After the BBC’s ‘racist nude nails’ row, expert reveals what your favourite polish says about you
A beauty expert says people’s preferred nail polish colours may influence their mood and offer clues about how they present themselves, as the debate over nude nails continues. The claim comes after a BBC article about nude manicures drew criticism for suggesting the trend could reinforce “white supremacist standards of beauty”.
Jyoti Verma, founder of Mirellé Inspo, says colour psychology may help explain these choices, though the article gives no specific studies to support the claims. She associates red with confidence and ambition, pink with warmth, nude with understatement, blue with calm and trustworthiness, and black with independence and creative confidence.
- Nail colours may affect mood through repeated visual exposure.
- Red is linked to confidence; pink to warmth and connection.
- The discussion follows criticism of a BBC article about nude nails.
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The BBC recently published an article about nude nail polish, a cosmetic trend featuring muted, skin-tone shades instead of bold colours. Critics objected to the article's suggestion that preference for nude nails might reinforce narrow beauty standards, sparking broader discussion about how the cosmetics industry defines and markets products like "nude" shades.
Jyoti Verma, founder of Mirellé Inspo, has contributed to this conversation using colour psychology, an approach suggesting that nail colour choices may reveal personality traits or emotional states. She associates different colours with different qualities, such as red with confidence or black with creativity.
The conversation points to a broader question about inclusive beauty standards. Because skin tones differ, a "nude" shade that suits one person may not work for another, raising questions about how the cosmetics industry develops and markets its products.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Beauty industry standards have historically centred lighter skin tones, making "nude" nail polish inherently exclusionary for women of colour for whom it isn't actually nude. Examining how terminology like "nude" reinforces Eurocentric beauty ideals is important for achieving genuine inclusivity, as these patterns subtly perpetuate the notion that one skin tone serves as the default standard.
The case against
People's choice of nail polish reflects personal preference and colour psychology rather than ideological commitment, and the industry has already responded by developing multiple "nude" shades for different skin tones. Characterising a beauty preference as racist may alienate ordinary consumers and distract from more constructive approaches to expanding representation in beauty marketing and product ranges.