All The Nail Colors and Designs I’ve Saved for My Pre-Fall Manis

When in doubt, opt for neutrals. They’ll always work, no matter the weather or time of year. But to take things up a notch, try a trendy 3D mani with these swirls done with sculptural gel. (It’s a lil complicated, so unless you’re a wiz with gel manicures already—peep a tutorial here—head to the salon.)

Deep-green nails scream fall. But if you’re not completely ready for that, lighten things up a bit with this olive-green shade. It’s not too bright or summery, but also doesn’t feel too dark just yet either. And IDK about you, but they make me want a dirty martini real bad.

Florals for fall are groundbreaking if you ask me—especially when they’re done in chic, deep colors like this violet and berry mani. Keep things looking fresh by going with one or two orchid-painted nails, and then keep the rest simple with an aura or French design, as shown above.

Perfection is the enemy of a mismatched mani like this, which is precisely (heh) why we love it. Take yours into fall with earthy tones, like this cinnamon-toned red and yellow gold. Plus, the studded design on the middle finger immediately gives grunge-y, edgy autumn vibes.

Although these nails look simple from afar, up close, they’re anything but. A deeper look shows a raised, chrome border, and inside, a rose-quartz design that legit looks like art on your fingernails.

Retro, ’70s vibes are in (I asked our fashion editor, she confirmed, it’s a big trend, ty Chloé). So why not try ’em on your nails? I love these abstract, swirly designs because they have big impact but can def be DIYed. All you need is a steady hand and a tiny detail nail brush.

Navy blue is a dreamy shade to introduce to your September nails arsenal, because it melds the bright beachy shades you wore all summer with the depth to come. I’m a big fan of just painting it all over your nails, but I also love this artsy take, which combines it with a lil orange and gold to really amp up the autumnal factor (and pop in a few fall nail trends while we’re at it).

These shroom-esque nails feature some of the biggest fall nail colors of 2024, like mustard yellow, red, and olive green. So why not wear them all at once? Plus, polka dots are seriously trending this fall too.

Every nail artist I’ve spoken to says matte nails are on the come up for fall and winter. Get in on the trend early (without going totally overboard) with this manicure that combines matte and glossy, along with one of the hottest shades of 2024, this deep burgundy.

Dubbed by nail artist Julia Diogo as “chocolate fudge,” this mani is rich and decadent. It’s begging you to pair it with trench coats and dark denim on the first day it drops below 70 degrees.

The easiest way to transition your nails into a new season? French tips, as evidenced by these black ones seen on the PatBo fall/winter runway by nail artist Gina Edwards. Even better, they’re press-ons from Kiss Impress, so you can do them at home yourself.

Mimic the juxtaposition of a sunny-yet-chilly day with these matte nails with chrome accents. Because although it feels counterintuitive, it’s actually the best of both worlds, right? Bonus points for choosing a fall-appropriate shade, like this beige and brown combo above.

This September, try a gold chrome nail look, like the one above. It’s extremely easy to do at home (just coat your nail in a neutral polish, then buff on some gold chrome powder, followed with a top coat to seal it all in and make it extra shiny).

This look proves basically anything can be made fall, so long as you change up the shades. These itsy-bitsy daisies are so frickin’ cute, but they’re a far cry from spring and summer, thanks to a mix of deep brown, purple, and red colors (plus a pop of butter yellow).

Jewel-toned, rich purple nails are about to be the epitome of September and October (and all of fall and winter, tbh). Eggplant purple can be worn on legit any skin tone—just opt for something more cool or warm depending on your undertones.

A gradient mani is low-key one of my faves because you get to test out 10 different shades, all in one go. Then, whichever are your faves become your go-to fall nail colors. Easy peasy.

When you want to inject some color into your nails but still feel autumnal, berry hues are the way to go. And with this ombré design, they feel even more moody and jewel-toned. BRB, picking blackberries because my manicure said so.

We all know that pumpkin spice latte season is a whole diff thing than fall, right? Because PSL starts in August, but fall doesn’t really start until October. Meaning this manicure—with varying shades of ginger, pumpkin, cinnamon, and chocolate brown—is basically the answer to a transitional September nail look. You’re welcome!

This ultra-dark green polish (FYI, it’s Off Tropic by Essie—a classic every fall) can make any set of hands automatically feel like it’s ready for fall. Paired with this checkered design, which totally evokes a cozy cabin covered in chic Moroccan shag rugs, consider it your initiation to autumn.

These aura nails look like a fall sunset happening on your hands. And just sayin’, they really make me want some candy corn. Quick tip from the artist, Franci: Try painting your entire nail with the mustard yellow, then dab on some orange eyeshadow with a makeup sponge, before covering with a top coat to get the aura effect.