Spring nail colors have a reputation problem. Every year it’s the similar lineup – soft pink, pastel yellow, soft green – and every year they peak in April and quietly get replaced by something bolder.
Periwinkle doesn’t do that. Periwinkle is the shade that earned permanent residency on spring mood boards and then had the audacity to look even better in July.
It’s a blue-violet hybrid named after the wildflower (cute), cooler than lavender, deeper than baby blue, and it ranges from soft and muted to fully saturated depending on what you go for.
The violet undertone gives it enough pigment to build in one to two coats, which already puts it ahead of half the spring colors out there.
And the blue base keeps it cool-toned enough to wear straight through summer without looking like you forgot to update your nails.
It works with gold jewelry, silver jewelry, a tan, no tan. Periwinkle genuinely does not care. It just shows up and performs.
Crème finish on almond, square or oval nails? That’s the whole set, walk out the salon. And if blueberry milk nails going viral last season didn’t tip you off – that was periwinkle.
Chrome takes it into that reflective pastel territory that 2026 can’t get enough of, and jelly finish makes it look delicate and translucent.
Shimmer might be its single best look though if you ask me – built-in shimmer or a shimmery top coat over crème picks up light against blue-violet like nothing else does.
Periwinkle micro or regular French tips make every other pastel French tip look retired. Aura designs are another great call – they go cute and airy with this color instead of dramatic.
If you love a nail art moment, marble it for editorial energy. Polka dots and florals keep it fun, plaid with white or a darker periwinkle hue is preppy in the best way.
Periwinkle also looks great in mix and match designs with abstract details and metallic accents. And blueberry nail art on a periwinkle base? The colors are basically identical so the whole thing reads seamless. Peak spring/summer nail.
Polish-wise: my fave is DND Gel Polish Periwinkle #2533, which leans more blue. OPI You’re Such a Budapest goes more purple with a slight shimmer.
ILNP Wallflower is shimmer-forward periwinkle, and their Carried Away is great for a jelly moment with holo sparkle.
So yes, periwinkle is one of those rare nail colors that’s interesting enough to stand out but wearable enough to keep on for weeks. So if you’re only trying one new shade this spring, make it this one.
