Summer Red Nails

Summer Red Nail Colors: essie geranium, essie gel couture rock the runway, OPI Cajun Shrimp, L.A. Colors Color Craze Gel Samba

Summer Red Nail Colors: essie geranium, essie gel couture rock the runway, OPI Cajun Shrimp, L.A. Colors Color Craze Gel Samba

Updated 2024.11.04. This post contains affiliate links and Lots of Lacquer will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.

Red nails are a classic. They’re a staple in any collection, they’re an accessory that makes a statement, and they seem to go with just about anything. 

There are different types of reds, though, for different seasons - the reds you might choose in the summer are distinctly different from the reds you might choose in the winter.

Summer reds are vibrant, juicy and bright. They go by names like fire engine red, tomato and cherry. My favorite summer reds are the coral toned reds. 

All shown in 2 coats, below are swatches of 4 summer red nail polishes to consider:

essie geranium swatch

essie geranium swatch

essie geranium

geranium is a bright red coral cream. On the spectrum of corals, it leans more towards orange, so it is a great one to consider if you have warmer undertones in your skin.

To increase the longevity of this polish, pair it with the essie gel setter or gel couture top coat.

Get essie geranium on Amazon
essie gel couture rock the runway swatch

essie gel couture rock the runway swatch

essie gel couture rock the runway

rock the runway is a long wearing fire engine red that has medium coverage, meaning if you have nail tips, you may still see them on the 2nd coat. The gel couture line is my preferred essie line and I really like this one for longevity. It resists chipping, so if I intend to wear red for a week, this is what I lean towards.

OPI Cajun Shrimp swatch

OPI Cajun Shrimp swatch

OPI Cajun Shrimp

Cajun Shrimp is a popular summer red year after year and for a good reason. It’s a vibrant coral red with pink undertones that give it a juicy look. 

To get a longer wear time out of this shade, try it in Press On Nails or the Infinite Shine formula.

Get OPI Cajun Shrimp at Ulta
L.A. Colors Color Craze Gel Samba swatch

L.A. Colors Color Craze Gel Samba swatch

L.A. Colors Color Craze Gel Samba

L.A. Colors sent us Samba to share and we are so grateful because it is a captivating, creamy tomato red that's a true red (perfectly balanced warm and cool tones) like essie gel couture rock the runway, but brighter, more blazing.

It’s from the Let’s Get Wild Collection and you can find it at LAColors.com!

L.A. Colors nail polish has exceptional color payoff and longevity, paired with a great price point. I’ve worn L.A. Colors polish for over a week because they are so beautiful, unique and chip resistant. 

All in all, each of these reds are brilliant; reminiscent of hot peppers, tomatoes and ripe berries - perfect for summer!

If you’re looking for a bright true red, go with essie gel couture rock the runway or L.A. Colors Samba.

If you’re looking for a vibrant coral red, with a touch of orange or pink, go with essie geranium or OPI Cajun Shrimp.

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