For all of the girlies getting ready for their fall Gilmore Girls rewatch and picking out their Halloween costumes, get excited for the fun fall nail trends that are already all over TikTok — and definitely on my hands. It’s hard when August slips away, you head back to campus, and all of the bright neon nail shades grow out. As the fashion turns to dark and neutral colors, so do the nails. When it comes to nail art, the possibilities and wants are endless. Whether you’re a maximalist or minimalistic, the nail girlies got you. Sometimes, though you have to leave room for those who love a black gel manicure in the fall. This year, some exciting nail favorites from the past have elevated in popularity. Silver, chrome, aura nails, and even dainty hand-painted stars are in for fall 2023.
From trending Hailey Bieber nails to an Olivia Rodrigo short gel manicure, we’ve got all the inspo. We expect to see short nails on fall runways this year, according to fashion gurus. Maybe some chrome 3D shapes and sizes, who knows. Fall has it all this upcoming season.
With summer ending, the colorful mani sets may disappear, but here’s some nail inspiration for the people who love a good fall manicure. I’ve got all the lengths, colors, and designs for you, so don’t worry about finding them on your lonesome. Now all you have to do is be on your way to a nail salon!
- Dark Chrome Nails
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The chrome trend has continued, and I, for one, am still on board. You might be asking, how can chrome work with a fall nail look? I’d take inspiration from @maya.sofiaa, who got her nails done in a stiletto shape with a layer of black polish and blue chrome on top. I think this can be done with any color, and would pair great with black and silver chrome. Talk about a pop!
- Short Black Mani
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I personally will never get used to long, acrylic nails, so I take all the short nail ideas I can get. A black manicure for fall is a timeless look — simple but sexy, and lends itself to slipping in a design or two. Getting a black gel manicure is the dichotomy of “that girl,” and let’s not forget our queen, Olivia Rodrigo. Since her new album is coming in September, let’s all agree to get our nails done black to rock out to her new music. Deal?
- Classic Red
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Thanks to the red nail theory on TikTok, red nails are coming in hot this fall. I always thought it was so mature when someone had red nails. It’s so classic. Although people everywhere get their nails done red throughout the year, it’ll continue to be done this fall. Red is the safe route, yet completely on trend.
- 3D Designs
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After chrome manicures had their moment with celebrities like Zendaya and Beyoncé, nail artists have taken that design to new heights, with 3D designs adding texture and color. This is no “low-key” nail design, but more eye-popping. This trend means taking a French tip and escalating it with a bubble metallic color and a sinuous accent on top, with maybe even a star design. Tiktoker @zoifishh is always on top of the terrestrial 3D nail designs thanks to her nail tech, @nailsxanalysse. Every nail has its own design, colors, and shape, making the entire mani much more exciting. Using hues of red, blue, and purple will definitely make it a fall favorite.
- Ombre Metallic French Tip
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The mesmerizing ombré look will never fall out of trend. And this fall, you’ll see it even more thanks to the airbrushing trend. You can use any colors you want for the actual ombré effect. This nail design pairs with a metallic French tip, elevating the look. From reds and browns to oranges, this technique will create the fall nail perfect for October — and to pair with your Halloween costume.
- Star Girl Design
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Putting a star in the middle of your nails will be such a trend this fall. I’ve seen classic-colored acrylics with bright stars painted in the middle of nails all over my For You page this summer, and I will definitely be trying this in the fall. I love a good matching nail. I would love to see variations of browns, maybe even replacing the star with a leaf. Just have fun with it!
- Fall Brown Tones
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Nail colors will have their seasons, and that’s what brown does each fall season — it’s like clockwork. Brown is a seasonally-appropriate color, from more earthy browns to beige tones, and it’s the perfect fall choice. This color pairs so well with a matte finish and a clear coat for a French tip. But if you want a simple brown manicure, try OPI’s brown gel shade Cliffside Karaoke ($20).
- Intricate Painted Designs
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Squiggly lines and painted accents — whatever you call them, elevate an entire nail set into something more interesting. Choose simple beige or light opaque pink, and then create small intricate designs over the base. This technique will have everyone asking where you got your nails done. I’ve seen tons of variations of this nail design this summer, but expect to see it incorporated with fall colors later this year.
- Airbrushed Nails
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Coming in with a throwback! The cyclical trend of blurry, airbrushed nail designs has returned this summer. The airbrushed technique involves using an air-powered spray tool to spray polish onto a nail, making the nail similar to an airbrushed hat you might have bought at a fair back in the day. There are endless possibilities for designs to choose for your airbrush nails. You can choose to do two colors, or incorporate galaxy star designs, or get your aura painted onto your nails — the possibilities are endless. I can’t wait to see the fall colors embedded into this trend this fall. If you’re looking for inspiration to show your nail tech, @nailsbyjanettea is your gal!
- Tortoise Tips
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Taking inspiration from tortoise-designed sunglasses and putting it onto your nails? Talk about a game-changer. The tortoise French tip paired with black, brown, and orange creates a unique fall nail. Last fall, tortoise nail designs covered the entire nail, but this fall, you’ll see it as a French tip. If you aren’t willing to commit to a complete nail design, this elevated French tip is the way to go.
- Wine-Colored Nails
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Try a burgundy wine color for girls who can’t commit to a full black or red manicure. When picking out the perfect wine color nail polish, decide if you want to lean into deep browns or merlot shades of burgundy. Perfect for any occasion or fall festivity, the elegance of a wine-colored polish combines well with a short shape. If you’re feeling crazy, throw some chrome or star designs on the nail, too.
- Velvet shimmer
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Velvet has now reached your nails. This nail design leaves the nail looking shimmery, with a metallic finish from using a magnetic tool. I’m calling it now — orange nails will have their time this fall, and I’ve seen lots of orange velvet nails already for fall. Top your mani off with rhinestones for some bling and extra pizazz.