Purple 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 violet crackle (RTA630 Color) — cool, near-black violet, and it stands well clear of your skin. 24 of the 29 will read as a real contrast on your hand. If you’d rather go lighter, Soft violet crème (BP67) is more of a lilac.

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

The same purples on another skin tone: Fair skin · Olive skin · Tan skin · Brown skin · Dark skin

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