Looking rich isn’t about dropping $100 at the salon every two weeks—it’s about picking the right colors and making them look intentional. A bad nude polish or a cheap-looking red will betray you every time, bestie. If you want nails that scream designer bag energy without maxing out your credit card, here’s what works and what doesn’t.
1. Classic Nude Nails – The Ultimate ‘Old Money’ Move
A bad nude polish will expose you faster than a knockoff Louis Vuitton. The secret? Your shade should match your skin’s undertones, not just be a beige. If it’s too pink, yellow, or gray for your skin, it’s not a nude nail—it’s a problem. A good shade makes your fingers look longer, sleeker, and effortlessly polished, the way quiet luxury was meant to be.
Glossy, sheer polish will always look more expensive than thick, matte ones. You want that “your nails but better” effect, like a sheer luxury foundation for your hands. And if your cuticles are dry? Game over. No amount of polish will save a set of ragged cuticles.
2. Classic Red – Timeless and Powerful
Red nails are the definition of old-money confidence. It’s the shade of CEOs, heiresses, and anyone who knows exactly what they want. But not all reds are created equal. The second you go too orange or too neon, you’re in fast-food logo territory, not luxury.
A deep, blue-based or true red will always look more expensive than an orangey red. A high-shine finish is mandatory—glitter, shimmer, or matte will instantly cheapen the look. And whatever you do, make sure the application is flawless because red shows everything. If you can’t apply it perfectly, it’s better to skip it altogether.
3. High-Shine Black – Luxury, But Make It Bold
Black nails can go either way: expensive and sleek or one chipped corner away from looking like a high school emo phase. The key to rich-girl black nails is shine—like, patent leather, glass-like, can-see-your-reflection levels of shine. Matte black can be cool, but for luxury vibes, it’s glossy or nothing.
The shape and length matter, too. Short to medium, square or almond nails will always look high-end, while long, chipped, or uneven black nails? Giving Halloween DIY. The moment your polish starts peeling, the expensive illusion is shattered.
4. Milky White – Because ‘Clean Girl’ Energy Never Fails
There’s stark white, and then there’s milky white, and if you can’t tell the difference, you’ve been doing it wrong. Stark white looks like a school project gone wrong. Milky white, on the other hand, is soft, translucent, and clean in a way that makes people assume you spend $50 on a single candle.
The trick is finding a sheer white polish that applies smoothly, because anything thick or chalky will instantly look cheap. Application needs to be light-handed—thin layers only. If you slap on too much, you’ll end up with a chunky mess instead of a polished, clean-girl look.
5. Deep, Vampy Reds – Luxury, but Make It Dramatic
There’s a reason rich people love a deep, sultry red: it’s expensive, it’s powerful, and it looks intentional. These shades are all about depth—dark cherry, oxblood, and deep wine colors have cool undertones that make them look rich and polished. Warm, muddy reds? No.
Long, stiletto vampy nails can tip over into villain era real quick, so if you want to keep it luxury, stick to medium almond or square shapes. And matte? Let’s not. A glossy, fresh-from-the-salon shine is what makes these nails look rich, not dry and lifeless.
6. Milky Pink – The ‘Effortlessly Posh’ Color
There’s a reason every celebrity manicurist swears by soft pink nails: they always look put-together. But not just any pink—milky, neutral pinks are the move. Baby pink is cute, but milky pink is polished, understated, and gives that “I casually own a Birkin” energy.
The key to making this shade look expensive is avoiding anything too opaque. A sheer, natural finish will always look more refined than thick, Barbie-core pink. Two thin coats will always beat one thick one, and if you ever catch yourself debating between matte and glossy? Glossy wins. Every. Single. Time.
7. Brown Nails – Because Nothing Screams Luxury Like Neutrals
Brown nails are the quiet luxury flex. Dark chocolate, creamy latte, espresso—every shade of brown looks expensive when done right. It’s giving “I own a designer trench coat” and “this bag is vintage, not thrifted.” Cool-toned, chocolatey shades always feel more elevated than orangey, warm browns, which can lean cheap.
Dark browns have that bold, powerful edge, while lighter browns are perfect for that soft, neutral minimalism. But dry cuticles and brown polish? Absolutely not. Keep them moisturized, because dry hands and brown nails will instantly turn your “expensive” manicure into “public library furniture.”
8. Dark Green – The ‘I Have Generational Wealth’ Shade
Dark green nails have that effortless wealth energy. It’s not trendy or flashy—it’s just rich. Color psychology says deep greens remind people of money, luxury, and sophistication, and when done right, they give the same energy as a vintage designer coat.
To make green nails look expensive, stick to deep forest or emerald tones. Anything neon, bright, or too yellow-leaning instantly cheapens the vibe. And a clean, structured nail shape is crucial—messy green nails can go from “heiress” to “DIY disaster” real quick.
9. Chocolate Cherry – Deep and Moody Luxury
A perfect mix of deep brown and rich red, chocolate cherry nails look like luxury in a bottle. It’s that deep, moody shade that makes people ask what you’re wearing because it’s not quite red, not quite brown—it just is.
This shade works with any nail shape, but keep the length in check—too long, and it’s serving drama instead of rich-girl manicure. And as always, matte is not the move—glossy and sleek will always look richer.
If black feels a little too intense but you still want that moody, high-fashion vibe, navy blue is the answer. It’s deep enough to feel bold but cool enough to be effortlessly chic. This shade is what people who wear designer trench coats and invest in statement handbags go for.
The trick to making navy look high-end is to keep it glossy. Matte navy can look dull and lifeless, while a high-shine top coat gives that fresh-from-the-salon luxury. Keep the nails short to medium length, because super long navy nails can start looking like a bad editorial shoot.
And that’s it on expensive-looking nail colors. Now, over to you—what’s YOUR go-to ‘expensive’ polish? Drop it in the comments!
