Best Hard Candy Nail Polish Dupes: Shades Similar To the Beloved ‘90s Brand
Take a walk down memory lane with these Hard Candy nail polish dupes that are sure to boost your mood and pretty up your nails
You may think nail polish really is just nail polish: pick out your favorite shade, swipe on a few coats and that’s that. However, there’s more to it than the pretty hues that meet the eye. Nail polish actually has the ability to bring back memories, taking us on a walk down nostalgia lane. One that immediately comes to mind for us? Hard Candy nail polish, the cosmetic brand that ruled the ‘90s. Their polishes were worn by just about everyone, and their fun, spunky shades made your mani stand out in the best way. Most of their nail polish has now been discontinued, unfortunately, with the exception of a few shades sold on Walmart’s website. That’s why we rounded up the best Hard Candy nail polish dupes that will scratch that nostalgic itch and deliver a gorgeous manicure at the same time.
Why was Hard Candy nail polish so popular?
There are some beauty products that truly just stick with us, even years after they were launched or discontinued — and Hard Candy nail polishes were one of those products. They were the “it” nail trend, if you will, of the ‘90s and early 2000s, similar to the Lip Smacker chapsticks and glosses and GAP perfumes.
At the end of the day, most nail polish formulas are very similar and will give you very similar results. What made Hard Candy stick out amongst other brands was their branding and packaging. Their bottles had fun, little shapes on them, from hearts to stars to diamonds and more. Plus, their color options were endless, with dozens of glittery, shimmery, chrome, metallic shades and just about everything in between. They conveyed an image that was sassy, confident and all about having fun. Check out the video below from TikToker @vintage_dusties to see the nostalgic shades.
@vintage_dusties I have had such a blast collecting vintage Hard Candy polish! If you have something that I don’t have and you’re willing to destash, please reach out! Which do you want to see swatched? 👀 #vintagenailpolish #hardcandy #vintagehardcandy #90shardcandy #vintage #90s #2000s #y2k #90skids #genx #millennial #90snostalgia #nostalgic90s #nostalgiacore #y2kbeauty #y2kaesthetic #oldschool #oldschoolcool #90scosmetics #90snails #90snailpolish #vintagenails #hardcandymakeup #2000sbeauty
Additionally, they were seen on some of our favorite celebrities and in some of our favorite movies. One example is when Lindsay Lohan wore the polish in The Parent Trap, more specifically a gorgeous, blue metallic color as seen in the TikTok below by @vintage_dusties.
@vintage_dusties The Parent Trap had quite a few iconic Hard Candy polishes, let’s identify them! @lindsaylohan #vintagenailpolish #hardcandy #nailpolishhistory #nailpolish #popculture #theparenttrap #lindsaylohan #vintagecosmetics #cosmeticshistory #90s #1990s #90snostalgia #nostalgic90s #1998 #swatch #millennial
The best Hard Candy nail polish dupes
Keep reading for our favorite polish brands and shades that will give you the same nostalgic vibes as Hard Candy but are easily available to purchase today.
Color Club Nail Lacquer
Founded in 1979, Color Club is nothing new — they’ve been around for decades and is another one of those classic, nostalgic beauty brands we all knew and loved. Good news: Color Club nail polishes are still around! They have hundreds of shades to choose from, from bright neons to neutrals to metallics, with retro packaging that reminds us of the retro look of Hard Candy. They’re also very affordable, with most of their nail polish costing less than $10. A few of their shades that are most like the OG Hard Candy polishes are Don’t Kale my Vibe, a dupe for Hard Candy Beetle, and Grill Cheese, a dupe for Hard Candy Angel.
L.A. Colors Nail Polish
L.A. Colors is known for their highly affordable cosmetics, with many of their products even available at Dollar Tree. Their nail polishes are no exception, with most costing just $2 or $3 — a steal! They are similar to Hard Candy nail polish with their retro, ‘90s-esque packaging, and they have also been around for years. As far as their Hard Candy nail polish dupes, try shade Bubbles, a dupe for Hard Candy Sky, and Seafoam, a dupe for Hard Candy Sushi.
Sally Hansen
We couldn’t leave Sally Hansen off this list… they’re one of the OGs! Talk about shade range, they have hundreds of polishes and are essentially guaranteed to have any color you could dream of. One of our favorite shades? The Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Polish in ‘Frozen Solid’, which looks shockingly similar to The Parent Trap shade in the earlier mentioned TikTok.
Nails.inc
We love the unique rectangular-shaped bottles of Nails.inc nail polishes, making them look more “fun” and unique, just like Hard Candy. Most of their polishes cost around just $8, and are easily available at Target, Sally Beauty and more. A few notable Hard Candy nail polish dupes shades are House Hunting in Holland Park, a dupe for Hard Candy Violet, and Wellness in Wimbledon, a dupe for Hard Candy Mint.
