We’re Waving Hello to Fall in These 20 Beautiful Fall Nail Colors (2024)

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You know what’s interesting? I didn’t start getting my nails done until I was about 25. You see, I grew up playing the piano rigorously (my mother was a piano teacher), so my nails needed to be short and natural to maintain a sense of professionalism. I can’t fit a Yamaha Grand Piano into my little Brooklyn apartment, so I’ve been dipping my toes and fingers into gel manicure kits and enjoying the look of long, strong, and painted-on nails for the first time in my adult life. Throughout the summer, I’ve been donning brighter colors and soft pastels. And as much as I try to hold onto warmer days and sea-salt-scented weekends, there’s no denying that fall is creeping around the corner. Celebrity manicurist Michelle Saunders, who’s painted the hands of Gigi Hadid, Julia Roberts, and Pink, predicts that “classics like deep red, dark green, and other gemstone colors” will be in high demand.

Before we get into each look, it should go without saying that any skin tone can wear any nail color. But if you wish to, you can follow color theory and find out how different colors work together to complement one another. “Polish shades tend to show up differently based on skin tone and the skin’s undertones. With a deeper skin tone, some colors pop more versus someone with a lighter skin tone; the same polish could look more muted,” explains Mimi D, celebrity manicurist and educator who boasts an impressive portfolio with Chloe, Halle, and Ciara. But still, “as long as it is not a nude color, there’s no right or wrong nail color depending on someone’s skin tone. The same color may look different on each person, but it really depends on personal preference,” says Zola Ganzorigt, a Los Angeles-based manicurist who has worked with Sabrina Carpenter, Kylie Jenner, and Hailey Bieber. Together, we identified the best fall nail colors to try this year.

Your Questions, Answered

What fall nail colors go with everything?

Fall is a great time to return to earthy and neutral colors, particularly if you’re looking for something that goes with everything. “I really love warm and deep tones for fall, ranging from gray to brown to maroon,” says Saunders. If you’re considering your skin tone, Mimi D notes that “undertones play a role in how a polish color will look. Take the color red for example—someone with cool undertones might gravitate toward a bluish red because they may feel it looks better on them versus an orangey red.” But to determine what fall color goes with everything, Saunders says to “take a quick peek into your closet. Find the pop of color you wear that gets the most compliments and then use that same color for your mani/pedi!”

How to do your manicure at home?

Sure, your at-home manicure may not look as pristine as when getting it done at a salon, but our manicurists assure us that there are some steps to follow and nail-care products to use for an at-home manicure to look great. “For professional-looking manicures, good nail prep is really important. You want to remove hangnails and excess cuticle skin” as a first step, says Ganzorigt. After filing down the sides of your nails and applying a strong base coat, apply the nail polish in single strokes.

“Take your time and remember that less is more,” says Mimi D. “Using less polish on the brush will prevent flooding the nail with too much polish and will allow for a quicker dry time,” she explains. Then “make using cuticle oil your habit,” continues Ganzorigt. “Just like how you do skin care every day, apply cuticle oil every day, it really helps your manicure look nice and well maintained.” Lastly, use a good top coat to ensure the color stays on for longer.

How do I keep my hands nice?

Our hands go through a lot. In fact, we navigate through the world mostly through our hands—through touch, through writing, or through labor. And so, maintaining good hand health is kind of essential. Taking good care of your nails and ensuring you have strong nail beds is one aspect of good hand maintenance, but for our hands to age gracefully, we recommend using a good hand cream. Consider one with retinol, to slow the signs of aging, and with sunscreen, to prevent skin cancer and wrinkles.

Complete the Routine

Before you check out, here are some other nail care products you might need for your perfect at-home manicure:

• Retinol Anti-Aging Hand Cream: Soft, smooth skin goes hand-in-hand (pun intended again) with a good manicure.
• Nail Clipper Set: If you don’t want your nails to break easily, make sure to clip them to your desired length and file down the sides before applying your nail polish.
• Nails Inc. Nailkale Superfood Base Coat: I have been using this exact base coat/nail strengthener for a decade now, and it makes my nails grow long and strong like crazy. Not only does it serve as a great base coat, but it can be worn on its own as a natural shine over the nails.

Why Shop With Us

Bianca Kratky is a commerce writer with almost four years of experience covering fashion and beauty. Although rather new to the world of nail polish, she’s been excitedly diving into this form of art and has experimented with dozens of different colors since. She also consulted three celebrity nail artists: Michelle Saunders, Mimi D, and Zola Ganzorigt to provide insights into fall nail color trends and tips for getting the most out of your manicure.