Summer is the perfect time to experiment with a fun nail polish color on your hands and feet. The thing is, too much fun in the sun can do a number on your mani/pedi, causing polish to fade quickly and leaving your nails feeling dry. 

Never fear: Ahead, we spoke with top manicurists and nail experts for their predicted color choices of the season — and their best summer nail care tips so you can keep your mani/pedi looking fresh for as long as possible. 

Best summer nail care tips

1. Don’t be afraid to try a new trend

Step out of your comfort zone this season and rock a new shade on your hands and feet. There are so many trends to choose from, you’re sure to find something that suits you. 

“This summer is giving naked,” says Sonya Meesh, celebrity manicurist. “I’m loving super natural, short, easy upkeep nails. There is absolutely nothing wrong with enhancements or long nails — this is just what I’m loving and seeing with clients.” 

If shimmer is what you’re after this summer, Meesh is a fan of KBShimmer Prism Break Glitter Polish Top Coat and KBShimmer A Star Is Formed Holo Flake Glitter Topper. They also like Hermes Nail Enamel in 01 Rose Porcelaine to create strawberry milk nails and Manucurist Active Glow for glowy, sheer nails. 

Meanwhile, as the season heats up, Hemi Park, LECHAT Nails brand educator, thinks we’ll see more vivid brights on everyone’s digits. “The biggest upcoming summer trending colors will be blindingly bright neons and breezy ocean shades,” she says.

To achieve this look, Park recommends LECHAT Perfect Match Happy Hour (a radiant lime yellow neon polish), LECHAT Perfect Match MOOD Tangi Mango (a temperature-activated polish that turns bright deep orange to yellow), and LECHAT Perfect Match Metallux Hypnotic (a color-shifting purple green duo-chromic polish). 

Finally, Amy Ling Lin, CEO and founder of nail polish and nail care brand sundays, says white, chili pepper red, and vibrant unicorn pink are three nail polish trends that will be big this summer. 

You can try these trends with shades from the sundays polish collection. No.01 is a soft pure white color that “is refreshing to wear during the summer time,” says Ling Lin. No.13 is a vibrant red that “is energetic, spicy, and will boost your everyday mood,” she says. And L.02 “is more mature than Barbie pink but still full of energy,” she adds. 

If you’re too shy to go for a bold hue on your nails, “pedicures are a great way to experiment and try trends and colors you’ve never thought to do on your hands,” notes Meesh. 

2. Prevent dryness, fading, and chipping 

Chlorine, salty sea water, and sun exposure can dry out your nails, making your manicure become dull and chip easily, explains Lin Ling. The solution, she says, is to wear hand cream and cuticle oil to hydrate your nails after sun exposure. She likes sundays HC.01 Extra Hydrating Hand Cream and the brand’s cs.02 Hydrating Cuticle Serum. 

Park notes that moisturizing is key not only for preventing drying out of your skin but also to keep your natural nails healthy. “Nails are just like hair and they can become brittle without proper moisturizing,” she says. “Healthy nails will definitely keep those nail enhancements —gel nails, dip nails, acrylic nails, etc. — lasting a long time without lifting.”

Don’t forget about your pedicure: Park says it’s equally important to keep your toenails properly moisturized as it is to moisturize your heels and sandal-ready feet. 

“Exposure to water in general will make your nails more likely to chip,” adds Meesh. “If you’re in a pool, do your best to keep your hands out of the pool — unless you’re actively swimming, of course — and the same goes for the beach.”

To prevent color fading during the summer, apply a thin top coat over your nails every two days, says Lin Ling. This can help shield your manicure from the UV light from the sun so it doesn’t get dull and easily fade. She recommends sundays T.01 Protective Top Coat, which helps protect against discoloration, chipping, and peeling. 

3. Pack a travel nail kit with you on vacation 

So you got a manicure before heading out for a summer trip — but then it chipped (or worse, one of your nails broke!) soon after you got to your destination. There’s an easy fix: Pack a travel nail kit with you, suggests Lin Ling. 

It’s easy to throw in your bag, and if your nails break or chip while on the go, you can fix them right away before they get worse, she says. The sundays Travel Nail Kit comes with a quick dry oil, polish remover, glass file, buffer, and cotton pad. 

4. Know when it’s time to take a break 

If you’re traveling for an extended period, it’s important to be realistic about what you can maintain when it comes to your nails, says Meesh. “If you know you won’t be able to get a fill for a while, remove your enhancements,” they say. “A mani break is always better than a nail break. Plus, Meesh says you can always use press-ons if you truly feel nude without a mani.