Manicures are so much more than just colorful fingertips. They're a means of self-expression, self-care, and joy — that is, if you can ever decide on a nail polish color.

Picking out a shade among the wide array of options you're faced with at your local nail salon, beauty-supply store, drugstore, or beauty boutique can prove to be no easy feat. After all, you could be faced with a wall filled with not only hundreds of hues but lots of finish options, like rich cremes, high-shine glitters, and statement mattes.

Remember, it all comes down to your personal preferences at that moment and what you think will make you happiest when you look down at your hands for the next week or two. But if you're still not sure what color to try next and you're looking for inspiration for where to begin, we've pulled together a guide to the best nail polish colors of all time with options from prestige, drugstore, and indie brands — all curated by top editorial nail artists such as Rita Remark, Mar y Sol Inzerillo, Miss Pop, and more.

Whether you're looking for the blackest black like Essie's Licorice or summer nail colors like a vibrant pink neon (we're looking at you, Butter London's Strawberry Fields) — we got you covered. Read on to find your new favorite shade.

Jet Black

We don't care what season it is —pure, undiluted, and densely pigmented,"

Dusty Pink

"Dior Incognito is a beautiful neutral that complements every skin tone," says Inzerillo. And that's the truth. Plus, it goes with every outfit, too. A win-win in our book.  

Cherry Red 

A cherry red with blue undertones, like Chanel Le Vernis in Pirate, is both sophisticated and eye-catching.