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Let’s face it: We contain multitudes. You have a sun and a moon sign for a reason. You can be both soft and powerful. Accomplished and in development. Independent and, at times, needy. Fall nail art trends are an ode to contradictions—to taking something expected and making it, well, unexpected.
The word “aura” implies a super-luminous light, but now they come in darker shades. Dark aura nails are glowy yet moody—perfect for witching season. A French manicure has had a second life this year, adorning the nails of every “clean girl” on the internet. But add a bright, cheeky, jelly base and it somehow becomes both buttoned-up and carefree. Gunmetal chrome is cool and edgy, but add whimsical polka dots, and you are both a femme fatale and coquettish. Likewise, wrapping your fresh manicure around an ice-cold martini is a classic look, but nails to match the garnish adds a saucy wink.
You don’t have to be one thing. You can be everything all at once. We asked the experts to break down this fall’s nail art trends where you’ll find opposites attract to create a gorgeous effect.
Meet the experts:
- Sarah Chue is a Los Angeles-based nail artist.
- Elle Gerstein is a New York City-based nail artist.
- Bana Jarjour is a Los Angeles-based nail artist.
- San Sung Kim is a Los Angeles-based nail artist.
- Katie Masters is a Santa Monica-based nail artist and founder of Nail Thoughts.
- Hang Nguyen is a Los Angeles-based nail artist.
- Rosemary is a Washington, DC-based nail artist.
- Maryna Slynko is a Kansas City-based nail artist.
Dark aura nails
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You might not want to hear that you have a “dark aura,” unless, of course, we’re talking about your nails. For a manicure, a moody gradient in deep autumnal hues is mysterious and witchy, the kind of dark-hued fingertips that make a perfect accent topper for potion brewing.
“It’s a solid-colored background with an ombré in the center of the nail,” says Los Angeles-based nail artist Sarah Chue. And in true home-brewed fashion, Washington DC-based nail artist Rosemary says this look is surprisingly easy to DIY. You’ll need two shades—one lighter than the other. Darker palettes like merlot to candy-apple red, forest green to sage, or navy to misty denim blue are what you’re going for here. They can be different hues of the same color family, or you can mix and match with contrasting or complementary colors.
Use the darker shade as your base color and cover the entire nail. Next, dip a dense makeup sponge in water and squeeze out the excess moisture. Paint the lighter color onto the sponge and dab it onto the center of your nail. A clear topcoat will naturally smooth out the spongy texture left behind and leave you with a smooth, glowy aura.
Jelly French
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A jelly French is the slightly more dressed-up version of this summer’s sheer, playful jelly nail colors. Like throwing on a pair of heels to magically elevate your outfit, adding a colorful tip to the jelly base (or vice versa) is elegant in a but-I-still-love-rollercoasters kind of way.
“It still feels classic, just a little less traditional,” says Los Angeles-based nail artist San Sung Kim. “The contrast between sheer and opaque gives the manicure more depth and makes even really bright colors feel wearable.”
“Paint the nails with one coat of a jelly base and apply an opaque polish of the same color as the French tip,” says Los Angeles-based nail artist Bana Jarjour, who likes the combo of Essie Half Full, a translucent ruby purple, with OPI Malaga Wine, a deep raspberry. “Paint one more coat of the jelly polish over the entire nail to blend it all together.”
Polka-dotted chrome
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New York City-based nail artist Elle Gerstein sees chrome getting moodier this fall. More molten metal than jelly donut. But just because it's cool doesn’t mean it can’t have some whimsy too. And Kim says, “I love the contrast of a sleek, reflective base with something as playful as a polka dot. It adds personality without losing the polish of the chrome.”
After the mirror-like chrome base has been applied and cured, it becomes a choose-your-own-adventure. Use a dotting tool dipped in a cheeky opaque color like red or yellow and lay down big, globby dots for a funky Yayoi Kusama look. Or, to keep things subtle, Santa Monica-based nail artist Katie Masters likes her polka dots micro and evenly spaced across the nail.
Celestial nails
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Shorter days mean more time to commune with the night sky. If you were to swirl your fingertips in the autumn cosmos, you’d be left with an otherworldly manicure—complete with an iridescent Milky Way, a constellation of sparkly stars, and a space-like palette of blues and purples.
“I love celestial themes for fall nails because it fits perfectly with the moody and ethereal vibe of autumn,” says Kim, who creates a simple design by blotting on blues and blacks, and finishes it with delicate star and moon details.
But the sky is literally the limit. “Texture and dimension have become such a big part of nail art,” says Los Angeles-based nail artist Hang Nguyen. “Cat-eye, chrome, stars, moons, and clear 3D gel work beautifully together because they catch and reflect light in completely different ways.” She likes her night sky to be a velvet cat-eye with clear 3D gel accents like swirls to add dimension.
Martini nails
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’Tis the season to shift from having a rooftop Aperol spritz to a gin martini at a sexy, candlelit bar. So we’re trading in brighter colors and fruit motifs for chic martini nails—an homage to briny green olives and aperitifs.
“Olive green returns to the top of everyone’s wardrobe and manicures every fall, mirroring the changing seasonal landscape,” says Rosemary. “Olive nail art is also very beginner-friendly, and there are different ways to make it your own—abstract olive nails, chrome, or even tiny 3D olives.”
For an easy at-home version, start with a Castelvetrano or Cerignola green base, and then drop a single dot of pimento red. With a bit more time and effort, you can create your martini with a twist: Paint little sardine pintxos on a single nail, alternate nail colors with greens and maroons, or try a green and red aura for a more abstract homage to your seasonal beverage of choice.
Fashion prints and textures
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Swap out your clothes, swap out your nail looks. As sweaters and warmer threads get pulled up from under the bed, it’s only natural to want your nails to meet the occasion. “Fall fashion gives us so much to work with,” says Gerstein. “Leather, suede, animal prints, amazing coats. I always look at fashion and think: How can I turn that into a nail without literally copying it?”
Gerstein adds, “I love blooming gel for animal prints because it does some of the work for you and nothing comes out exactly the same,” so a cow print or a speckled deer pattern becomes more realistic and almost tactile. For more traditional fall garb, tartan and plaid look as cozy as your favorite flannel and can come in any range of colors, including wine reds, cheekier yellows, and crimson tartan.
“I would start with a smooth, milky nude or sheer base,” says Kansas City-based nail artist Maryna Slynko. “Then, using a fine liner brush, create intersecting vertical and horizontal lines. Two or three shades with different levels of depth—such as chocolate, cream, and merlot—can help create the feeling of an actual textile.” For a more minimalist approach, opt for one or two accent nails with a fabric print, then paint the others in a simple, rich, opaque color.
