Pedicure Ideas: 15 Toe Nail Designs and Colors to Try

TL;DR. Good pedicure ideas start with color. Toes can carry brighter and bolder shades than fingers: coral and turquoise in summer, berry and burgundy in colder months. For designs, try an accent big toe, a French pedicure, tiny dots, ombre, glitter or a matte nude. A gel pedicure often lasts a few weeks, usually longer than gel on fingers. Choose a salon with clean basins or liners and sterilized tools, and skip a pedicure if you have cuts or signs of infection.

Pedicure colors that suit toes, by season

Toenails are small and far from your face, so colors that feel too loud on your fingers often look great on your toes. A pedicure is a low-risk way to try a bright shade. You can match your manicure or pick a color that simply goes with it.

• Spring. Soft pastels such as lilac, mint, butter yellow and pale coral. They look fresh in the first sandals of the year.
• Summer. Coral, hot pink, orange red, turquoise and crisp white. Bright shades look vivid in sunlight. Our summer nail art trends have more ideas.
• Autumn. Brick, burgundy, mocha and olive. They feel cozy and still look good in open shoes on warm days.
• Winter. Deep red, plum and navy, or a metallic for parties. Toes are hidden more often, so this is a good time to try something dark.

Your undertone still matters. Warm undertones usually suit coral and orange reds, while cool undertones suit berry, fuchsia and blue reds. The free nail color palette finder builds a set of shades for your undertone.

Classic vs gel pedicure: how long does each last?

A classic pedicure uses regular polish. It is quicker to remove at home and easy to change. Polish on toes usually lasts longer than on fingers, because toes do less work. Expect some wear at the tips over time, especially in closed shoes.

A gel pedicure uses gel polish cured under an LED or UV lamp. It is dry as soon as you leave, so there is no risk of smudging in your sandals. Gel on toes often lasts longer than gel on fingers, usually a few weeks. Toenails grow more slowly than fingernails, so the gap at the cuticle shows later. For gel on fingers, see how long gel nails last.

Gel needs to be soaked off, not peeled. Peeling takes layers of the nail with it. Our guide on how to remove gel polish explains the safe way. Some people develop a sensitivity to the acrylates in gel. If the skin around your toes becomes red, itchy, swollen or blistered after a gel pedicure, stop using gel and see a doctor or dermatologist.

15 toe nail designs to try

Toenails are a small canvas, so most designs focus on the big toe. Keep the smaller toes simple and let one nail carry the detail.

1. Accent big toe. One solid color on all toes, with a pattern, glitter or a small charm on the big toes only.
2. Classic French pedicure. A sheer pink base with a clean white tip. It looks neat with any outfit. Our French tip variations show more tip styles.
3. Colored French tips. The same French shape in coral, pink, blue or a different color on each toe.
4. Minimalist dots. One or three tiny dots near the cuticle on a nude base. Easy to do at home with a dotting tool.
5. Ombre toes. A soft fade from pale at the cuticle to a brighter shade at the tip, or a different shade on each toe from light to dark.
6. Glitter gradient. Fine glitter dense at the tip and fading toward the cuticle. It also hides small chips. See our glitter nails ideas.
7. Full glitter big toe. Solid glitter on the big toes and a matching solid color on the rest.
8. Summer beach accent. A small wave, sun, shell or palm on the big toe over turquoise, sand or white.
9. Coral and turquoise mix. Alternate the two shades across your toes for a bright holiday look.
10. Matte nude. A skin-toned nude with a matte top coat. Quiet and modern, and it suits any shoe.
11. Glossy bright red. The timeless pedicure. A thick, shiny top coat keeps it looking fresh.
12. Milky pink jelly. A sheer, glassy pink that looks clean and natural, and grows out gently.
13. Chrome toes. A pearl or silver chrome finish over gel. It catches the light in sandals.
14. Tiny daisy. A small white flower with a yellow center on each big toe over pastel or nude.
15. Two-tone toes. One shade on the big toes and a lighter or darker shade of the same color on the others.

How to prepare your feet at home

Whether you paint your own toes or go to a salon, a little prep helps polish last.

1. Skip shaving your legs for a day before a salon pedicure. Tiny nicks in the skin can let germs in.
2. Remove old polish fully, including the edges.
3. Soak your feet in warm, soapy water for a few minutes, then dry them well, including between the toes.
4. Trim toenails straight across and only slightly round the corners. Cutting deep into the corners can lead to ingrown nails.
5. Smooth hard skin gently with a foot file or pumice. Do not try to remove all of it, and never use a blade.
6. Push back cuticles gently. Do not cut living skin. Our cuticle care guide explains the difference.
7. Wipe the nails so they are free of oil and lotion before you paint.

Hygiene questions to ask a salon

A clean salon will be happy to answer these questions. If the answers are vague, choose another salon.

• How are the foot basins cleaned? Basins should be cleaned and disinfected between clients, or lined with a fresh disposable liner each time.
• Are metal tools sterilized? Look for tools that come out of a sealed pouch or a sterilizer, not from a jar on the counter.
• Are files and buffers new? Files, buffers and pumice stones are hard to clean, so they should be new for each client or yours to keep.
• Do you use razors on calluses? The answer should be no. Ask for a foot file instead. A blade can cut the skin and let infection in.
• How do you treat cuticles? Gentle pushing is fine. Aggressive cutting of living skin is not.

When not to get a pedicure

Postpone your pedicure if you have any of the following. Broken or irritated skin makes infection more likely.

• Cuts, scrapes, blisters, fresh insect bites or sunburn on your feet or lower legs.
• Redness, swelling, warmth, pus or pain around a toenail.
• Signs of athlete's foot, such as itchy, peeling skin between the toes.
• A toenail that is thick, discolored, crumbling or lifting from the nail bed.
• A painful ingrown toenail.

In these cases, see a doctor first. If you have diabetes, poor circulation or reduced feeling in your feet, ask your doctor before booking any pedicure.

Pedicure aftercare

• Give regular polish time to set. Wear open-toe shoes home and avoid tight shoes and socks for a few hours.
• Moisturize daily. Use a rich cream on heels and cuticle oil around the toenails.
• Keep feet dry between the toes after showers and swimming.
• Wear sandals in shared showers, pools and gym changing rooms.
• Refresh the top coat on regular polish every week or so to keep the shine.
• Take breaks. Remove polish from time to time and check the nails underneath. See a doctor if you notice changes that do not grow out.

Test the color before you book

CutieCure works on a photo of your hand, not your feet, but it is a quick way to test a pedicure color before you book a matching manicure and pedicure. Describe a look or upload a reference, add a photo of your hand, and the AI generates it on your own nails in a few seconds. CutieCure can also suggest colors for your skin tone and undertone.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Summer nail art trends
• How long do gel nails last
• Cuticle care at home
• Nail color palette finder

Related free tools

• Nail salon tip calculator: Works out the tip, total and per-technician share for a manicure, pedicure and add-ons, in any currency.
• Nail color palette finder: Builds a shortlist of polish shades that suit your undertone.

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