Plum Nail Polish on Fair Skin

Fair skin sits right in the middle of most nudes and blushes, so warm-versus-cool matters more here than on any other tone. A cool pink and a warm one look like two different colors on you.

Start with Espresso plum crackle (RTA631 Color) — a near-black plum, and it stands well clear of your skin. 17 of the 18 will read as a real contrast on your hand. If you’d rather go lighter, Rich plum crème (RC2915) is more of a damson.

Change the nail shape and length as you go — the same plum is a different manicure short and round than it is long and stiletto.

The same plums on another skin tone: Pale skin · Olive skin · Tan skin · Brown skin · Dark skin

Or start wider: all plum shades · every color on fair skin