Once the weather starts to get a little cooler and the leaves begin to change, it's time to break out the cute knits and tights and start prepping your wardrobe for fall. (I personally invoke my inner teen goth and switch over to an all-black wardrobe.) But sense of style isn't limited to clothing, especially for those of us who are avid nail art fans. Nails are an outlet for creative self-expression, whether it’s a signature polish shade or an extravagant set of extensions that change every other week. Saying goodbye to summer is an opportunity to shake things up in the nail department, like switching out bright neon nails for something more subdued or experimenting with a coffin shape for the first time.
To get the perfect fall nail art, all that's needed is a little bit of inspiration! While celebrities and major pop culture moments spark many nail trends (hello, Hailey Bieber’s glazed donut nails or 2023’s Barbie-pink extravaganza ), social media is the gasoline that gets things going. “Something that feels very different about the era we’re in is that trends are popping off more spontaneously than ever,” says celebrity manicurist Steph Stone, whose clients include Charli XCX, Tessa Thompson, and Miley Cyrus. “With apps like TikTok and Instagram, a video can go viral, and suddenly everyone is wearing lime green or a ‘demure’ sheer nude. “It seems like a roll of the dice what’s going to resonate with people in that way next.” Stone points out that even though these microtrends are fleeting, their impact is undeniable.
That said, nail artists like Stone are the creative forces behind these trends. Without them, we’d all still be wearing regular French manicures (no hate, though; that style is back and hotter than ever). To get some ideas for our autumnal manis, I spoke to six celebrity nail artists to learn which designs and polish shades will be trending for the rest of 2024.
Keep reading to find nail inspiration pics to bookmark and bring to your next salon appointment, as well as the best nail polishes and press-ons to help you DIY the trends!
1. All Chrome Everything
Chrome isn't anything new, but almost every nail artist I spoke to mentioned this reflective look as still very popular going into the fall. Plus, chromes come in a variety of color options, so you can play with different metallic looks. “I personally hope that bronze will make more of an appearance this season because it’s a color that works on pretty much everyone,” says celebrity nail artist Sonya Meesh, whose clients include Natasha Lyonne, Lupita Nyong'o, and Ilana Glazer.
True chrome colors are typically done by a professional manicurist in a salon using chrome powder, but you can still get shiny styles with regular polish.
Get the look:
Take a cue from Meesh and be a bronze babe with this metallic bronze shade from OPI's newest Metallic Mega Mix collection. It features 27 colors and four formulas, including "SaTURN Me On", a highly pigmented, coppery metal hue.
This multi-chrome polish magically transforms from yellow to gold to orange. To make the most of its magic, use a magnet tool to shift the color and create futuristic patterns!
2. Metallic Accents
If you're more of a minimalist but want something more than plain nude nails, you'll love Stone's favorite fall nail trend: metallic accents! A hint of metal in this half-moon manicure gives the perfect amount of shine.
Get the look:
Take a shortcut to getting your dream mani with these Glamnetic press-ons. The gold foil design is subtle, but still pops off of this short, natural nail style.
3. Beyond "Brat"
If you're ready for a change from this summer's beloved "Brat" green but aren't completely ready to give up a grass-inspired shade, you're in luck. The nail artists I spoke to are all about going "beyond Brat" and playing with different shades of green polish, from sage to pistachio to a lush forest green.
Get the look:
Celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec, owner of Julie K Nail Atelier in New York, and whose clients include Jessica Chastain and Emily Blunt, believes deep greens will be everywhere. She calls Morgan Taylor's Gotta Have Hue "a 'Brat'-era neon green's older sister."
"I think we’ll be seeing more green thanks to Charli and 'Brat,'" says Meesh. "It may not necessarily be that exact slime green, but people will be more likely to venture into a deeper range and hue (I, for one, am excited for that—I love moss, sage, and deep forest greens)!" They say this shimmer slime green from Chanel's Fall collection "checks all the boxes."
4. 3D Nails
"I'm loving 3D nails," says Brittney Boyce, founder of gel press-on nail brand Lost Angeles and the celebrity manicurist behind Megan Fox's and Kim Kardashian's stunning sets. 3D textured nails come in all sorts of designs, but Meesh has been noticing a particular callback to early acrylic 3D flower art. "There’s a lot of new gel products making 3D art so easy (more malleable, low odor, you can work with it until you cure it), so people are adding it to their services, and I love that. 3D nail art is very in right now; even the regular lacquer swatchers on Instagram are using gel on top to get the look!"
Get the look:
Hopefully, you can find a local nail artist who specializes in textured nail art for the ultimate custom 3D nail experience, but if you can't, there are other ways to get this maximalist look. Nicki Minaj's new press-on brand features 3D options, like these ultra-glam, crystal-encrusted nails.
5. Demure Glam
Kandalec's version of "demure" nails is this mini gemstone style, which speaks to me. Some of us can't be completely "demure." Some of us need a little pizzazz! Overall, the idea of a natural nail with a touch of glam, be it tiny gemstones or Stone's metallic accents, is a fabulous choice for fall fingernail decor.
Get the look:
These Paint Lab press-ons offer the best of both worlds: the classic French mani with pretty multi-color gemstones. A demure diva!
Boyce's Lost Angeles press-on line features this stylishly studded style. The mini chrome bubbles are too cool.
6. Aura Nails
According to Mazz Hanna, CEO of Nailing Hollywood, the aura nail art trend has been around for a while but has been gaining popularity for the past few months. "This technique uses an airbrush machine, blooming gel, eyeshadow, or pigment powder to create a soft, gradient effect that radiates from the center of the nail outward. What makes aura nails so exciting is the endless possibilities for color combinations and designs. For an extra touch, you can layer additional nail art on top to make your aura nails really stand out."
Get the look:
Boyce uses Aprés Nail’s Aer Gel Machine as her go-to airbrushing tool. "However, another way to get the aura look at home is dabbing polish on a makeup sponge and focusing the polish on the center of the nail," she says. "You can then blend out the edges of the color, and you have an aura!" (Or, you can get this aura-inspired design from her press-on line!)
10. Chocolate Brown
Stone, Kandalec, and Hanna all say that chocolate brown shades are perfect for fall. "The deep tones in chocolate brown give off cozy vibes that are perfect for fall," says Hanna.
Get the look:
"This color is a rich chocolate brown that is both a statement and a neutral," says Stone. "It’s a fresh take on the deep tones like burgundy that routinely trend in the fall and will complement any outfit!"
Fringe is described as a "milk chocolate brown," which couldn't be any more perfect. If you're in a rush (or just want an at-home mani that dries really, really fast), pick up Dazzle Dry's four-step system. It uses nontoxic ingredients and the formula lasts up to two weeks.
7. Animal Print
If you're someone who believes leopard print is a neutral and also likens it to a fall wardrobe "shade," it's time to wear it on your nails. Nailing Hollywood artist LaTara Haye calls animal print nails a classic fall nail look. But if you aren't feeling like completely covering your nails in leopard or cow print, you can go subtle with this style, too. "Anyone looking for a little oomph to their manicure may incorporate one or two nails with an animal print design," says Haye.
Get the look:
This Olive & June polish set has all the shades you need to create your own animal print-inspired mani. (P.S.: The "Tip Your Barista" polish is also a nice chocolate brown, so you can hit two trends with one product!)
There are other ways to get that leopard print look if you're worried about your level of artistic talent or having a not-so-steady hand. These stick-on decals make professional-looking nails much easier (and more affordable!).
8. Cherry Mocha Nails
Ahhh, that dark burgundy wine color that we know and love (cough, Chanel Vamp, cough) is as much of a fall tradition as a pumpkin spice latte. In this case, it's known as "Cherry Mocha." Hannah says this particular shade looks incredible on short to medium-length, round or almond nails since the "softer edges beautifully complement the richness of the color." (Short dark nails are also a classic fall trend, according to Boyce.)
Get the look:
Looking for a gel option for your cherry mocha nails? There is nothing quite like an Aprés Gel mani — the formula is beautifully pigmented, and you won't have to worry about chipping, of course. (Pro tip: Apply thinner layers for a better-looking finish!)
If you're wondering where the trend "Cherry Mocha" originated from, it's an actual nail polish shade. As Hanna explains, the trend first gained attention from a TikTok video in which a user showcased their manicure using DND's Cherry Mocha. "This deep burgundy polish with rich purple undertones is perfect for the fall and winter months," says Hanna.
9. Tortoiseshell
A fun variation on animal print is tortoiseshell, which Hanna says are always popular in the fall due to the color palette matching perfectly with the season. "It’s a trend that’s subtle enough for everyday wear but adds a fun twist to a basic mani," she says. "Tortoiseshell can also be worn as a French manicure, color block manicure, or a mix and match mani. It’s a great trend to experiment with."
Get the look:
You don't have to waste any time experimenting with nail polish to get that chic tortoiseshell look. Just use these press-ons from Paint Lab! The set comes with 30 nails in 15 sizes to custom-fit your manicure and can last up to two weeks.
