Go Beyond Red, Pink and Heart-Themed Manis This February With Amethyst Nails

Traditionally, pink or red heart-themed manicures reign supreme in February—thanks to Valentine’s Day, of course. And while we love classic red or pretty pink polish color or dainty nail art any time of the year, a decidedly untraditional (but still attention-grabbing!) manicure idea to consider this February is the month’s richly-hued birthstone, amethyst.

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Amethyst is a decadent purple gem that ranges in hue from lilac and grape to plum and eggplant. According to the Geological Institute of America (GIA), early Greek mythology associated the gem with Bacchus, the god of wine, while others had a more practical idea of its influence; Renaissance Europeans thought it “calmed lovers overrun by passion.” It also had royal approval—Catherine the Great reportedly had a major penchant for the gem. Maybe that was because lore claimed it had “mystical powers” and would convey “strength and wit to those who wore it.”

To help inspire your anything-but-pink February manicure, we compiled nine fitting amethyst nail looks, plus nine polishes that you can grab to create a rich and royal look at home.

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Purple Chrome

Want to get in on the hottest nail trend of the moment? Make your manicure chrome. Here, celebrity nail artist Iram Shelton uses OPI’s Complimentary Wine ($12) with a chrome nail powder to create a unique purple-glazed look.

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Purple Marble

Shelton is also behind this stunning amethyst-hued mani with OPI’s Eco-manicac ($13) and Right As Rain ($13) from The Nature Strong collection. To see exactly how she created the look, click here.

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Pure Purple

In what may be a nod to amethyst’s “mystical” powers, this rich hue from Manucurist is called Mystic.

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Iridescent Magic

Nail artist Alexandra Teleki created this captivating pink and purple “thermochrome manicure” using a color-changing gel polish and this this pearl chrome powder. To see the transformation, click here.

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Abstract Amethyst

Leaning into the lilac facets of the gemstone, Shelton creates a simple but striking abstract nail design with Ella + Mila’s Mauve Over ($11).

More Amethyst-Inspired Polishes