50 Shades of Grey - NOT the book!

[christinedenice]

Who knew there are so many shades of grey/gray?

I'm currently obsessed with having grey nails, but just can't find the shade that's in my mind's eye. That shade is what I'd call Dove Grey -- the color that would result from mixing black with pure white, a color without undertones of other colors. It's also the color of the dresses the Pilgrim women wore in the illustrations that i remember from books in my childhood (a hundred years ago). 

So far, I've tried these:

- Essie Chinchilly: I like this one, but it is a taupey-grey
- L'Oreal Grecian Goddess : Looks like a perfect Dove in the bottle, but when applied is really a battleship grey with blue/green undertones and is darker on than it looks through the glass
- Essie Smokin' Hot : Have this on my toes now. It's a plummy grey and darker than what I'm after.
- Maybelline Impeccable Greys No. 410:  Haven't applied this one yet. I suspect it's going to be too dark.

Does anybody have any suggestions? Maybe I SHOULD just mix up some white and black polish, but the hunt IS kind of fun.

[marci65]

Zoya makes a dove gray -- it's called... Dove!    Very pretty.  It's a very pale, light, clear grey.  Greys look odd on me but this one works so I still have it. 

[christinedenice]

Zoya makes a dove gray -- it's called... Dove!    Very pretty.  It's a very pale, light, clear grey.  Greys look odd on me but this one works so I still have it. 

Thank you, Marci65. Sounds like what I'm looking for!

[marci65]

Zoya has some beautiful shades, so if you want to experiment, I am sure they have others in the gray family.  I hope it works out for you!

ETA:  I never know if I should be spelling the color "gray" or "grey".  LOL

[makinalist]

Did you want a matte shade or a shimmery one?

China Glaze Pelican Gray - dove gray creme with a little bit of micro-shimmer

China Glaze Recycle -  medium gray

Sally Hansen Dorien Grey - pale grey - looks very clean

Orly Mirror Mirror or Faint of Heart - creamy gray

[christinedenice]

Those sound lovely, Listy! I've added them to the list to check out. I'd prefer one without shimmer, but I just looked up a swatch of Pelican Gray, and it is beautiful, so maybe....

Marci (re: gray vs grey), me too! I just Googled, and it seems that "grey" is the usual British usage, while "gray" is more commonly used in the U.S.   

Thanks, ladies.

[SusieQ]

I have a couple of these but I just haven't tried them on.  I'll check my stash and let you know what I have and what I think when I get home tonight. 

[christinedenice]

I have a couple of these but I just haven't tried them on.  I'll check my stash and let you know what I have and what I think when I get home tonight. 

Thanks, SusieQ!

[makinalist]

Although I found other shades for you to consider, I have to say I don't see how you could go wrong with Zoya Dove!  It's very similar to Pelican Gray but with no shimmer at all.

[christinedenice]

Another vote for Dove and Zoya. Thinking that I must try this brand and this shade.

[makinalist]

Have you never tried Zoya at all?  In that case, definitely go for that one!

[christinedenice]

Have you never tried Zoya at all?  In that case, definitely go for that one!

I've NEVER tried Zoya, and I'm not sure how that happened!    Must. Rectify. Situation.

[makinalist]

Oh, yes - you must!  Zoya is good stuff.

[Swest]

I prefer 'grey' even though I am an unsophisticated American. And a bad speller apparently. Damn you spell check. Ive gotten lazy!

Those sound lovely, Listy! I've added them to the list to check out. I'd prefer one without shimmer, but I just looked up a swatch of Pelican Gray, and it is beautiful, so maybe....

Marci (re: gray vs grey), me too! I just Googled, and it seems that "grey" is the usual British usage, while "gray" is more commonly used in the U.S.   

Thanks, ladies.

[Styyna]

I use gray and grey interchangeably, totally dependent upon my mood. I have no idea why.