Who’s ready for a look at the best ideas for fall nails? From foxes to pumpkins to crimson and caramel polish, we’ve captured all the trendiest fall looks so you can discover some nail ideas for a DIY home manicure.
Look, we realize it’s still as hot as Lucifer’s abs outside, but it’s September and that can really only mean one thing – Beyoncé’s birthday! Also it’s Fall. The construction paper leaves at the coffee shop change from green to orange and red, there’s a smell of spice in the air, and we have some decent holidays coming — eventually.
For fall nail colors, think cottagecore. Crimson and burgundy, burnt orange and golden yellow, forest green and olive. And, don’t be too shy to break out the plaid and the polka dots. Or, let your inner witch play and go for a moody and mystical look with dark blues, blacks, smoky grays, and purples. Just keep an eye to the sky for tornado-swept houses bearing down on you.
All of these easy Fall nail designs can be done at home — you just need some polish and a few inexpensive tools. Add on nail stickers for a festive look with minimal effort. We’re all about minimal effort. Speaking of, where is Amazon Prime with our candy corn?!
25 Fall Nail Art Ideas
1.Retro Nail Art
This stunningly simple ‘70s retro combination of burgundy, orange, and yellow stripes on a mustard-colored base make it clear that if you wait long enough, everything comes back in style. Just like these tips for finding a husband from the 1950s. Chauvinism is so misunderstood!
2. Black Magic Nails
Just because fall is known for a smorgasbord of colors doesn’t mean black nails aren’t a great idea for autumn. Whip out some of that magical nail tape to get these perfect geometric nails that will make every basic witch jealous.
3. Negative Polka-Dot Nails
This fun, negative-space, polka-dot look is created by painting crescent shapes along the side of each nail and dotting with a bright white polish (use a toothpick). Swap out the chocolate-brown for another fall-themed nail polish color such as golden yellow or burnt orange. Burnt orange is also our most epic breakfast fail, by the by.
4. Almond Fall Nails
Some of the best nail designs come in the shape of nuts — the eating kind, as opposed to the lug kind. These almond-shaped fall nails are bringing the fall vibes and we’re feeling snackish.
5. Geometric Fall Nails
Okay, you’re gonna have to get a bit more strategic with the tape here, but look at the end result! Totally worth the 45 minutes it took us for the first one.
6. Crimson Nails
We know these seem a bit more Halloween than fall, but you can leave off the drip if you prefer. Regardless, this crimson tint puts the perfect autumnal spin on traditionally red nails.
7. Matte Leaf Nails
These fall gel nails are pretty amazing. If you’re thinking, No way can I draw a leaf like that, it’ll look like a lop-sided star! First off, we hear you. Literally — we hear your thoughts. He’s not texting back.
Secondly, we say, “Leaf nail art stickers.” We especially love the matte navy under the stickers and the color combo overall. But, you could change it up to be more Fall-ish if you’re three pumps of pumpkin spice deep already.
8. Spiral Nails
Want something that is technically easy, but challenges your patience? Like pairing a Bluetooth speaker with someone else’s phone? These spiral nails may not scream Fall, but the golden hue and labyrinth (the maze’s cooler cousin) scream otherwise.
9. Fox Nails
What does the fox say? “You need these nails.” If you’re wondering what a fox actually says it’s a short ‘wow-wow-wow.’ Which doesn’t resemble a dog’s bark so much as our reaction to the end of every Ramy episode.
11. Matte Orange Nails
If you’re not quite ready to let go of summer, then ease away from the peachy corals and into low-key oranges before taking a final plunge into the apple bobbing tank. That seems sanitary.
12. Champagne Bubble Nails
Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without champagne and these are the nails to match. So when you’re sitting at the dinner table attempting to drown out your familial drama with bubbly instead of a wine no one can spell, thank us. You’ve got us and this new tradition to be thankful for.
13. Pumpkin Spice Nails
You knew this was happening, right? Just give in and go with a straight-forward representation of the annual obsession. Use a pumpkin-orange colored polish as your base with “whip” on top in the shape of a half-moon (use tape or a really steady hand). Just be glad split pea soup never garnered this much undeserved attention.
14. Mushroom Nails
If you need us, we’ll be mushroom foraging with our mushroom nails because we’ve gone into full cottagecore mode. Blame it on Taylor Swift. Or several of her exes, like she does. These are hand-painted, but never fear, there are stickers for everything.
15. Caramel Nails
Caramel goes with everything – apples, chocolate, pie, nails, missing teeth, etc. While these are simple, this is one of the best fall nail ideas out there. Ooh, another one: nails shaped like turkeys! To get this exact color, use JINsoon in Dulcet.
16. Campsite Nails
The perfect autumn nail designs for outdoor lovers. These look so campfire-side perfect that the only thing missing are s’mores. And a campfire. And also the outdoors. OK, so basically these are missing everything — except the seasonal nails.
17. Witchy Ombre Nails
Fall doesn’t have to mean cheery golden and orange-y hues. It can also mean deep burgundy and black witchy vibes, too. These fall ombre nails are perfect for October or November 1, when you go shopping for discounted candy.
18. Golden Leaf Nails
Pair a deep red polish with some hand-painted gold leaves for these beautiful fall nail designs. Hand painting is possible if you have a striper brush, the steady hands of a surgeon, and it’s been several weeks since your last drop of caffeine.
19. Diagonal Fall Nails
Easy fall nail designs are our jam. This super-cute diagonal multi-colored design is exactly that. Use nail tape, choose your colors, slap some paint on there, and move on. Easy as pie, if pie weren’t actually the hardest dessert to make.
20. Thanksgiving Nails
Our wish to you: may your nails look this fierce. This is one instance of this color palette combination looking surprisingly good. Almost as good as Benedict Cumberbatch’s equal-pay clause in his contracts.
21. Pastel Pumpkin Nails
Who says pastels are just for spring? Rules are for bending. Try your hand at these tiny and delicate pastel pumpkins and make everyone at the pumpkin patch envious.
22. Matte Nails
Matte is definitely in style, the fall ombre colors are beautiful and festive, and the best part? You get to literally drizzle the white polish on at the end to get that fancy abstract design. It’s literally how we do everything — drizzling stuff on top and overusing the word “literally.”
23. Ombre Nails
Feeling inspired by the changing colors of the foliage, but not ready to try anything fancy with your manicure? These ombre nails are the perfect simple fall nails. If you want to really mimic the entire life cycle of leaves, keep moving from yellows to oranges and reds on the other hand. If you’re going for more of a circle of life vibe, keep moving from nail art to tattoos.
24. Blue Confetti Nails
We’re loving the idea of blue as a fall color trend. These are perfect as September nails for all those Virgos and their sapphire birthstones. Add on a little glitter because we all need to feel extra every now and then — including you, Virgos!
25. Clueless Nails
These cute fall nails channel Clueless’s Cher and will take you straight to autumn circa 1995, back when Paul Rudd looked exactly the same.
Ashley is a Nashville unicorn (born, raised, and based), queer, vegan, and dedicated to leaving a positive impact through her life, work, and her website, Wild Hearted.
When she's not writing, she's traveling, reading a book, trying not to kill her houseplants, worshiping her dog, or having an existential crisis. Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter, and LinkedIn
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