The toughest frivolous decision you’ll make this summer: bare or bold for beachready feet.

Mademoiselle, ballet slippers, south o’ the highway – these perfect pinks from Essie have been nail-salon favorites for brides, bankers, and babysitters alike. Weathering trends from watermellon reds to smoldering midnight blues, sheer pink was the safe way out of statement toenails.

This summer, however, banish the banal simulacra of nice nude nails for the real deal or go all out with electric hues that are more vegas showgirl than sophisticated Lincoln Center prima ballerina. It’s a tough choice; here, we hash out the details.

For some, the bare toenail is the ultimate trophy. It speaks to a free spirit and yet is presentable, shiny, and sandal-ready. Because the unkempt bare toenail is so atrocious, women who can properly pull off a buffed look really stand out. They rise above the ranks of flaking, yellowed, uneven, and, dare we say, fungal footsies. Plus, no worry about chipped nails, clashing colors, or pigment-staining.

At-home buffing is hard to achieve. Luckily, beach-worthy toes start at the beach. Sand, nature’s exfoliant, sloughs off dry cuticles and rough-polishes ridged toenails. Frolic shore-side enough, and you’re already in great shape.

For extra help, banish cracked callouses with the info-mercial favorite Ped Egg ($10 pedegg.com). While the tool may no be as effective as a vigorous pumice in the salon, use the grater after a long shower for real results.

The key to a polish-less foot is maintaing that just-moisturized glow. Make sure to use a heavy foot cream like L’Occitane’s cult favorite shea butter foot cream ($20 for 2.6 oz loccitane.com); they’re meant to work on rougher oil-starved feet unlike lighter body lotions. Keep cuticles soft and pliable with a cream or oil – bliss’ Problem Salved multi-use balm works wonders ($18 sephora.com). File diligently to keep nails short and strong. Lastly, invest in a buffing kit and have at it. You can’t overdo a good buff, make it a pastime in front of the tv. Too much effort? Sally Hansen makes a natural one-step coat of fast-drying shine (Natural Shine, sallyhansen.com for stores). Just swipe and go (though moisturizing and callous removal are still a must).

Still, all of this fine footwork may seem a big boring for summer.

Enter acid-hued highlighter colors. Early adaptors (tweens and hipsters) sported acrid yellow and cheeto-orange last summer but the lacquers are now office and family-event appropriate. The colors add a bit of edge without looking like you walked out of an American Apparel ad. Be sure to apply two coats of topcoat; the chemicals that add pigment punch don’t provide dazzling shine.

Not quite ready for safety-yellow? Consult a crayola box. Grass-green – yes green – is a fantastic pop of interest peeking from a nude heel or yellow peep-toe. Blue, a big trend for winter nails, transitions into summer; this time choose robin’s egg over metallic navy. Again, go heavy on topcoat to make sure these shades look sophisticated rather than like a toddler’s poster-paint accident.

No matter the choice, you’re summer toes (and salon savings) are sure to justify some fancy new sandals.