OPI Takes Nail Polish Into The Metaverse

Call me woo-woo, but nail polish vibes are a thing. It's basic colour theory, and the premise, should you choose to buy into it, is that wearing a specific nail colour can have a subliminal impact on your mood — and creativity.

Author and colour expert Walaa, told me that while red nail polish is rooted in energy, wearing a shade of purple can help fuel creativity. More than the colour-theory perspective, nail brands and creatives are leaning into this subliminal connection between manicure and imagination. The throughway? Gaming. OPI just launched its newest polish collection, a "virtual" colour collaboration with Xbox.

According to OPI's co-founder Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, the the OPI x Xbox collab centers around creativity (and shades of purple are very-much present). "The collection’s colours reflect infinite possibilities to create," Weiss-Fischmann explains, touching on the cross between gaming and painting your nails. "Whether you play video games as a creative hobby or as a way to relax and connect with friends, nail care offers these same benefits."

You don't have to be a gamer, or even own a controller, to appreciate the new OPI collection. The overall vibe is bright and refreshingly optimistic for wintertime. Specifically, I'm into the new light-blue shade, if only for its name, Can't CTRL Me. But, You Had Me at Halo is a close second, and it's purple.