20 Nail Ideas for When You Think a Proposal Is Coming

close up shot of a bride's hand and engagement ring — Photo by Rossini Photography

Be honest: You found the ring hidden in the closet. Or, maybe you helped pick the ring out and planned the engagement dinner (you do you!). Perhaps you just have a feeling that something sparkly is afoot. No matter how you sussed it out, your hands are about to be in the spotlight, which means it's time to get your nails photo-ready.

“If you have the hunch that your significant other is going to propose soon, and you're thinking about nail ideas, it's best to keep it simple,” says Rachel Apfel Glass, founder of Glosslab. “You don't want the color of your nails, or any nail design, to take away from the engagement ring itself.” She also notes that keeping things authentic to you is more important than anything else. So if you never paint your nails, stick to clear gloss or just a nourishing cuticle oil. If you’re never without nail art, don’t stop now (just dream up a design that you expect would complement your new bling, not overtake it). Simply put, embrace a manicure that will help you feel like yourself.

Meet the Expert

Rachel Apfel Glass is the founder of Glosslab, a NY-based waterless nail studio.

Below, we’ve rounded up 20 nail ideas for when you think a proposal is coming, plus the polishes and tools you'll need to get your hands in shape for their big moment. Read on for more.

01 of 20

Pastel Hues

bride and bridesmaids showing off their pastel color nails — Photo by Hipster Wedding

Pastel nails say “bridal” without a capital B, so your soon-to-be betrothed won’t be tipped off that you know what’s happening. A sage green like Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color in Cavalier Seul or a whispery lavender like Cote polish in No. 111 are perfect gentle hues.

02 of 20

Neutral Shades

bride putting on her earrings — Photo by Janet Lin Photography

When in doubt, a neutral nail never fails. Finding the right hue is a personal journey (whether you like it to skew a bit pink or more beige is up to you), but matching warm polish to warm skin tones and vice versa is a good rule of thumb to follow. For example, Nailberry Nail Lacquer in Almond is a cooler off-white pink option, while Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro polish in Let Nature Sing is nice a warm beige choice.

03 of 20

Delicate Florals

bride holding an ice cream cone with rainbow sprinkles — Photo by Kate Headley

Subtle floral nail art is just enough to keep your manicure interesting without stealing the show from a ring. More specifically, tiny daisies or a silver fern stem would be beautiful on all or just one statement finger. If you’re DIY-ing the look, in particular, pick up a super-fine brush to help you shape the petals without flooding your nails with polish.

04 of 20

Milk Bath Nails

close up shot of a brides hands with milky white nails — Photo by Shannon Moffit

TikTok’s favorite “Vanilla Girl” nail trend—an effortless, creamy, milky white—just so happens to be a beautiful neutral manicure for a potential proposal. Try two coats of Essie Marshmallow or ILNP Nail Polish in Snow Angel if you want to add a dash of shimmer.

05 of 20

Pure White

close up shot of bride's hand with white nail polish — Photo by Alicia Mink Photography

If you’re ready to lean into bridal white, who are we to stop you? A fully opaque, pure white looks crisp and clean on any skin tone—and happens to complement any ring. We love the look on short, square nails, painted with Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Nail Color in White on Time or Sinful Colors Nail Polish in Snow Me White.

06 of 20

Bubble Bath Pink

OPI’s Bubble Bath is a cult favorite for a jelly-sheer pink that—if we had to guess—has likely made an appearance at thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of proposals. For the same effect with a deeper, rosier hue, try Hermes Les Mains Hermes Nail Enamel in Rose Coquille, which would look great on darker skin tones.

07 of 20

Ombré Glitter

bride spritzing perfume — Photo by Lauren Baker Photography

If you’re expecting a glamorous proposal, or you’re straddling the manicure line between holiday and engagement, adding a little glitter never hurts. For this ombré effect, start with a neutral or light pink base and let it dry. Then, use a makeup sponge to dab on a glitter polish (Zoya Nail Polish in Cosmo Magical Pixie Dust for a chunky glitter or Londontown Lakur in Coconut Crush for a powdered sugar shimmer) starting at the base of the nail and tapering off towards the center to achieve the look.

08 of 20

Naked Nails

wedding guests holding pre-ceremony cocktails — Photo by Will Reid Photography

If you’re not one for manicures (or you simply don’t have time), naked nails are timeless—so long as they’re healthy and clean. When you’re getting ready for your partner to pop the question, file your nails into a uniform shape, and finish with a cuticle oil like CND Solar Oil and a rich, nutritious hand cream like La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Mains.

09 of 20

Bejeweled Nails

Neutral French manicure with pearls — Photo by Chris & Ruth Photography

If you’ve been dreaming of a bedazzled wedding dress since you were in grade school, and tend to do everything bigger and blingier, there’s no reason to be shy with your pre-engagement manicure. A few well-placed gemstones or pearls will add more sparkle and shine when your partner pops the questions.

10 of 20

French Manicure

Whether you like a thick crescent tip or a barely-there stripe, a French manicure is a classic engagement look. They’re also popular enough that, if you’re not handy with a brush, you can easily find a set of press-ons like Chillhouse Chill Tips in French Twist.

11 of 20

Mod Swirl

close up of a bride putting on her earrings with white swirl nail art — Photo by David Bastianoni Studio

We love this trendy mod twist on a French manicure that takes the white tips and turns them into whimsical swirls (which looks clean in white, but would be just as cheeky in a punchy color like blue or pink). This is a design we’d leave to a nail tech, however, unless you have steady hands or opt for falsies, like Static Nails Reusable Pop On Manicure in Sway in White.

12 of 20

Light Blue

photo of a person's hand with baby blue nails — Photo by Elias Kordelakos

Get a head start on your something blue with a manicure to match. Butter London Patent Shine Nail Lacquer in Candy Floss is a sweet and subtle baby blue, while Gucci Vernis a Ongles Nail Polish in Lucy Baby Blue is a bolder periwinkle hue.

13 of 20

Your Nails...But Better

woman holding a glass of champagne, wearing a yellow dress with silver foil — Photo by Nikki Daskalakis

If naked nails feel a little too, well, naked, and committing to one color is making your head spin, consider selecting a polish that just gives your natural nails a little oomph. A clear or barely-there tint will give you a perfectly polished aesthetic while letting the ring do all the talking: Two coats of Dior Nail Glow on bare nails should do the trick.

14 of 20

Tattoo Decals

Close Up of Brides Rings — Photo by Chi-Chi Ari

All these neutrals and solids have you yawning? Spice up a french manicure or nude base with sweet stick-on decals. These Lights Lacquer Nail Decals have a pretty assortment of spring flowers and butterflies, or you could add a little glam with these gold foil decal stickers from Deco Beauty. Once you’ve decorated to your heart’s content, seal the decal with a coat of clear polish.

15 of 20

Funky French

close up of woman's hands with orange tip french manicure — Photo by Karena Dixon Photography

Sure, French tips are classic, but do you consider yourself a classic bride-to-be? If you’re more like a martini with two twists, ditch the white and paint your French manicure with color tips. We like a poppy pink or even black depending on what kind of engagement you’re anticipating (poolside in Miami versus black-tie dinner).

16 of 20

Latte Lacquer

close up shot of a hand with pink nails and henna — Photo by Vinuthna Garidipuri

A camel beige or latte is clean and classic—especially in the cooler months were pinks and pastels feel out of place. We like the milk chocolate-hued Le Chat Nail Lacquer in Just Breathe, or ORLY Lacquer in Country Club Khaki if you like your espresso martini with a little less creamer.

17 of 20

Glazed Doughnut Nails

close up shot of bride's hands with fingerless gloves — Photo by Alen Karupovic

Hailey Bieber has touched just about every corner of wedding inspiration, so it’s no surprise that her glazed doughnut nail trend would find its way onto our round-up. To get the look, start with any color base (even red can be dressed up with a glaze), rub on a chrome powder dust with an eyeshadow applicator, and seal with a clear top coat. The shimmery manicure looks especially chic on long, almond-shaped nails (à la Bieber).

18 of 20

Sleek Black

bridesmaid holding a bouquet of white wildflowers — Photo by Hipster Wedding

Black nails are like a little black dress—guaranteed chicness. A few coats of glossy black lacquer, like Cirque Colors in Memento Mori, looks sharp on short lengths, while longer nails can play with some minimalist designs, such as leaving a nude crescent shape at the base of the nail, as seen here.

19 of 20

Sultry Red

wedding guest holding a cocktails with red nails — Photo by Heather Waraksa

Some things are just sexier in red: Ferraris, Negronis, lipstick, and nails. If you’re expecting a romantic engagement night with roses and champagne, you can’t do better than a deep red like Glosslab Nail Polish in OG Deep Red or Emile Heathe Nail Artist Nail Polish in The Perfect Red.

20 of 20

Cheeky Coral

close up shot of woman's hand with coral nails — Photo by Brogen Jessup

If you prefer a French 75 to a Negroni and a cute Ferris wheel proposal to sultry romance, dial back the saturation and opt for a cheeky coral pink like Nails Inc Nail Polish in Brighton Grove or JinSoon Nail Polish in Sinopia.

25 Engagement Nail Ideas to Flaunt Your New Ring