Hi, just your friendly reminder that fall nail trends are officially here. Sure, I loved summer's hit nail looks—like "blueberry milk nails" and "glazed lemonade nails"—but I am beyond ready for the deep, rich fall nail colors of 2023. Think: Moody browns, creamy nude nail polishes, stark blacks, and earthy greens. Need a lil more inspo for your next appointment? Keep scrolling for my top fall nail polish picks, plus info straight from four nail experts on the trends you should really care about this season.
1. Matcha nail color for fall
Not ready to put away your soft, pastel shades? Go for a muted version of the classic olive-green manicure with this matcha-esque shade from Londontown. It has an earthy vibe that makes it a dreamy accompaniment to whatever caffeinated beverage you choose to hold this fall.
2. Spiced cinnamon fall nails
Nail artist Jin Soon Choi used the shade to the left on the Michael Kors runway earlier this year, basically cementing it as the coolest way to wear pumpkin spice on your nails. The hints of red and orange feel warm and autumnal without looking too dark or intense. Nail artist Galdina Jimenez loves this fall polish because it’s “the perfect transition from fun multi-colored spring and summer shades to more neutral cozy shades that remind us of pumpkin spice lattes and crunchy brown leaves on the ground.”
3. Silver chrome nail trend
Chrome nails, including the silver-foil color above, are about to be everywhere this fall, says Rachel Apfel Glass, founder of GlossLab nail salons. It’s a futuristic and fun take on the metallic nail trend for fall. You can also try this hack to DIY chrome nails at home: While your nail polish is still tacky after your first coat, pat your nails with loose silver eyeshadow, and then top it off with a glossy top coat.
4. Grayish-blue nail polish for fall
The nail polish I’m wearing as I type this story? A version of this moody, cool-toned blue, which reminds me of pulling my jeans out of storage before the first day of fall or a misty morning at a cabin. It’s an easy way to wear blue as a neutral, or a great transition shade if you’re not quite ready for navy or blackish-blue polish.
5. Ballet slippers nail trend
Inspired by the fall/winter 2023 balletcore trend, the O.G. Essie nail color is having a major resurgence. This light-pink, almost-beige tone is the perfect neutral, which nail artist Lia Smith says evokes “warmth and depth” and doesn't look chalky like some other sheer, nude-tone polishes tend to do.
6. Latte tones for fall
The fall season is a great time to experiment with muted chocolate and brown tones, says Glass. This tan nail polish has a warm caramel base, but it’s neutral enough that it won’t look too murky or ashy even if your skin tone is on the pale side.
7. Mustard-yellow fall nail color
If you’re already missing your bright yellow summer nail color, just swap the neon hue with this equally bold mustard yellow shade from OPI. Jimenez says it will be “the star shade of fall”—plus, it plays into the western-rodeo trend we’re seeing across beauty and fashion right now (my cowboy boots are about to get so much love).
8. Greige nails for fall
Nail artist Tammy Taylor says greige (or grayish beige) nails will be a huge trend this fall. I personally love that the shade feels soft and wearable like a neutral, but still has a slight ~rock ‘n’ roll edge~ to it (thanks to the gray undertone). So if you want to try something a lil different from your usual light-pink or beige shade but like to keep your nails light, try two to three coats of this sheer polish, followed by a top coat for a lil shine.
9. Cherry jelly fall nails
Red nail polish will always be on trend, but this fall, expect to see this bright, glossy version everywhere, says Glass. Glass says she loves how a fiery-red manicure spices up a simple fall outfit, whether you’re using the color to do a simple manicure, a fun French mani, or just an accent nail with nail stickers.
10. Black fall nail color
Black nails were once reserved for kids who spent their free time roaming Hot Topic (yup, me), but now they’re a minimalist-manicure classic. Swipe on two opaque coats of this glossy, creamy black nail polish to give a high-fashion vibe, or go full Wednesday Addams by layering on a matte top coat for some extra edge and dimension.
11. "Naked" nails for fall
Low-key nails are basically the biggest trend right now among celebrities (ahem, see them on Chloe Grace Moretz above). The trick to making the naked nail trend work is to keep your natural nails looking healthy, smooth, and strong. Try painting on a layer of this bond-building nail treatment from OPI once a day, which helps repair your nails and make them less susceptible to breaking, cracking, or splitting.
Meet the experts:
- Lia Smith is a nail artist and the manager of education at OPI North America.
- Galdina Jimenez is a celebrity nail artist based in Oceanside, CA. She is also the education manager and capability at OPI North America.
- Tammy Taylor is a celebrity manicurist and nail expert. She is also the founder of Tammy Taylor Nails, a full line of nail polish and nail care.
- Rachel Apfel Glass is the founder of GlossLab, membership-based nail studios across the U.S. that aim to make getting a manicure quick and easy.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching, writing, and editing nail polish and shopping stories that range from dip-powder nails to the best-selling beauty products on Amazon. She’s an authority in all nail categories, but is an expert when it comes to fall nail trends, thanks to many interviews with nail experts. She regularly tests and analyzes nail polishes for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top nail artists to assess new formulas and brands.
Beth Gillette
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
