Prom is upon us, and though you may already have an outfit, makeup look, and hairstyle picked out for the big night, you can’t forget your prom pedicure. If you were looking for the best pedicure colors to DIY for prom night, you’ve come to the right place.
Of course, not everyone needs a pedicure for prom. The style of outfit you choose for the occasion (prom dress, prom suit, or a combo of the two?) will determine your footwear for the night. But if you are opting for sandals or open-toed heels—meaning your toenails will be on display—then a cute pedicure to complement your outfit or manicure can go a long way, whether you opt for a natural nail look or something more striking.
Fortunately, prom season coincides with the arrival of warmer weather, which means if you already had your eye on some of the trending spring and summer pedicure colors, your work is halfway done. If you want more solid ideas specifically for prom night, we have tapped the experts to share their best tips and picks for prom-pedicure colors. Keep reading to make sure you nail your prom pedi!
Meet the experts
- Krystal Oh, NYC-based nail artist and founder of Krystal Oh Nail Salon
- Rebecca Isa, creative director of Zoya
- Gina Edwards, celebrity manicurist and KISS Nails & imPRESS Mani brand ambassador
- Julie K, celebrity manicurist and KISS Nails brand ambassador
Prom-pedicure colors FAQs
What is some key DIY prep that prom attendees can do at home to ensure their pedicure is at its best on prom night?
Prom night might be one evening, but prep starts way before that. “Start with exfoliation to smooth everything out, then go in with a rich moisturizer or oil—hydrated skin makes any polish look instantly better,” Rebecca Isa, creative director of Zoya, tells Teen Vogue.
Julie K, who has worked with Rachel McAdams, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jessica Chastain, and more, has a three-step prep routine: “Soak in an Epsom salt bath, soften calluses, and trim nails.” She adds: “KISS has a full pedicure kit that will help get your feet prom-ready.”
You can, of course, keep it simple or go all in on the TLC. Isa says, “For next-level prep, [a product like the] Rescue & Repair Kit helps strengthen and restore nails with a patented serum that mimics the nail’s natural moisture. The Hydrate & Heal Kit, featuring a hyaluronic acid serum and ultra-nourishing cream, keeps heels and cuticles soft and smooth. It’s the easiest way to ensure your pedicure looks polished, healthy, and prom-ready,” adding, “Think of it as your mini reset moment before the big night.”
Gina Edwards, who has worked with Rachel Zegler, Lila Moss, and more, says, “A fresh, clear coat and cuticle oil is an easy way to ensure your pedicure is looking fresh and shiny.”
Once you have your pedi style in mind, it’s time to plan ahead. As a reminder, Julie K says, “Just make sure your nails have dried fully before applying the nails or polishing.”
Says Isa, “When painting, keep layers thin, and finish with a glossy topcoat. Pro tip: Do it the night before so you’re not rushing day of, and opt for a breathable, long-lasting formula like Zoya to keep everything looking fresh.”
Krystal Oh, who has worked with everyone from BLACKPINK’s Jennie to TWICE’s Momo, shares a similar sentiment: “Prom night is not the time to rush through a pedicure if you are using regular nail polish. You will smudge it if you try to rush," she says.
“With regular polish, apply it the night before and give it a few solid hours before bed, otherwise you’ll wake up with sheet marks,” Oh points out. “Always finish with a glossy topcoat for that fresh, glossy look, and take your time shaping. Clean edges make everything look more put-together.”
Oh continues, “My hot tip, whether or not you’re running late, is semi-cured gel nail strips. They apply like nail stickers but adhere to nails with a UV lamp, so there’s no drying time required. They don’t smudge, they don’t chip, and they stay exactly how you applied them. Plus, you can choose designs with tiny details or micro motifs that feel fun but still polished.”
Are prom pedicures overrated or a must?
This question is highly subjective, so we will offer up the old adage: It depends. But the general consensus seems to be that if the toes are out, a pedi is a nice little detail.
“Since this year strappy sandals, thong heels, and other heels that show off the toes are trending, pedicures are a must," according to Oh. "If you are wearing shoes that cover the toes, then maybe they’re not so necessary. But if you’re getting dressed from head to toe, the toes should look pretty.”
Isa says prom pedis are “definitely a must.” She adds, “It’s one of those finishing touches that pulls everything together. Even if it’s just a peek through your shoes, having a polished pedicure adds to that overall confidence. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference in how put-together you feel.”
Edwards brings up another point: Even if you don’t plan on wearing your toes out, chances are they will be on display, even if only momentarily. “At some point, the heels come off, and the toes take center stage on the dance floor,” she says.
Notes Julie K, while literally being “dressed head to toe” is nice, the pampering aspect of a pedicure can also help ease your worries going into prom season. It’s a little time you take for yourself before one of the biggest nights of your life, after all.
What prom shoes make a pedicure shine brighter?
“Strappy sandals and open-toe heels are perfect for showing off your pedicure,” Isa says. “Minimal styles or metallic finishes, like silver or soft gold, help highlight the polish without competing with it. They create just enough contrast to make the color pop, especially under evening lighting.”
Adds Oh, “Strappy sandals with clean silhouettes show off pedicures the best,” while Edwards says the key is finding a sandal “that complements your pedicure shade and showcases your toes.”
If you don’t want a matchy-matchy look, Julie K has an alternative suggestion: “I like a bit of contrast,” she says. “If you have a more neutral shoe and your pedi is really sparkly or a bright color with either a press-on or a super shiny topcoat, the neutral shoe will really allow your pedicure to stand out and be the star of the ‘toe'! Get it?”
Are there any prom-pedicure no-go's?
If you have decided to go for a prom pedicure, there are some things to take into account and to avoid while you are getting ready—and they mostly involve patience. “Anything that feels rushed, like chipped polish or uneven application, is the biggest no-go,” Isa says. “I’d also avoid overly heavy designs on toes, which can feel less refined. Prom is a timeless moment, so sticking with clean, well-applied color or a subtle shimmer tends to photograph and wear the best.”
Says Edwards, the key is not to neglect prep. “Even without polish, your feet should be clean, well-hydrated, and beautifully filed,” she says.
Oh agrees: “The biggest no-go is one that doesn’t look groomed. Even if you opt out of any color, take a little time to file and shape your toes,” she says. “It takes a few extra minutes, but it makes all the difference.”
But if time is of the essence and you know you're gonna need to trick the clock, Julie K has tips: “Make sure your polish is not chipped badly or grown out more than two weeks. But if you run out of time, you can throw another coat of the same color on and a quick-dry topcoat—from afar they'll still look shiny.”
11 best pedicure colors and ideas for prom
“A classic for a prom pedicure is a French tip,” Edawards says, adding that an easy way to achieve the French pedicure look is KISS Pedi in Two of a Kind.
“French is always the most classic for prom,” Julie K agrees. “Color choice also depends on if you wear a shoe that matches your dress. Red dress and red shoe, then I would go for a French or neutral toe; or you can go with a neutral shoe—nude, black, gold, silver—with a color to then match or complement the dress.” A French tip with a sheer pink is particularly interesting, she adds, because it will look even more natural if you decide to go for the French manicure and pedicure combo.
If just a French tip is not your thing, Oh says, white polishes will always be a classic for prom pedicures, no matter the nail trends of the moment. “A clean white pedicure makes everything feel intentional and styled, especially with strappy heels,” she says, recommending Kijibae’s Moon Dust. If you don’t want just a minimalist white, Oh suggests “playing around with an ombré look if you want to add a little more to it.”
If you want something that has the same essence as a classic French pedicure or a simple white wash, glossy neutral nail colors that complement your skin tone and undertones are a great alternative.
“At Zoya, we’re seeing a big return to clean, glossy nudes that give that effortless your-nails-but- better look, which works with literally any prom vibe,” Isa tells Teen Vogue. “For an even more perfected finish, Zoya’s Perfectors are a go-to—like the new Pure Perfector Plus for a universally flattering pink-beige with smoothing, ridge-filling benefits, or Pink, Nude, Buff, and Mauve Perfectors to tone-correct and enhance your natural nail. It’s that polished, healthy look with just enough coverage to feel prom-ready.”
In the same realm of subtle pedicures, Isa says, shimmery shades will be massive this prom season. “This year is definitely about subtle self-expression, but still elevated,” she explains. “Subtle shimmer is having a moment—Zoya’s Opal Perfector Plus Trio is a favorite because it gives that lit-from-within glow without feeling overdone.”
Julie K also says that, “of course, a sparkly glitter” will be big this prom season. You can choose to rock it on its own for a whimsical touch or layer it over other nail polish colors for a wow factor.
If you are looking for something a bit more colorful and playful, do not shy away from color for a pedicure. Trending nail colors like butter yellow are a big yes for prom night, which you can rock well past the big night. “Butter yellow is super fresh and cute," Julie K says, "and I think we will see that a lot this year. Fun fact: My prom dress was butter yellow.”
If butter yellow is not your cup of tea, Isa says, shades like soft lavenders, lilacs, milky blues, and “sheer, jelly-like finishes that feel fresh and a little nostalgic” will be big this prom season.
Julie K says that baby blue will also be a big one. And “pastel green is also trending," she adds, "so I see that being a shade we see—a very light, almost neon pastel shade.”
Oh says mix-and-match pastel colors are the way to go, like Kijibae’s Pastel Dream set. “Even though darker, jewel-tone colors are trending for dresses; pastels are for those who aren’t that serious, still wanting that coquette aesthetic,” she says. “It feels playful and not too serious.”
In this realm, we find Oh’s beloved pale pink, which she adds a twist to with Be My Lover. “This is the very classic, pretty, girly pink. It’s subtle, romantic, and looks good in every single photo,” she says.
Red is the MVP when it comes to perennial pedicure colors, and that holds true for prom night. “You can never go wrong with the classics—they’re classics for a reason,” Isa says, adding that “a true cherry red” is always a good idea. Edwards says “spicy tomato,” like DND’s Ferrari red, is particularly exciting this season.
Like red, pink is a prom classic that's not going anywhere. If pastel is not your vibe, hot pink—think Barbiecore— is a “fun trending color” this year, according to Edwards, who suggests the imPRESS pedi in Bloomi for a one-and-done take. For a slightly deeper take on bright pink, Julie K favors Almost There. Ombré styles, similar to KISS’s multicolor airbrushed look, are also big. “[This one is] so pretty and very on-trend with what I saw in Japan when I was there twice last year,” Julie K adds.
Another classic that Oh favors for prom is a warm chocolatey brown, like Dipped Strawberries and Mocha Frappé. “Brown tones feel richer and more elevated than a beige when you’re looking for a neutral shade," she says. "They’re soft, glossy, and unexpectedly chic against the skin.”
If brown feels too sober for a night like prom, Oh suggests a bright teal like Got Splashed. “Teal is that one pop color that instantly makes a pedicure feel fresh," she says. "It catches the light beautifully and stands out without clashing.”
If none of the above seem like a perfect prom-pedicure for you, then a mix-and-match combo might be right up your alley. “For those who are wearing darker shades, mixing and matching colors like navy and cream livens up the pedicure,” Oh says, pointing to Kijibae’s Heartless as the ideal example. Opting for a color combo like this one, she says, gives the pedicure dimension, which helps elevate it and make it “feel more styled.” You can achieve the same eye-catching effect using nail lacquers; just think about the color combo before you apply the nail polish.
