Halloween decorations are already out at CVS, pumpkin spice lattes are returning to Starbucks this week, and somehow, it’s already the end of August. Ready or not, fall is just around the corner. And while it may be way too hot to even think about throwing on a sweater, your manicure is an easy place to start getting into the seasonal spirit.
You don’t have to completely abandon the colors you’ve been wearing all summer, either. Butter yellow is getting creamier, matcha green is getting muddier, and that turquoise obsession? There’s a dusty blue waiting to take its place.
“The colors are deeper, warmer, smokier, and more dimensional, but they don’t necessarily have to feel heavier,” says celebrity nail artist Elle Gerstein. Jelly and cat-eye finishes are helping with that, adding translucency and movement to even the darkest burgundy and brown shades.
“That’s really what feels new to me,” Gerstein explains. “Fall isn’t just about the color anymore. It’s about what the light does to it.” From smoky plum to black cherry and even golden orange, there’s a manicure hue to match every mood — all that’s left to do is pick a shade and start sipping your PSL.
Ahead, the 10 fall nail color trends you’re about to see everywhere this season.
1Black Cherry
Red nail stans, meet your new fall favorite: black cherry. A few shades deeper than burgundy, the wine shade has an almost-black base that Gerstein says makes it look “sexy, moody, and expensive.”
The finish plays into that effect, too. “I love it super glossy or even in a jelly shade, where you can still see some of the depth through the color,” she adds.
2Dirty Martini Green
If you’ve had your fill of mint and matcha nails lately, this dirty martini-inspired shade might hit the spot. It’s an olive green that feels “earthy but still fashion-forward,” as Gerstein puts it — and looks more intimidating than it actually is.
“It almost acts like a neutral, especially with all the browns, camel suede, and denim we wear in fall,” she says. Her favorite way to wear it? On short, natural nails, where the murky green feels surprisingly low-key.
3Smoky Plum
Lilac has been the color du jour in beauty, and the purple craze isn’t slowing down anytime soon. It is, however, leaving its pastel era behind this season.
“Purple is getting dirtier and moodier for fall,” Gerstein says, pointing to smoky plum as a forerunner. Not too bright, but not too vampy either, the calming shade has hazy gray undertones that give it a slightly grungy edge — one that feels just right for a post-summer nail reset.
4Buttery Neutrals
Looking to take your butter yellow obsession into fall? Just tone it down a notch. Gerstein says the sunny shade is getting “more muted, creamy, and almost vintage” for the season, landing somewhere between pale yellow and eggshell.
For the perfect in-between, try JINsoon’s Tulle, an off-white neutral with just enough warmth peeking through.
5Deep Teal
For anyone bored with navy, deep teal is an easy way to switch things up.
The jewel-toned mix of blue and green pulls the shade out of its usual beachiness, turning it into a rich, almost inky fall color. “It’s dark, but when the light hits, you really see the color come alive,” Gerstein says.
6Espresso Brown
Brown is the new black — especially espresso, which “offers the same drama but with more warmth and softness,” says Kansas-based nail artist Maryna Slynko. “For many clients, it’s become a more interesting alternative.”
Gerstein agrees, calling it “rich, warm, and super polished without being predictable.” To play up the dimension, she recommends trying it in a cat-eye finish. The velvety shimmer, courtesy of magnetic polish, shifts in the light, keeping the dark chocolate shade from looking heavy or thick.
7Dusty Blue
“If you’ve been wearing bright blues all summer, try bringing some gray into the mix,” says celebrity nail artist Erica De Los Santos. The result is a dusty blue that still gives you a pop of color, but feels softer and more muted than cobalt or turquoise.
It’s also a welcome change of pace from fall’s usual lineup of burgundy and brown. “Compared to those warm tones, a soft blue-gray feels fresh,” Slynko says, calling it “calm, sophisticated, and subtle enough to wear, but different enough to stand out.”
8Milky Pink
Sheer pink is hardly a trend at this point — soap nails and naked manicures have made it a year-round staple. But for fall, Slynko says to go a little milkier, with shades like OPI’s I’m A Bubble Bunny that give your natural nails a clean, healthy-looking sheen without covering them up completely.
Another way to give the classic shade a seasonal refresh? “Change what you pair it with,” De Los Santos says. She suggests adding a chocolate, burgundy, navy, olive, or black French tip for an easy dose of fall color.
9Golden Orange
Instead of the usual pumpkin tones, orange is getting the golden-hour treatment, with a sunlit base and a shimmery cat-eye finish. “It’s bold enough to make a statement while still feeling cozy and seasonal,” says De Los Santos, who points to The GelBottle’s Golden Hour Magnetic in particular.
Better yet, there’s no need to wait for sweater weather to wear it. “The warm orange tone paired with the subtle sparkle makes it the perfect transition color,” De Los Santos says. “It has all the brightness of a summer shade but is absolutely going to be a fall favorite.”
