Trends, wondrous trends, have given us the blues and then purple-pink manis. But now it is time to acknowledge the latest entrant that has taken over the Instagram feeds of your favorite beauty influencers and has become the talk of the beauty town—the best gray nail polish. 

Don't take us wrong, we love a fresh set of manicures in the most vivid and vibrant shades of the color wheel. However, once in a while, the heart may set itself upon a monochrome look. And gone are the days of black and white. It is the various shades of gray (fifty or maybe even more!) that are reigning supreme in top nail salons, from smokey charcoals to delicate dove and stormy slate to soft silver. 

Gray nail polishes offer unparalleled versatility, presenting a poised palette of shades that effortlessly align with your unique style and mood. Seasons, events, and skin tones, these nail paints transcend every boundary. This is why through our trial and error, we found the top nail polishes in gray, just for you. Keep scrolling for more, and take your pick from our handpicked recommendations!

• 1
  Best for Special Occasions

  ZOYA Nail Polish - Dove

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This creamy texture nail polish by Zoya is lovely. The perfect tint of grey, this nail paint is suitable for daily wear as well as special occasions. The soft undertones add a hint of glamor to your hands. Suitable for all seasons and all skin tones, this nail paint is luxe. Made with premium quality ingredients, it is chip-resistant and long-lasting. 

2

Best for Special Occasions

OPI Fall Wonders Collection 2022

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When in doubt, always opt for OPI. Made with top-quality ingredients, this nail paint is easy to use and lasts long. Loved by supermodels, influencers, and nail aficionados, this lacquer is free of animal-derived ingredients. The dark metallic gray makes it suitable for the party season. Add a hint of charm and charisma to your entire ensemble with this beautiful tint. 

3

Most Vibrant

Beetles Gel Nail Polish, Oh Whale

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Get your hands on this gray nail polish from Beetles that is gray like the whale, hence, the shade's name. It is a gorgeous color that is suitable for all seasons and occasions. Whether you want to use it as a daily wear nail paint or keep it for special events, the choice is yours. This gel nail polish has a pretty thin consistency and offers a glossy finish. After trying out this product, we discovered it has slightly blue undertones.

4

Most Long-lasting

Vishine Soak-off Gel Polish, Dark Grey

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For salon-like results from the comfort of your home look no further than this dark gray nail polish from Vishine. With purple undertones, this shade can be your easy entry into the world of dark nail colors without being too dark. Its allure is everlasting and will let you make a bold statement wherever you go. Our research indicates that applying this gel nail polish with a base and a top coat will add to its looks and longevity.

5

Best Opacity

VENALISA Gel Nail Polish, Medium Grey

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Gray nail polish colors come in many shades, and this one from VENALISA is neither too light nor too dark. It is just the perfect gray in the middle of the two ends of the spectrum. It comes with a large angle brush that gives an even application with just one stroke. The color is nicely opaque and can be used to make cute little nail art. Drawing from our experience, it is quite easy to use and will last a long time.

6

Best Quick-dry Formula

essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Color, 30 In The Modern

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This award-winning light gray nail polish from essie is the epitome of elegance. It is ideal for those individuals who are always on the run and cannot bear to sit and wait for their nail paint to dry. Thanks to its quick-drying formula, your fingertips would be free in no time for your next adventure. It is a blue-toned gray that doesn't require any base or top coat to unleash its full and true vibrancy. However, as indicated by our tests, using a top coat can add to its longevity and prevent chipping.

7

Most Chip-resistant

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure, All Grey All Night

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Achieve salon-like results at home with the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure. It is a fan-favorite, and all for good reasons. The light gray shade works well for all skin tones. It adds a unique and trendy element to your manicure. Formulated with a keratin complex, you can count on it to not just paint your nails but also protect them. Our team discovered through using this product that it comes with a wide brush that allows precise, easy, and quick application in just one stroke, making it a good gray toenail polish.

8

Most Glossy

RARJSM Professional Gel Polish Holographic Gel, RAR169

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You can still make the whole place shimmer with this gray gel nail polish RARJSM Professional. It has a beautiful holographic effect that becomes more apparent when used with a base coat. It offers a different final finish with different base coats. This nail polish is perfect for the Eras tour season and because it is slightly sheer on its own, you may also use it over other nail paints for a cool glittery effect. After putting it to the test, we discovered that it is not clumpy or grainy at all, a problem rather common with shimmery nail colors.

9

MAYCHAO Jelly Nail Polish, Jelly Grey

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A stylish gray color that lasts forever from MAYCHAO is what you need to get the most beautiful nails of your dreams. It is a pretty and vibrant jelly polish. The light gray nail color looks so soft and ethereal, adding a touch of serene elegance to your fingertips. Based on our firsthand experience, this polish is buildable, and you will see a different yet beautiful hue with each layer. You can also add a top coat to create a more glossy or matte look.

10

Best Overall

AILLSA Jelly Gel Nail Polish, Dark Gray

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Not everyone likes an opaque color. And this is the best gray nail polish for such people, given its gorgeous sheer finish. Jelly gel polishes are trending and this shade will help you stay at the top of all the current nail trends. Our findings show that you can create multiple looks with the same polish. Play with the layers to create ombré nails or layer the polish differently on each nail for a gradient manicure, the choice is yours.

11

Most Sophisticated

Revlon Nail Enamel, Sophisticated

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Revlon nail enamels have made their name in the beauty industry and have acquired cult favorite status. It doesn't come as a surprise that their gray nail polish is flying off the shelves owing to its popularity. It is quite a light shade of gray with blue undertones. Thanks to its efficient brush, you can apply the nail color with ease and precision. When we trialed this product, we discovered it will last you a long time while maintaining its color and vibrancy.

12

HTPARY Gel Nail Polish, Dark Grey

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Some are still wary of gray nail colors as they suspect this shade can easily look dull or drab. But rest assured and lay all your apprehensions to rest with this HTPARY Gel Nail Polish in the shade Dark Grey. It is a bright and beautiful gray color, so vibrant that you won't be able to take your eyes off it. After conducting experiments with it, we found out it has a gorgeous glossy finish that stands the test of time quite well.

13

GAOY UV Gel Polish, Sage Gray

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When the trends screamed gray, GAOY took it very seriously and formulated some of the best-looking shades of gray fingernail polishes suitable for various skin tones and undertones. They legit have one for everyone. This particular shade mixes two of the trendiest colors to give you a gorgeous sage gray. You only need one coat, and you are all set with a vibrant and glossy manicure. Through our practical knowledge, we suggest using it with other shades of gray or black to create different looks.

14

CND Vinylux Long Wear Nail Polish, Above My Pay Gray-Ed

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This gray nail color from CND Vinylux will show you what 'premium quality' truly means. It has a high-shine formula infused with skin-friendly ingredients like vitamin E, jojoba oil, and keratin. This helps maintain the health of your nails and keeps them strong. It doesn’t require a UV lamp and works just fine without curing. It comes with a wider and flatter brush for better coverage and a flawless finish. Our investigation demonstrated that it must be used as a system with the top coat for lasting results.

15

MEGIOR Soak Off UV Gel Nail Polish, Gray

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If its cute little bottle is not convincing enough, then this gorgeous shade of gray from MEGIOR should be enough to get you to open your wallet. It is a pretty translucent color that looks great with both glossy and matte top coats. This gray gel nail polish has little to no odor and won't crack or chip. We have found from using this product that it has a slightly thin consistency making it easier to use more of the product, which must be avoided. Use a light hand for best results.

With a great number of shades available in the market comes a great feeling of overwhelm. So, we created a guide to make things easier for you when it comes to the selection of your ideal gray polish. Here are the factors you must keep in mind to make an informed choice:

Ingredients

Read the ingredient label and opt for nail polishes with non-toxic and non-irritating ingredients. Confirm whether you are allergic to any of the ingredients listed. Also look for nail-benefiting ingredients like vitamin E, jojoba oil, avocado oil, glycerin, and keratin.

Skin Tone and Undertones

Consider your skin tone and undertones while choosing the gray shade of your choice. But that's not all. You must also consider the undertones of the gray nail polish to ensure that it flatters you the best and fits your preferences.

Finish

Determine if the nail polish is sheer, jelly, or opaque. Each of these finishes offers distinct results. Also, consider whether you want a matte, glossy, metallic, or shimmery finish.  

Formula

Opt for a formula that offers smooth application. It should not streak or feel clumpy, especially when it is glittery gray nail polish.

Longevity

Pick gray nail polishes that last long and are chip-resistant to avoid frequent manicures.

Customer Reviews 

Do your research and read customer reviews and feedback to understand the product's performance in real life.