Evil Eye Guide

Every color means something different

The nazar is not one charm — it is ten, and the shade of the bead changes what it is believed to guard. Here is the complete index: by color, by culture, and by what people actually wear.

10Colors indexed
7Cultures
3,000+Years of use
ColorsAll 10Dark BlueLight BlueRedGreenYellowWhite

Dark Blue

The classic nazar. Guards karma and fate — protection from what you cannot see coming.

TurkeyGreecemost common
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Light Blue

Open sky and clarity. Traditionally given to travellers and anyone starting over.

travelnew startssky
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Red

Courage and energy. Worn when a situation demands action rather than patience.

courageactionpassion
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Green

Balance and success — the shade most often given as a gift for a new venture.

growthgiftsnew ventures
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Yellow

Concentration and physical health. The least common color and the most specific in purpose.

healthfocusvitality
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White

The clean-slate shade: purity, clearing away what clung to you, and protection for the newest lives.

clean slatebabieslight
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Black

The heaviest guard: absorbs the worst, worn in the hardest seasons.

strengthgriefabsorption
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Pink

The gentle guard: friendships, tenderness and the relationship you have with yourself.

friendshipself-lovegentle
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Purple

The mystic's shade: intuition, imagination and finding balance after upheaval.

intuitioncreativityspiritual
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Orange

The happiness guard: joy, playfulness and the motivation that makes things fun.

joymotivationwarmth
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Where it came from

The belief is older than any religion that adopted it: admiration carries weight, and a look given with envy leaves a mark. Every culture built its own version of the guard.

Turkish Nazar BoncuğuTurkey →Greek MátiGreece & Cyprus →Hamsa vs Evil EyeMiddle East & North Africa →Italian MalocchioItaly & diaspora →All cultures7 →

What to actually buy

Most of what is sold is decoration. These guides cover the pieces that hold the symbol properly, at each price point.

Evil Eye Braceletsguide →Evil Eye Necklaces & Pendantsguide →Evil Eye for Menguide →Evil Eye Ankletsguide →All buying guides6 →