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

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All the colors of fall, right at your fingertips.

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Bianca Kratky

We’re Waving Hello to Fall in These 20 Beautiful Fall Nail Colors (1)

Bianca Kratky

Bianca Kratky is a fashion & beauty writer at InStyle.

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Published on August 27, 2024 @ 10:50AM

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In This Article

  • Our Top Picks
  • Reviews
  • Your Questions, Answered
  • Complete the Routine
  • Why Shop With Us

We’re Waving Hello to Fall in These 20 Beautiful Fall Nail Colors (2)

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.

Our Top Picks

Best Fall Nail Colors for Pale Skin:

If you fare on the paler side, then dark, rich colors will contrast well against your skin. Saunders loves the OPI Big Apple hue—a classic red that, to be honest, looks good on anyone. But while the color may feel a bit too poppy in the summer, by the time fall comes around it can brighten the colder days. “When fall comes, people tend to choose darker colors such as brown or rusty orange,” says Ganzorigt. I’ve included a fall-approved option of each in here as well. Fall may also be the only time of the year when purple nail polish feels appropriate, especially during Halloween. Saunders recommends the Lincoln Park After Dark hue, as it’s so dark it almost borders into black. Oh, and of course, if you’d rather shoot straight into the dark then check out these best black nail polishes as well.

Best Fall Nail Colors for Medium Skin

When it comes to fall, burgundy is a no-brainer. For medium skin tones, I recommend this slightly brighter cherry pick from Manicurist. The velvety color almost looks tasty, offering a playful take to the traditionally deep maroon hue. Meanwhile, a dusty purple and gray are like the fall-version of summer pastels, offering a muted look that just feels appropriate for the season. This milky brown option from Hermès, a spectacular luxury nail polish brand, is another fall-must have—a softer hue of the classic brown color that looks extremely elegant on any hand.

Best Fall Nail Colors for Olive Skin

Now offering that traditional burgundy color, Jinsoon’s “Audacity” features a deeply rich hue, which will pair perfectly with a glass of red wine by the fireplace. Every year, I wear maroon nails at least once because it brings out a level of confidence that just feels sexy during this cozy season. Somewhat newer to the scene, however, is this dark navy blue—I wore a similar hue during New York Fashion Week in September last year and got tons of compliments on it. If dark tones don’t really match your personality, however, a muted yellow counts as a fall color as well (it is one of the key foliage colors). I was also in the search of a good matcha green color, and think this Essie “Heart of the Jungle” hit the nail on the head (pun intended), but Mimi D suggests CND’s “Plantbound” as a great option as well.

Best Fall Nail Colors for Tan Skin

“I’m absolutely loving earth tones, like olive green, which is perfect for the fall season,” says Mimi D. If the above matcha green color doesn’t pique your interest, a darker shade like this khaki option from the Manicurist is a solid alternative. The gray undertones add that dark, more serious appeal that our nail artists say is key for fall. You can also skip the color and go straight to gray—Jinsoon calls it their “Auspicious” tone, which feels very promising during a season of change. The brighter hue contrasts well against tan skin (just see the hand model on their site) and will pair well with just about anything in your closet. Mimi D also cites Orly’s “Gilded Dune” as one of her favorite shades of the season, offering a mix of gold and orange with an exciting shimmer. And of course, a classic orange is just *chef’s kiss* and is not only reminiscent of Halloween, but also pays homage to the changing leaves.

Best Fall Nail Colors for Dark Skin

“I'm always excited to see different types of chrome nails—you get endless options when it comes to chrome nails,” says Ganzorigt. While chrome can be difficult to achieve without an expert at hand, this ILNP red-to-gold nail polish simply screams Autumn and was given a perfect five-star rating from previous shoppers. Flora 1761’s Crimson Peony color would also look dashing against darker skin tones. But if neutral colors are more your vibe, then this Chanel soft brown not only looks elegant, but works well with any outfit or fall activity. Also throwing in another blue option, this time in a muted shade.

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.

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