Burgundy, Tortoise Tips, Metallic & More

With September in full swing, beauty enthusiasts are starving for fall.

After a long, hot summer of pale pinks and butter yellows, nail trends will likely be the first aesthetic to cool down and transition to darker, moodier bases comprised of midnight blue and red wine hues. The desired length, however, is poised to stay the same: short and natural. Meanwhile, the forthcoming change in temperature will be welcomed with a sharp shift from almond to square shapes, signaling a Gothic revival that seems to emerge around this time each year.

According to Nail Excellence Awards founders Tanaya Middleton and Selina Payne-Ferebee, summer colors won’t go away entirely this fall; they’ll evolve. The once-beloved pastels will become harsh. Think mustard yellow and olive green. Middleton and Payne-Ferebee suggest adding layers of gold and copper shimmer to lighten the colors up while the sun is still beating down.

“Clean line work, negative space or touches of gold foil look so chic, while trendy finishes like chrome or animal prints give them a bold edge,” Middleton said in a press release.

Here, seven fall nail trends based on major red carpets, TikTok conversations and street style moments.

Midnight Blue

A drop in temperature is often associated with darker hues, mostly navy blue and dark red. Midnight blue, a heavier shade, has been favored in recent years as the summer fades and fall approaches. This year, specifically, style trends are already pointing to the return of grunge, replacing the “clean girl” aesthetic with the “tired girl” look. Gray tones, blacks, murky greens, and of course, the midnight blue complete the look. Emily Blunt was spotted with the nail shade on the set of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” in New York City.

Brown

Some colors are embedded in the DNA of each season. Brown, in particular, is fall-coded. Muddy, earth-toned browns are burgeoning once again, and Andreea Cristea was the first to be spotted sporting the color on the red carpet at the Venice International Film Festival. The model and high-fashion socialite opted for a chocolate brown to pair with her black sequin lace gown and emerald jewelry at the annual affair.

Milky Pink

Despite the influence of the upcoming spooky season, many beauty aficionados will still want to brighten their days with a touch of pink on their nails. However, the color won’t be the pale or bubblegum shade associated with summer; it will become a melting pot of milky pink and white. The aesthetic will still appear natural, but with a touch more starkness.

Metallics

Believe it or not, there are some people already counting down the days to the holiday season, eager for a taste of winter spirit. The anticipation is being marked by the arrival of metallic nails for fall. Gold, silver and bronze have been making appearances on red carpets and runways over the last few weeks, with Katy Perry leading the charge on stage during “The Lifetimes” tour. The 40-year-old Grammy winner took the stage inside Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in late August with sharp, metallic talons to match her suit of armor.

Burgundy

While white wine is often reserved for summer nights, red wine is typically considered the sultry drink of choice during colder seasons. The color, dark red or burgundy, is similarly thought of as a fall and winter nail choice, making its way down to the toes, too.

Tortoise Tips

A new design trend to come amid fall anticipation is “tortoise tips.” Imagine the brown and black watercolor seen on the outside of certain sunglasses, but on the ends of nails. The pattern is now replacing the white in French tips and being painted over the entire base.

Polka Dots

Like Mod fashion trends, polka dots are predicted to make their way to nails next. From white polka dots against black bases and brown polka dots with baby blue bases, the abstract design is gaining traction and taking on many forms within the style mecca as the rise of Y2K nostalgia inspires more playful everyday aesthetics.