Tortoise nails and Japanese manicure, among the trends for this autumn

Cherry colours and tones, coffee with milk, copper nails, olive green, burgundy, maroon, saffron, khaki, turmeric, terracotta… the list of shades we can give our nails this autumn is endless, with two big trends that will mark the season: tortoiseshell nails or tortoise shell nails, and the clean or Japanese manicure. Berenice Espejo, official manicurist at Entity Spain, and Bárbara Torres, manager and director of the Twenty Centres in Madrid, talk to us about everything that will be in, also highlighting other trends such as jelly nails or the baby boomer manicure with airbrush.

Japanese manicure is back this autumn, a very old technique whose main principle is to achieve hydrated and nourished nails but with a spectacular natural look, based on its care thanks to natural products to achieve a healthy look. Also known as clean nails, it is perfect for any occasion, at this time of the year, with soft and neutral tones: ‘It is a return to our natural and feminine essence, prioritising the treatment and care of cuticles in a wet and Japanese style, either with special oil and the use of a vice, or better non-invasively with advanced biorganic formulas enriched with panthenol, which allows superior hydration of the cuticle, removing dry skin and dead cells quickly and professionally without suffering damage’ – Berenice Espejo explains to us.

Since it is based on nail care and repair, the Japanese manicure can be done at any time of the year, even in autumn, a season of changes and transitions in which not only the hair suffers with a greater hair loss, but also the nails become more fragile: ‘If for work or coquetry you need to wear them always polished, don’t worry because at the end you will notice that they acquire a natural pink tone and a really special shine’ – Berenice points out.

The Japanese manicure is all about short, clean, manicured nails, with a subtle polish in neutral, soft and translucent tones that enhance and show off the health of the natural nails, simulating a makeup/BB cream effect: ‘We can afford a minimal nail art detail with some minimalist design. Anyway, this is the Japanese manicure that is mostly done in Spain, the original one is made with organic and natural ingredients, and of course, it is not polished’.

Tortoiseshell nails

The tortoise-shell manicure consists of polishing the nails with a light nude background, applying amber or translucent orange tones: ‘Nail art is a must, with some details of spots in brown and black tones simulating a tortoiseshell effect. This tortoise design is very versatile and ideal for this new season, it looks good with a full nail polish, or blurred in the area of the free edge towards the cuticle, perfect in combination with nude and brown tones’ – Berenice (Entity Spain) tells us.

The tones and colours we’ll see most this autumn

Bárbara Torres highlights cherry and red wine tones, earth colours, ochres and khakis, beige, charcoal… but also browns, greys and certain nudes: ‘Taupe and chocolate tones, together with milky nails, will be very present this autumn. Also caramel and different maroons. In terms of designs, short nails in scale or mirror effect, the traditional French or two-tone nails, lots of geometric shapes and, once again, animal print’.

Clean nails: the manicure that will continue to reign supreme in 2025.