I can’t believe it’s already nearing the end of October, which means we’re somehow almost a month into fall. If you’re anything like me and have already exhausted your fair share of burgundy and chocolate brown manicures for the season, but aren’t quite a maximalist Halloween nail art person, there’s luckily an autumnal middle ground. From mixing and matching rich, moody shades to adding subtle details like polka dots and French tips, minimalist fall manicures put an elevated spin on your usual single-color mani without requiring much nail art skill or a big time commitment.
Whether you’re doing your nails at home or saving inspiration for your next salon appointment, here are a few fresh fall nail ideas to try before the season is over. The easiest way to lean into an autumnal design without any intricate nail art is a French manicure—just sub the classic white tips for your favorite fall hue. You can never go wrong with a coffee brown, and some of the best shades to get the look are OPI’s Cliffside Karaoke or essie’s Boho Rodeo.
If you want a simple manicure but are looking to amp it up beyond a single shade, try color-blocking each finger to create an autumnal palette. Jewel tones and moody polishes complement each other so well for a fall finish that requires zero design skills. Now that we’ve seen fall French tips and fall color-blocking, and you can combine both simple trends for a multicolor French mani.
Mix and match contrasting autumnal shades on each finger, pairing rich browns with deep greens, warm yellow with burgundy, or other unexpected color combinations for a playful take on the classic French tip. Everyone loves a coffee-inspired set (I mean, just look at the data: searches for coffee nails are up 922% over the last year) and this latte gradient is a subtle and chic way to lean into all things caffeine. Studded nails have been one of the biggest nail design trends as of late, and the silver studs along the perimeter look especially edgy against a glossy navy base.
Olive green and burgundy are an unfailing fall color combination, and this manicure puts a playful spin on the pairing with burgundy polka dots over an olive green base, mimicking the look of brine-inspired fingers. If you need some Halloween nail inspo but don’t want to commit to a full spooky set. try opting for jack-o’-lantern French tips. An orange edge with a thin black or white line is all it takes for an on-theme yet equally chic late October manicure, Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products.
Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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