Concrete is our new colour palette
In the world of bright nail colours it's easy to overlook the nondescript grey. However, as these designs prove, there's more to grey than just being the colour of Mrs Hinch's house. From ombre acrylics, to marble gels and reverse French manicures, we scoured Instagram to bring you our edit of the hottest grey nail inspiration out there, no matter your nail length or shape.
From salons like London's Nails & Brows Mayfair, to New York based Paintbox Nails, not to mention Lizzo's dedicated painter Eri Ishizu and everybody's favourite Instagram artist, Betina Goldstein.
Much like the film, there are multiple shades of grey, which is why we've also included a variety of skin tones, so you can see whether you would be best suited to a warm, cool, or neutral undertone.
If you don't want an all over shade, the neutrality of grey means it's the perfect backdrop for a bold pop of colour. Use a nail dotting tool to add a flash of neon yellow like Sabrina Gayle, or add some cute red lightning bolts like Jen Seales. Can't decide on just one pop of colour? Opt for Natalie Pavloski's mix and match reverse French mani.
Whatever you design you opt for, make sure to tag us in your nail pictures so we can see and share your handy work. Most importantly, don't even think about having your Sunday paint session without reading this first (50 Shades of grey playing in the background optional)...
1
Soft pops
We love a reverse French and while we're used to seeing it paired with bright colours, this softer version is just as stunning.
2
Lady Danbury
If you're looking for bridal inspiration, look no further than these Bridgerton inspired nails by Shoreditch Nails.
3
Interior design
When it comes to nail art inspiration, we love @thehangedit, especially this grey and yellow design which looks suspiciously like our living room.
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4
Muted brights
Yellow and grey is a pretty failsafe colour combination and you can go as bright as you want.
5
Brush strokes
For a chic design, stick to colours in a muted palette, like these by Selfish London.
6
Dotty jewels
All you need is a dotting tool and a gem to spice up a simple negative space mani.
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7
Rainbow clouds
Brighten up your colourless mani with a pop of bright pastel like this reverse French design.
8
Black on grey
Let your nails reflect your wardrobe with this intricate nail art.
9
Danger zone
We love the simplicity of this neon yellow and concrete grey design.
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10
Rebel rebel
Let a simple grey background showcase your nail art skills, like this speckled lightning bold design.
11
Classic cool tones
You can't really go wrong with a classic all over grey, as this shade - 'Thistle Thicket' by CND proves.
12
Holo
Is this technically classified as grey? Who cares, we love holographic nails.
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13
Touch of mauve
If you suit warm tones better than cool tones, look for grey shades with a hint of purple.
14
Neon pop
This orange squiggle shines even brighter thanks to the matte top coat.
15
Petrol spill
Ask your nail tech to add metallic foils to your manicure like this oil-spill pattern.
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16
Choc block
If intricate nail art isn't your thing, play around with geometric patterns and clashing colours.
18
Duochrome
For grey nails that are anything but flat, try a metallic duochrome polish that reflects a different colour.
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20
Ice cold
Adding blue and purple glitter flecks makes this manicure fit for Princess Elsa herself.
Laura Capon
Former Senior Fashion & Beauty Writer
Laura is a former writer for Cosmopolitan UK, covering everything beauty and fashion related and specialises in makeup, plus-size fashion and the world of YouTube. Her favourite pastime is reminding everyone of that one time she met Charlie Hunnam and Jason Momoa. Please don't ask to see the pictures...
