It’s Confirmed: This Season’s Trendiest Manicures Are Finally Putting These 6 Nail Looks to Rest
Last weekend, I made my first appointment for a gel manicure this fall and made the mistake of waiting until the last minute to land on a polish color and design. (I started scrolling through nail looks on the 15-minute car ride over.) I found myself looking at DND, OPI, and Essie polishes on TikTok, where nail-loving content creators reviewed and modeled their favorite shades and nail designs of the season. With hundreds of inspiration images at my disposal, I ended up sticking with my trusty neutral pink and convinced myself that it would be the best way to transition from the citrus-inspired shades and playful designs of the summer.
As much as I loved the clean nail look I had landed on, there was a side of me that was in the mood for a fall manicure that incorporated some of the season’s biggest trends, so I went back to the drawing board. Since then, I’ve reached out to two manicurists for their predictions for the outdated nail trends that we’ll be seeing less of this season as well as the ones to try, and I set another appointment in early October for a fresh start. Read on to see which ones I’ll be trying and retiring.
What nail looks will be outdated this fall?
The arrival of a new season brings with it endless opportunities to upgrade beauty habits and look to fresh sources of inspiration. Freelance manicurist Erica De Los Santos clued me in on some of the major nail trends that have reached the end of their cycle and the ones expected to take their place. “This fall, we’ll be saying goodbye to the jelly finishes and ultrabright colors that dominated earlier in the year as the season shifts toward a more grounded, cozy vibe,” De Los Santos begins.
While there is no one way to go about achieving the perfect fall manicure, consider choosing shades that reflect the changing environment around us on the western hemisphere this time of year. “Muted, earthy tones like chocolate browns, warm caramels, khaki greens, and deep jewel shades are replacing neon brights, while ombré and gradient looks are stepping in for bold, high-contrast designs,” says De Los Santos. Adding a hint of shine or texture can also take any manicure to the next level, so don’t shy away from chrome finishes and nail toppers.
If you, like me, tend to gravitate toward lighter neutrals, you’re in luck— they’ll also be sticking around with a chic, seasonal twist to take us through the fall and well into the winter months. “Instead of loud, playful hues, nails are taking on a more sophisticated edge with moody colors, soft neutrals, creamy off-whites, and layered effects like chrome accents, subtle polka dots, or tortoiseshell textures,” she continues. According to De Los Santos, the looks we can expect to see lean away from flashy shades, textures, and finishes and toward “rich, dimensional elegance that pairs seamlessly with fall fashion.”
What stands out about this year’s trends?
In the midst of diving into all this fall beauty, I enjoyed the opportunity to look back at the trends that served us well and what led to the formation of the new ones populating our Pinterest feeds. So far, all the nail trends I’ve been saving use the season’s traditional colors with fashion-forward details. For De Los Santos, what stands out the most about this season’s trendiest manicure looks is how they balance richness and subtlety. “Instead of bold, playful brights, muted tones are stealing the spotlight—often paired with matte finishes that give nails a soft, modern edge,” she explains.
Vicki Ornellas, manicurist and global educator at Salon Perfect, agrees with this sentiment, highlighting the rise of clean, no-fuss manicures this fall. “I see clients wanting a sleek minimalist look but also wanting a little flair,” she says. Glass nails, for example, easily achieve this. Offered in a wide range of color options, these nails can be created with fun, colorful sets or with a classic, sophisticated touch. “Glass nails are a layered design with dimension and depth,” explains Ornellas.” To pull off this look, she combines cat-eye gel, jelly color gel, and chrome powder.
De Los Santos predicts that the transition from fall to winter nail trends will be marked by additional color and design trends. “I predict the season’s manicure trends will shift from the cozy muted tones of browns, khakis, and caramels into deeper, more dramatic shades that feel richer and bolder for the holidays,” De Los Santos says. She names jewel-like garnet, inky navy blue, and classic black with a glossy or metallic twist as the shades to be on the lookout for. “Where fall is about softness and balance with matte finishes and earthy neutrals, winter tends to bring in a bit more glamour—expect to see deeper tones paired with chrome, shimmer, and glitter accents that catch the light in festive settings,” she adds.
How can I create on-trend nails at home?
Now that you know which nail trends are on their way out (as well as those that will be spotted on all the most fashionable people), why not try these out for yourself? They can easily be created without a trip to the salon in the comfort of your own home. De Los Santos recommends focusing on good prep with clean cuticles, making sure a smoothing base coat and thoughtful color choices are on hand. “Muted earthy tones, deep jewel shades, and creamy neutrals are the stars right now, and you can elevate them with a matte topcoat or subtle accents like ombré fades, metallic tips, or tone-on-tone dots,” she says.
For polish colors, De Los Santos recommends Morgan Taylor’s Living Our Life Collection ($35), which includes a deep indigo, a metallic reminiscent of pumpkin spice, an ivory cream, and others to choose from for a dreamy fall manicure. Essie is also at the top of her list. She cites seasonal staples like Crochet Away ($10) as well as other earthy neutrals and Western-inspired browns to pick from. To create the popular glass nails in minutes, Ornellas advises using the Salon Perfect Magnetic 1-Step Gel Polish in Nude Silver ($10) and a cylinder magnet to create the effect before applying one coat of the 1-Step Gel Polish in Candy Skies ($7). From there, apply a topcoat and cure before finishing with a chrome powder and more topcoat to complete the look.
Ready to try your first nail look of the season? Keep scrolling for a closer look at the six nail trends that we’ll be seeing less of and their noteworthy replacements, plus chic polish shades and helpful tools for your at-home manicure sessions.
Animal Textures vs. Animal Print
As much as I adore a good animal print on nails (I’m talking about everything from pop art variations to extra-fine brushstrokes for each hair), this season will be all about embracing animal textures. Alligator, snake, and tortoiseshell prints are having a moment, offering the perfect opportunity to tap into your wild side with deep, luxe shades of brown, tan, off-white, and black with a hint of rusty orange.
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Artdone
Nail Dotting Tools 6pcs Double-Ended Nail Art Brushes
Static Nails
Tortoise Shell Reusable Pop-On Manicures
Moody Designs vs. High-Contrast Details
Vintage-inspired prints like polka dots have been one of the most defining nail designs of the year, and we’ll be seeing more of them heading into fall. However, we’re officially trading in the light and airy polka-dot prints seen this summer on the nails Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa for a deliciously moody touch. This season, warm, shimmering shades of cashmere pink and berry red will be warm-up manicures below black polka-dot details.
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OPI
Nail Polish in Worth a Pretty Penne
Mirror Chrome vs. Glazed Shimmer
The chrome looks à la Hailey Bieber that broke the internet are here to stay, but this fall is shaping up to have chrome nail looks that are much more cosmic than traditionally cozy. The glazed, shimmery manis of seasons past are being replaced with elegant, cool-toned chrome shades. Think glass nails with even more pigment and shine. The best part? The look is easy to re-create with the help of metallic polish and nail powder to finish things off.
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Essie
Special Effects Nail Polish in Cosmic Chrome
Nails Inc.
Mirror Chrome Nail Polish in Silver Served
Minimalist Glass vs. Busy Designs
Glass-inspired nail finishes were spotted on the fashion crowd as early as last spring, but we’re starting to detect a shift toward minimalist finishes with warm undertones rather than the icy shades and citrus-inspired brights that dominated the beauty space in the first half of the year. This clean approach to a manicure is undoubtedly bumping the nostalgia-fueled, busy designs and 3D nail art of this summer.
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Salon Perfect
1-Step Gel Magnetic Polish in Silver
Salon Perfect
1-Step Gel Polish in Candy Skies
Tactile Textures vs. Jelly Finishes
This fall, I’ll be taking notes from the stunning fabric textures and touches featured on this year’s spring/summer collections. Nail experts are sensing a return to bohemia and grunge with eye-catching touches inspired by the chunky belts, studs, knits, and layered fabrics we’ve seen on runways of NYFW. That’s right—the barely-there hints of color and glossy finishes of jelly nails are saying goodbye just in time for sweater weather.
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ILNP
Nail Polish in Party Topper
Manucurist
Green Natural Nail Polish in Milky White
Retro Florals vs. Vintage Rosebuds
Florals might be a shoo-in for spring, but they’re also springing up on nails for fall with some retro inspiration. Coquette manicures claimed the first few months of the year with soft petal details and whispers of pink for a timeless touch, but retro fall florals are coming for their crown. Using the season’s trending nail shades and dots, these whimsical designs are easy to create at home and request at the nail salon. All you need is a good eye for color pairings and an idea of flower art placement.
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Londontown
Dot & Detail Nail Art Tool
Canni
Gel Nail Polish Set
