The Nude That Belongs to You: A Guide to Finding Your Shade
A Nail Care Expert in Old City, Philadelphia on Why Nude is Never One-Size-Fits-All
In the world of nails, few colors are requested as often—or misunderstood as deeply—as nude.
We see it all the time. Women enter a nail salon with the hopes of finding their nude, only to find out that the salon has four shades of nude, and she must conform.
You’ve likely seen them: beige, taupe, soft pink, and maybe a brown—if you’re lucky. But when your undertones are cooler, rosier, or have a hint of olive, those colors don’t feel authentic—they feel imposed.
But here’s what we know at Atelier Anaiis: nude is not a single color. It’s not beige by default. It’s more than just four shades.
It’s a spectrum. A story. A feeling. And more than anything—it’s personal.
For the women who visit our Old City nail studio, nude isn’t a way to disappear or hide.
It’s a way to simplify. To let their natural selves take center stage without the noise. Nude becomes a safe haven—offering elegance without pretense.
It blends physical tone with emotional clarity, reflecting a desire to show up in the world as the purest version of themselves.
It becomes a time machine, flying over short-lived trends and representing the essence of who they are tirelessly.
Still, many women are understandably hesitant before they come to us. They've tried "nude" shades before at other nail salons—only to walk out with something too gray, too orange, too dull, too stark.
They’ve never felt comfortable in one of the stock bottles of nude that nail salons slapped onto their nails.
They haven’t felt the thrill of the journey and discovery of their nude yet.
This blog is for women like them.
At Atelier Anaiis, we believe every woman has a nude that was made for her—and that discovering it is a quiet luxury in itself.
Throughout this blog, you’ll see the shades of nude that we’ve crafted specifically with our clients—every single one unique, expressive, and personal.
If you’ve ever wondered if nude could be better–more considered, tailored, and less cookie cutter, we’re here to reassure you.
Your perfect shade of nude exists.
And when you find it, it won’t feel like settling.
It will feel like home.
Nude Is Purity
In the introduction above, we shared that for our clients, nude isn’t a way to disappear or hide. It’s not about playing it safe or masking flaws. So what do we mean?
When chosen with intention, nude is the purest form of self expression.
There’s no bold pigment to distract, no dramatic color to conceal. The canvas is laid bare. And that’s exactly why, at Atelier Anaiis, nude requires more—not less.
Before the exploration of your perfect shade of nude can even begin, one thing must be in place: the cleansing and restoration of the natural nail’s foundation.
Not a quick five-minute swipe at the start, but a fully integrated, intentional part of every manicure. Why?
Because when the polish mirrors your skin tone, every detail becomes visible. Every dry edge. Every uneven surface. Every hangnail.
Nude leaves nothing to hide behind—and that’s the point.
To wear nude well, the canvas must be healthy.
That’s why at our Old City nail care studio, our Deep Clean Manicure becomes even more of the lead character with nude shades.
The removal of damaged skin, treatment of hangnails, and the careful shaping of the nails are executed with precision.
With nudes, a single irregularity can throw off the entire look, because in this case, the polish won’t do any concealing. It will reveal.
To us, this is the beauty of nude.
It honors the natural nail. It asks for care, not camouflage.
And when done right, it creates something quietly powerful—nails that are a pure reflection of you.
Nude Is a Conversation
Nude, when done right, should feel like it belongs to you. But the truth is: it’s rare for any woman to truly match one of those pre-made nudes.
And when the shade isn’t quite right—when it leans too pink, too yellow, too gray—what should feel effortless and timeless can feel slightly off.
Like wearing someone else’s foundation, or being dressed in someone else’s idea of you.
At Atelier Anaiis, we approach nude differently.
Finding your shade isn’t a quick selection—it’s a conversation. One that unfolds slowly, as we begin to understand not only your skin tone, but how you see yourself and how you wish to be seen.
Nude is deeply personal.
It’s emotional. It often holds unspoken elements—memories, moods, a quiet desire to feel more at ease in one’s own skin.
All the more reason the conversation between you and your manicurist matters.
We begin by pulling five or six polishes—starting points, not prescriptions.
As we swatch, layer, and mix, we’re not just observing undertones. We’re listening for resonance.
Do you want your nude to feel polished and composed? Or soft and nearly bare? Should it echo your elegance, your strength, or your restraint?
The process is intuitive and collaborative, built on mutual attention. And by the end, the shade isn’t just beautiful—it’s yours.
It reflects who you are, and perhaps more meaningfully, who you’re becoming.
There’s a kind of relief in finding a nude that feels like home. And there’s comfort in knowing that you can return to your shade again and again, each time you return to our restorative space in Old City.
That’s the difference between being handed a nude and discovering your own.
Nude Is Not Rushed
If you’ve ever felt like traditional nail salons didn’t really see you, you’re not alone.
So many of the women who walk through the doors to our Old City studio come with similar stories—of being rushed through appointments, of having their preferences glossed over, of settling for shades of nude that never quite felt right.
In most salons, “nude” is reduced to a handful of preset shades—not out of malice, but because their business is built on speed.
The goal is efficiency: to get you in and out as quickly as possible.
With that model, grabbing a single bottle and applying three coats is the fastest route to being done.
There’s no room for conversation, no space to explore undertones, depth, or detail.
But nude—true nude—is never generic. And it’s never rushed.
If the salon you visit is built on speed, there’s little chance you’ll find your shade of nude there.
Because finding something that feels like it belongs to you requires more than a bottle off the shelf—it requires time, observation, and communication.
It requires a different kind of environment entirely.
At Atelier Anaiis, our 90-minute Signature Foundation Manicure is designed to offer that environment.
Seventy-five percent of the appointment is dedicated to our Deep Clean Manicure, where we tend not only to the health of your nails and surrounding skin, but begin to study the details: the warmth or coolness of your undertones, the way your complexion shifts in natural light, the shape and strength of your hands.
We notice what’s often overlooked—because we’re not in a hurry.
This isn’t just about preparing the canvas.
It’s about beginning a conversation—one that centers on how you want to look and feel. A conversation most salons don’t make time for.
We work differently.
When sufficient time is allocated, nuance has space to emerge.
And in those quiet, unhurried moments, we begin to uncover what truly suits you—not what’s popular, not what’s convenient, but what feels aligned.
Atelier Anaiis doesn’t create nudes by consensus—we create nudes by coherence.
Your shade should feel effortless.
It should melt into your skin, stretch beyond your fingertips, and feel like second nature. It should make you feel polished without being painted. Present, not performed.
Because the right nude doesn’t just blend—it belongs. And that kind of belonging isn’t rushed. It’s earned, with care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes your nude gel manicure different from other salons?
A: Most salons offer four or five "universal" nude polishes and apply them without much exploration. We don't believe in universal. We believe in yours. Our nudes are custom-layered, blended, and refined with you during your appointment, based on your complexion, your preferences, and how you wish to present yourself in the world. Your manicure with nude won’t just look good—it will be yours.
Q: Why is cuticle care so important when wearing nude polish?
A: Because nude reveals everything. When the polish closely matches your skin tone, there’s nothing to distract the eye—no bold color, no shimmer, no smoke and mirrors. Every detail is visible. That’s why we treat cuticle care—through our Deep Clean Manicure—not as a quick step, but as the foundation. Healthy skin, smooth edges, and clean lines are what allow nude to look refined, not raw.
Q: I’ve never felt confident wearing nude polish—how do I know you’ll find the right one for me?
A: You’re not alone. Many of our clients come to us after years of feeling like nude shades weren’t made with them in mind. Our approach is built around exactly that experience. We take the time to understand not only what suits your skin, but what feels like you. When you finally see your shade—authentic, timeless, and true—you’ll know. Because it won’t feel like settling. It will feel like home.
For Every Shade of Woman
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
At Atelier Anaiis, we believe this is what nude is–an embodiment of your spirit.
You weren’t meant to fit into someone else’s palette.
Your shade of nude is not an approximation.
It’s not “close enough.”
It’s a tone made with you in mind—deliberate, dimensional, and deeply personal.
Each shade we create is meant to reflect who you are—not who the world expects you to be.
When you’re ready, we’ll be here to help you find yours.
