Plum Nail Polish on Pale Skin

Pale hands are where a nude can vanish completely — too close to your own color to register at all. Anything saturated, though, does all the work for you.

Start with Espresso plum shimmer (RCR11) — warm, 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: Fair skin · Olive skin · Tan skin · Brown skin · Dark skin

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