7 Fall Nail Colors You Should Try Now According to the Pros
Photographed by Richard Rutledge,
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A rich bordeaux. A deep moss green. A vibrant mustard. Leave it to tried-and-true fall nail colors to instantly get you into an autumnal frame of mind.
“Fall is my favorite time of the year for nail art and color,” says manicurist and LeChat Nails educator Syreeta Aaron. “I love looking at nature for inspiration—and with the changing colors of the leaves, it’s the perfect season for this.” By day and night, New York City editorial pro Jin Soon Choi is also musing on colorful landscapes. “Fall reminds me of earthy neutral shades, like the tonal browns, and an evening fall sky with nocturnal blues,” says Choi. While choosing between hues is highly individual, there are certain things that are universal for the season, like “transitioning to deeper tones and starting to play with matte or velvet textures,” explains nail artist Betina Goldstein, who counts Zoë Kravitz and Eiza González as clients.
Here, the industry’s most in-demand nail pros discuss the fall nail colors you should have on your radar.
Deep Moss Greens
You can’t go wrong with an on-theme wine red for fall, but if you’re looking for something more unexpected, look to a deep moss green, like LeChat’s Dare to Wear shade Olivia. “It’s my go-to fall shade as it flatters any skin tone and the green is a nice way to try out a darker shade without wearing the classic burgundy that we see a lot of in the fall,” explains Aaron.
Mirroring the vibrancy of the yellow fall foliage, Goldstein looks to a bright mustard yellow to “keep things fresh and exciting.” For extra wattage, look to a retina-burning shade like Sally Hansen’s Mellow Yellow or, for something more muted, there’s J.Hannah’s Eames, a nod to midcentury earthy chartreuse.
Inky Royal Blues
“I am really into deep jewel tones for fall,” says Goldstein, who is currently reaching for rich deep royal blues like Chanel’s Le Vernis in Rhythm, which supplies high contrast against the warm autumnal shades of your wardrobe and complementary shades for nail art.
Earthy Metallics
To take shine and dimension to the next level, think chrome. “It’s really fresh because it’s not what you’ll see everyone else wearing,” says Aaron. A shade that bottles fall in gleaming, multi-color fashion? LeChat’s Dragon’s Breath, she insists. “It screams fall with a beautiful metallic color shift that embodies all the shades of the season, from dark greens, to golds and toasted orange, to browns,” explains Aaron. “You don’t need nail art, this shade makes a statement on its own.”
The New Neutrals
Lately, Goldstein can’t get enough of rich—and slightly unexpected—neutrals, like Chanel’s Brun Fumé, a beige with gray undertones. The same goes for Choi, who is feeling the pull of moody ‘90s grunge shades, like her toffee beige Dulcet and cacao Toff shades. “These colors are not friendly with all skin tones, so make sure to choose one that flatters and compliments your undertones!” she cautions.
Oxblood Reds
A collection of autumnal nail colors is virtually incomplete without an oxblood-ish crimson. “A dark red, like a burgundy or wine red, are great for fall,” explains manicurist Maki Sakamoto, who recommends adding a bold accent with a single gold glitter nail.
