quite strong upon application, so make sure to ventilate the area during use.
OPI Nail Lacquer, I Can Never Hut Up
- OPI
