Rihanna's Super Bowl Nail Polish Is Available for $15 (2024)

While many of the best red nail polishes are getting extra shine thanks to TikTok's viral Red Nail Theory, true beauty enthusiasts know that these timeless shades are anything but new. In between testing vibrant blues, petal pinks, and gravitating toward my holy-grail French manicure, wearing a red manicure always makes me feel like I'm That Girl.

"I love that it has a name now," director of OPI global education design Heather Reynosa tells BAZAAR.com of the trending color theory. "In nearly 30 years of being in the nail industry, red is always a winner, and many times when a client has their partner choose a color for them, they opt for a red, more often than not. Do I think it has something to do with their mothers? Not really, but I do think there is something to a red manicure that is both sexy and conservative, flirty and strong. Confidence is attractive, and red nails are boldly confident while still very approachable to wear."

JINsoon founder and celebrity nail artist Jin Soon Choi agrees, adding that red has been a quintessential polish shade not only for years, but for centuries. "Red manicures never go out of style because they're striking yet classic shades that are associated with passion and love. Indeed, the first nail polish color is believed to have been a deep red that originated in China 3,000 B.C.." she says. In addition to the specific undertones of a red shade, whether warm or cool, its glossy, satin, or matte finish can also help define its ultimate color payoff.

According to professionals, the only real drawback of wearing red polish is that it can sometimes stain the nail bed, cuticles, and skin around your fingernails when worn without a base coat, which is why it's essential not to skip the step when first applying red polish. And when it's time to remove a red mani, make sure to apply cuticle oil first, then saturate a cotton or lint-free pad with your remover and hold it on each nail for up to 10 seconds. This process allows the product to penetrate through multiple layers of polish, and ultimately soften them for cleaner removal. "After between five and 10 seconds, swipe straight down the nail and away from the fingertips, and avoid scrubbing back and forth over the nails and surrounding skin," Reynosa advises.

For an easy guide to find the best red nail polish for you, we've rounded up a short list of editor and expert picks that are worth adding to your manicure rotation, and work for just about any occasion.

Related: The 15 Most Iconic Shades of Red Lipstick

Beauty boss and style icon Rihanna wore this fire-truck engine red nail shade at the 2023 Super Bowl, which all but confirms that the evergreen trend shows no signs of slowing. "We wanted the nails to pop so we went with CND’s Devil Red, which is the perfect true red that really complements her tone," celebrity nail artist Kimmie Kyees says of the star's halftime performance manicure. "The longer length square shaped tips also beautifully lengthened her hands while still staying true to the classic look."

Perfect for warmer months, this pinker take from Hermès that nicely arrives in one of its coveted orange boxes. And since it contains a rounded brush for application, it's easier than ever to paint your non-dominant hand.

"Red is a universal color that looks good on any skin tone, which is why it remains an enduring choice for manicures," Choi says. Named by supermodel Edie Campbell, this vibrant polish shade from her brand adds an instant energy boost to any manicure, and is ideal for both spring and summer.

You won't need an LED lamp to keep this deep red polish from chipping: Nearly 1,600 Ulta customers swear by Essie's long-lasting Gel Couture that lasts for up to two weeks.

The high-shine payoff of this warm red polish is enough reason to use it again and again. But as an added bonus, its glossy formula is also made to smooth out ridges and imperfections on the nail surface for a flawless finish.

"OPI Big Apple Red is perfect for almost every skin tone—it's the perfect neutral, classic vivid red, and provides a bold finish that's effortlessly chic," Reynosa notes. "Wear it on a longer pointed almond for drama, or a clean, short, perfectly manicured nail—both are equal parts classic and modern."

Chanel's pigmented Gitane red is a standout on darker skintones, and formulated with conditioning ceramides to help keep your nails healthy and strong. "The degree of brightness and the tone of the nail polish is what makes one shade stand out from another within the context of how the red polish contrasts with the user's skin tone," Choi adds. "Brightness refers to how light or dark the red shade is and tone refers to the opacity and depth of the pigmentation and prevailing undertone. The higher the pigmentation, the more intense the color."

Here's a glossy option that's created with the cushioning effect of a traditional gel manicure, and makes choosing your next red hue a no-brainer.

You'll get plenty of bang for your buck (and wear in fall in winter) with this bordeaux-toned polish from Olive and June, that features a hint of brown.

While this satin-finish polish looks great on just about anyone, its pigmented color especially pops on olive skin with yellow and green undertones, which look best in warmer reds.

For an option that doesn't scream red, consider this brick version that works for any season. "This is by far the best polish I've ever had on my nails. It all begins with the easy application—the brush is very wide and allows for no streaks in the nail," writes one satisfied Nordstrom customer of Dior's popular formula.

Professional nail artists say that red polishes featuring bluer or cooler undertones are best for fairer skin tones. "Cooler skin tones (undertones of blue; you tend to look great in silver jewelry and icy blues) will be beautifully accessorized by a blue-based red," Reynosa explains. This pick is inspired by the shade of Christian Louboutin's coveted soles.

For more than 150 years, Harper’s BAZAAR has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.