You may have noticed that square nails are slowly taking over your feed. While almond-shaped nails are still coveted, square nails offer more space for nail art. They also nod to the early 2000s, making them a must-try in our book. As much as we love the idea of a crisp white square French mani or a pop of neon color for an extra Y2K touch, with autumn around the corner, we have all our attention on square fall nails.
The secret to flawless square fall nails? “To achieve perfect square nails, start by trimming them straight across and then file the top edge straight, holding the file perpendicular to the nail,” says Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna. “To make the square shape extra crisp, file the sides of your nails straight up and down.” Just be sure not to over-file the sides of your nails, as doing so can weaken your natural nails, Hanna warns.
Keep reading for 20 square fall nail ideas we can’t wait to recreate this autumn.
Olive Color Block Reverse French Mani
Nailing Hollywood artist Hang Nguyen created this deep green-on-green reverse French mani. You can DIY the look with a nail art brush or make it easy on yourself with inverted French manicure stencil stickers.
Tortoiseshell Square Nails
Nailing Hollywood artist Morgan A. Dixon created these picture-perfect tortoiseshell nails. “Tortoiseshell print nails are always popular in the fall and the soft, abstract look of the pattern pairs well with short square nail shapes,” Hanna says.
Moss Green Nails
Prefer solid manis? Moss green polish will make your square nails pop this fall.
Autumnal Apex French Mani
Another Nguyen creation we can’t get enough of? This autumnal apex French. “Hang created this look using two classic fall shades, taupe and chocolate brown,” Hanna says. “The micro French and color combo give the illusion of longer nail beds, which is ideal for short nails.”
Abstract Fall Nails
There’s something so comforting about a warm, autumnal color palette. Here, you can see how the season’s burgundy, brick, mustard, and beige hues pair beautifully in an abstract fall mani. As for recreating this nail look, start with a solid base, then use a nail art brush to create the sloped and striped design.
Denim Check Square Nails
Denim blue is one of the most popular nail polish colors for fall, and this multi-wash color block mani proves just how moody and chic it can be for the cooler months of the year. “Color block manis work great on square nails since the shape of the blocks aligns with the nail shape,” Hanna points out.
Pumpkin Glitter Square Fall Nails
How stunning are these shimmering pumpkin nails? The ultra-fine glitter twinkles in the light, taking on the appearance of a sparkling jack-o-lantern.
Black and White Mismatch Square Fall Nails
Black and white make for a high-contrast combo fit for any time of year. That said, the bold duality looks especially fitting for fall, as it reflects the warmth and light of summer while nodding toward the cool darkness of winter. When working with these colors, you can opt for alternating nails or, for a more creative nail look, try a doodle-inspired mix-n-match mani like Nguyen’s above.
Magnetic Pumpkin Square Nails
Love the idea of a pumpkin-inspired mani but want to skip the glitter? Opt for a warm metallic pumpkin polish instead.
Autumnal Glitter Skittle Square Nails
Metallic polish is a fun idea for fall, right? If you can’t pick a single color, remember Skittle manis exist for a reason. Here, you can see how metallic wine, olive, pumpkin, cranberry, and bronze polishes come together for one cohesive look.
Nude Skittle Square Nails
Nude Skittle mani or neutral autumn ombré—whatever you call it, this earthy multicolor mani is a pretty pick for fall 2024. It’s also super simple to DIY. Just paint two coats of polish on each nail and finish with a top coat.
Two-Tone Red Drip Square Nails
Ice cream nails—manis detailed with dripping accents—have made the rounds in 2024. While ice cream might be a more fitting treat (and nail art idea!) for summer, with thoughtfully curated colors, it can be fun for fall, too. Case in point: These two-tone red drip nails.
Black Evil Eye Nails
French manicures are undeniably chic, not to mention easy to DIY. For a modern autumn update on the classic white nail look, swap black polish into the mix and add creative cuticle accents. “Micro French compliments the shape of square nails beautifully and creates a great visual balance,” says Hanna, recommending the update. “The eye accent in this manicure by Hang adds an interesting touch that would work well for Halloween but is still subtle enough for everyday wear.”
Geometric Sienna Nails
We love the look of this sienna, rose, and taupe nail look for fall 2024. It’s bright, neutral, earthy, and artistic—not to mention easy to DIY with a nail art brush and dotting tool.
Magnetic Burgundy Nails
As much as we love glitter and metallic nail looks, there’s nothing quite as magical as a magnetic mani. Just look at this reflective burgundy creation. It looks like a nebula, no?
Magnetic Mahogany Nails
Speaking of celestial inspiration, allow us to turn your attention to this magnetic mahogany mani, which would make for the ultimate Halloween night sky nail look. Remember: The trick to making any DIY mani look professional is to touch up the edges to ensure they’re clear of overlapped polish. Using an angled brush dipped in acetone will work like a charm.
Metallic Tiger Stripe Nails
Metallics make for bold solid manis but they can elevate simpler nail designs, too. See this metallic tiger stripe mani for proof. You can DIY the wild nail look with a milky nude base and fine-lining brush dipped into metallic copper and bronze polishes.
Neutral Shimmer Skittle Mani
As much as we love a rich, jewel-toned metallic fall mani, we’re pretty mesmerized by this neutral shimmer Skittle creation, too. The warm undertones make it especially fitting for the transition from summer to fall.
Speckled Pumpkin Splotch Nails
If your DIY skills are limited, it’s best to search for less uniform mani inspo. This speckled pumpkin splotch nail idea is a breeze to recreate at home. Start with a milky nude base and top it off with random shapes in the color. Finish with top coat.
Magnetic Plum Square Nails
In case it wasn’t clear: We’re obsessed with shimmery magnetic polishes for fall. Another color fit for the season? Plum!
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