The Best Classic Dark Nail Polish Shades for Your Next Manicure

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As we move into fall and the temperatures drop, dark nail polish shades become the go-to for many of us. “Vampy, darker shades are more popular during the fall and winter seasons,” says celebrity nail artist Sarah Chue. “These colors make a bold, daring statement.” Celebrity nail artist Elle is starting to see blackened red as a dark nail trend for fall. “This can be black cherry, merlots and burgundies,” she says. She’s also expecting more chocolatey, jewel-toned browns. However, there will always be those classic dark nail colors, like our list below, that never go out of style.

Featured Experts

Elle, a celebrity nail artist
Sarah Chue, a celebrity nail artist at Exclusive Artists

How to Turn Your Classic Dark Nail Color Into a “Jelly” Shade

Jelly nails are trending, and Elle says you can make your own using your favorite dark shade of nail polish. “The shade is more versatile in your wardrobe by either making it a jelly or wearing it really dark,” she explains. “You can also wear it dark on your nail and make it a jelly for a French tip or ombré look. Making a shade a jelly is a way you can make the color more versatile to use for nail art.”

Essentially, you can make any shade into a jelly simply by adding it to any clear nail polish or topcoat. “With lacquer, I would take a topcoat and keep adding your shade in drops,” Elle says. “You can take a bottle that’s clear and make sure there’s enough room—you don’t want it to be a full bottle—and then add your color of choice. Try four to five drops to start. Put it in and see if it has enough pigment for you. Otherwise, keep adding drops until you get there, and then apply. You need to do it inside the bottle because nail polish will dry, and then you won’t be able to use it.”

The Best Dark Nail Polish Shades

1 / 10

Beloved by many, this creamy dark purple shade is a nail polish icon. Inspired by Chicago’s infamous Lincoln Park, this super shiny formula gives nails a gel-like effect and lasts up to 11 days.

2 / 10

Equal parts classic and mysterious, this merlot shade mixes deep reds and purples to give that wine-stained look we also love for makeup. It’s effortlessly chic.

3 / 10

When you want to go jet black, go for this creamy shade, which is also available in gel. The brand describes it as “eternally cool,” giving “rockstar attitude with sophisticated style.”

4 / 10

Not quite black, this super deep-red nail color is sexy and edgy, just like its name. In some lighting, it looks black or chocolatey brown, and in others, you see the hint of red.

5 / 10

Inspired by the iconic couture created by the House of Dior, this vampy, deep purple-red hue is rich and sultry. Plus, it’s infused with peony and pistachio extracts to help protect your nails as you wear it.

6 / 10

Who doesn’t love the name of this creamy brown lacquer? The color is a rich, warm brown, like a fresh cup of coffee, and the shine is out of this world for an at-home mani.

7 / 10

Also a brown option, this one is slightly lighter, and could actually be treated as a neutral for those with darker skin tones. “A dark chocolate brown on an olive to dark skin tone can be the most beautiful nude,” says Elle. “A beautiful nude doesn’t always has to be beige.”

8 / 10

Inspired by runway trends, this blackened purple (or blackened red, as Elle calls them) is super pigmented and glossy. It also has great longevity on the nails without damaging them thanks to the brand’s Florium Complex of botanical extracts and restorative plant oils.

9 / 10

A classic, creamy navy, this cool-toned hue is a conversation starter and a playful approach to dark colors rather than the more popular choices of black and brown.

10 / 10

The little black nail polish you need in your wardrobe, this shade is classic and straightforward. Pair it with pretty pink makeup and a girlie dress for an unexpected look.