9 Nail Polish Colors To Try Before Summer Ends
I got my nails done for the first time in years while I was in New Orleans for Essence Festival at M.A.D. Nails (owned by black girl boss, Morgan Dixon), and realized that I forgot how much I love getting them done.
The champagne. The girl talk. My nails not looking like a Freddie Krueger movie. The benefits are endless.
After my appointment, I started thinking about all of the colors I wanted to try before the summer's end. So, I started looking at some of the nail industry's most popular brands and came up with this list! It's filled with yellows (because you know, yellow was made to be worn by black women), corals, a little sparkle, orangey-reds; and brands that are 7- and 8-free (non-toxic).
*This list is specially curated by the xoNecole team and some links are affiliate links. If you purchase an item from an affiliate link, xoNecole might earn a small commission.
Mischo Beauty Diana Creme Nail Polish
Macys
Not quite a red, and not an orange, this nail color is excellent for someone who might want to take a chance outside of their signature red polish — and an added bonus is this brand is black-owned.
Zoya Austine
Amazon
ZOYA's line has over 400 color options, so it was difficult to settle on one color choice to try this summer. I went with the golden 'Austine' because honestly, gold and sparkle is never a wrong choice (well, in my opinion).
25th and June Magical as F*ck
25th and June
I am a longtime fan of 25th and June (which is black-owned), the vegan, 7-free indie brand has a bold yellow color that would look great as the primary color of your mani, or you could opt for a sunshine-inspired design.
Deborah Lippmann Above The Clouds
Nordstrom
Made with ingredients like evening primrose, biotin, and green tea extract, this blue polish will add subtle color to your beach-ready mani while keeping your nails strong and healthy.
Static Nails Mocha Pop-On Reusable Manicure Set
Nordstrom
Press on nails are back in a big way — even Beyoncé wears them. Static's mocha hued pop-on's are a nice summer nude to compliment your tan lines and they're reusable.
Butter London Trout Pout Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer
I know there is already an orange-red on the list, but I thought adding a lighter, coral color would be a good idea. If a nail polish formulated without chemicals like formaldehyde, DBP, toluen, camphor is important to you — Butter London is 8-free. Meaning the polish is free of all eight ingredients (tphp, ethyl tosylamid, and xylene) that studies show affect women's hormones.
Olive and June HD Polish with Cherry On Top Decals
Olive and June
Olive and June is an LA-based nail brand that is known for its whimsical designs and bright color palette. White nails are a warm-weather classic, and these little ice cream decals add a "cherry on top."
OPI To The Finish Lime!
OPI
If you're not ready to take the plunge to wear a bright green on your fingers, take a little risk and rock it on your toes.
Essie Tangoed In Love
Essie
This purple color might be a bit of a wild card, but the jewel-toned hue will make your melanin skin pop.
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Bianca Lambert is a proud Atlanta native soaking up the Los Angeles sun. She is the founder of Mae B: a stationery company for women of color and a digital content creator on a mission to elevate the voices of women of color everywhere.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
Courtesy
Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
Courtesy
Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
Courtesy
Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy