21 Neutral Manicure Ideas Perfect for Any Occasion

light brown almond nails — @lolo.nailedit / instagram

Timeless and ubiquitous, a neutral manicure is fitting for any occasion. While a simple nude certainly falls within the neutral category, it's not the only option. Indeed, neutral manicures span from pale pink to jet black—all you need to do is find your color of choice. To help you choose your perfect shade, we've scoured our favorite nail artists' accounts to find the most striking neutral manicures around. Ahead, browse 21 of our favorite neutral manicure ideas.

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Glossy Nude

nude nails with marble accents — @brownluxenails / instagram

It doesn't get more classic than a glossy nude manicure. We love the subtle peach undertones in this particular shade. Plus, the marble accent nail gives this muted mani a little edge.

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Italian Terracota

Terracotta-colored manicure — @betina_goldstein / Instagram

A caramel terracotta manicure feels warm and cozy. And while the orange-brown polish is a great pick year-round, it's particularly perfect for fall and winter.

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Pinky Lavender

Lavender manicure — @iramshelton / Instagram

If a baby pink manicure isn't your thing, consider playing around with variations of the shade. In this case, a hint of lavender transforms a pale pink polish into something unexpected (in the best way).

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Barely There

Who says you need to use a color? This manicure gets its barely-there milky tone from a base coat and a top coat—no colored polish necessary.

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Crisp White

white almond-shaped manicure — @lolo.nailedit / Instagram

An opaque white manicure will never go out of style. It's crisp, chic, and complements every nail shape.

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Neutral Gradient

This gradient manicure incorporates all the popular neutral shades. The transition from black to white polish is so stunning and striking.

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High-Shine Olive

olive green gel manicure — @nailsbycanishiea / instagram

Yes, olive is a neutral color. The dark green shade is such a pretty polish choice and looks even more dazzling with a glossy top coat.

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Ombré Nudes

Neutral ombré manicure — @heluviee / Instagram

Don't mistake neutral for boring. You can still play around with color in creative ways while sticking to a neutral palette, and this muted ombré set of nudes is proof.

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Muted Pink

A pale pink polish—not too bright and not too dark—is always chic. It's a soft color that exudes elegance, luxury, and glamour.

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Ethereal Cream

neutral nails with subtle shimmer finish — @melanated.mani / instagram

A shimmery, metallic manicure can be neutral if you choose the right base color. Start with a milky cream polish and layer on a shimmery top coat.

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Espresso Brown

Dark brown polishes are also fair game when it comes to neutral manicures. There's something incredibly chic and luxe about an espresso brown mani like this one.

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Red Wine

A burgundy manicure is simple yet statement-making. This luxe color is so eye-catching and bound to elicit endless compliments.

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Candy Apple Red

Red might not technically be a neutral color, but it's undoubtedly neutral when it comes to manicures. This candy apple red shade is undeniably classic and does match any look.

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Burnt Sienna

Not quite brown, not quite orange, we can't help but swoon over this burnt sienna shade. It goes with absolutely everything and somehow feels both timeless and on-trend.

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Pale Pink Chrome

This pale pink chrome is what we like to call a new-age neutral. Sure, you might not have considered it five or ten years ago, but today, it feels right at home among the nudes, pinks, and browns.

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Jet Black

short black square manicure — @iramshelton / Instagram

A black manicure can feel edgy, but you can easily make it more understated. To keep things more neutral, stick with a shorter nail length and a classic shape, like square.

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Forest Green

A green manicure can work for any occasion. It's all about finding the right tone: A brighter shade can feel very brat, but a deeper green (like this forest shade) feels elevated.

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Peach Stripes

Neutral two-tone manicure on almond nails — @paintboxnails / Instagram

Neutral manicures can still incorporate unique design elements. This mani, for example, features muted peach stripes across each nail. The resulting look has an elevated minimalist aesthetic.

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Light Brown

There's something about a milky, light brown polish that perfectly enhances the natural nail. It works for anyone, anytime.

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Peachy Pink

We love how a hint of peach can enhance a traditional shade of pink polish. The resulting pastel shade is like an elevated nude.

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Milk Bath Ombré

Ombre nude manicure — @lolo.nailedit / Instagram

This manicure uses three muted neutral polishes to create a soft ombré effect. It's one of those looks that catches the eye and requires a moment to appreciate all the tones fully.