Try red hot reds

Reds are the "little black dress" of nails and considered a neutral. A glossy red on short nails is fresh for day while shimmers add extra oomph for evening on longer, oval-shaped nails.

The trick to choosing any nail polish is determining your skin's undertone and selecting the shade that best enhances it. According to Jan Arnold, "Whether fair, medium or dark, the underlying skin tone will be different for everyone. To determine yours, look at the inside of your wrist. If the skin has an orange or yellow tint, like a sunset, you are warm. If the inside of the wrist has a blue or green tint, like the ocean or sky, you are cool." (Tip: Dashing Diva Polish in Convertible Red Connie, $7.99, is a true red creme that flatters most skin tones.)

Cool tones should try a blue-based, berry red (like OPI Nail Lacquer in Got The Blues For Red, $8.50, or Zoya Nail Lacquer in Divincia, $6).

Warm tones should select an orange-based, tomato red (like OPI Nail Lacquer in Cajun Shrimp, $8.50, or CND Nail Lacquer in Hollywood, $6).