It's Confirmed: This Season's Trendiest Manicures Are Finally Putting These 6 Nail Looks to Rest

Last weekend, I made my first appointment for a gel manicure this fall, and made the mistake of waiting until the last minute to land on a polish color and design (I started scrolling through nail looks on the 15 minute car ride over). I found myself on the DNC, OPI, and Essie shades of TikTok, where nail-obsessed content creators reviewed and modeled their favorite shades and nail designs of the season. With hundreds of inspo. images at my disposal, I ended up sticking with my trusty, neutral pink shade and convinced myself myself that it would be the best way to transition from the citrus-inspired shades and playful designs of the summer.

As much as I loved the clean nail look I hand landed on, there was a side of me that was in the mood for a fall manicure that incorporated some of the season's biggest trends, and it was back to the drawing board. Since then, I've reached out to two manicurists for their predictions for the outdated nail trends that we'll be seeing less of this season (as well as the ones to try), and another appointment in early October for a fresh start. Read on to see which ones I'll be trying and retiring.

What Nail Looks Will Be Outdated This Fall?

The arrival of a new season brings with it endless opportunities to upgrade beauty habits and look to fresh sources of inspiration. Freelance manicurist Erica De Los Santos clues us in on some of the major nail trends that have reached the end of their cycle, and the ones expected to take their place. "This fall we’ll be saying goodbye to the jelly finishes and ultra-bright colors that dominated earlier in the year, as the season shifts toward a more grounded, cozy vibe," De Los Santos begins.

While there is no one way to go about achieving the perfect fall manicure, consider choosing shades that reflect the changing environment around us on the western hemisphere this time around. "Muted, earthy tones like chocolate browns, warm caramels, khaki greens, and deep jewel shades are replacing neon brights, while ombré and gradient looks are stepping in for bold, high-contrast designs," says De Los Santos. Adding a hint of shine or texture can also help take any manicure to the next level, so don't shy away from chrome finishes and nail toppers.

If you, like me, tend to gravitate towards lighter neutrals, you're in luck— they'll also be sticking around with a chic, seasonal twist to take us through the fall and well into the winter months. "Instead of loud, playful hues, nails are taking on a more sophisticated edge with moody colors, soft neutrals, creamy off-whites, and layered effects like chrome accents, subtle polka dots, or tortoiseshell textures," she continues. According to De Los Santos, the looks we can expect to see lean away from flashy shades, textures, or finishes towards, "rich, dimensional elegance that pairs seamlessly with fall fashion."

What Stands Out About This Year's Trends?

In the midst of diving into all this fall beauty, I always enjoy the opportunity to look back at the ones that served us well, and what led to the formation of the majority of the ones populating our Pinterests at the present. So far, all the nail trends I've been saving use the season's "traditional" colors, but with fashion-forward details. For De Los Santos, what stands out the most about this season's trendiest manicure looks is how they balance richness and subtlety. "Instead of bold, playful brights, muted tones are stealing the spotlight, often paired with matte finishes that give nails a soft, modern edge," she explains.

Vicki Ornellas, manicurist and global educator at Salon Perfect agrees with this sentiment, highlighting the rise of clean, no-fuss manicures this fall. "I see clients wanting a sleek minimalist look but also wanting a little flair," she says. Glass nails, for example, easily achieve this. Offered in a wide range of color options, these nails can be created with fun, colorful sets or with a classic, sophisticated touch. "Glass nails are a layered design with dimension and depth," explains Ornellas." To pull off this look, she combines a cat eye gel, jelly color gel, and chrome power.

De Los Santos predicts that the transition from fall to winter nail trends will be marked by additional color and design trends. "I predict the season’s manicure trends will shift from the cozy muted tones of browns, khakis, and caramels into deeper, more dramatic shades that feel richer and bolder for the holidays," De Los Santos says. She names jewel-like garnets, inky navy blues, velvety pumps, and classic black with a glossy or metallic twist as the shades to be on the look out for. "Where fall is about softness and balance with matte finishes and earthy neutrals, winter tends to bring in a bit more glamour—expect to see deeper tones paired with chrome, shimmer, and glitter accents that catch the light in festive settings," she adds.

How Can I Create On-Trend Nails At Home?

Now that you know which nail trends are on their way out (as well as those that will be spotted on all the most fashionable people), why not try these out for yourself? They can easily be created without a trip to the salon in the comfort of your own home. De Los Santos recommends focusing on a good prep with clean cuticles, making sure a smoothing base coat and thoughtful color choices are on hand. "Muted earthy tones, deep jewel shades, and creamy neutrals are the stars right now, and you can elevate them with a matte topcoat or subtle accents like ombré fades, metallic tips, or tone-on-tone dots," she says.

For polish colors, De Los Santos recommends Morgan Taylor's Living Our Life Collection ($35), which includes a deep indigo, a metallic reminiscent of pumpkin spice, and an ivory cream and others to choose from for a dreamy fall manicure. Essie is also at the top of her list, citing seasonal staples like Mocha Mousse ($10) as well as other earthy neutral and western-inspired browns to pick from. To create the popular glass nails in minutes, Ornellas advises using the Salon Perfect 1-Step Gel Magnetic Polish in Nude Silver ($10) and using a cylinder magnet to create the effect before applying one coat of their 1-Step Gel Polish in Candy Skies ($7). From there, apply a no cleans topcoat and cure before finishing with a chrome powder and topcoat to complete the look.

Ready to try tour first nail look of the season? Keep scrolling for a closer look at the six nail trends that we'll be seeing less of and their note-worthy replacements (plus, chic polish shades and helpful tools for your at-home manicure sessions).

Animal Textures vs. Animal Print

As much as we adore a good animal print on nails (we're talking everything from pop art variations to extra-fine brush strokes for each hair), this season will be all about embracing animal textures. Alligator, snake, and tortoise shell prints are all having a moment, offering the perfect opportunity to tap into our wild side with deep, luxe shades of brown, tan, off-white, and black with a hint of rusty orange.

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Moody Designs vs. High Contrast Details

Vintage-inspired prints like polka dots have been one of the most defining nail designs of the year, and we'll be seeing more of them heading into fall. However, we're officially trading in the light and airy polka dot prints seen this summer on the nails Sabrina Carpenter to Dua Lipa for a deliciously moody touch. This season, warm, shimmering base shades of cashmere pink and berry red while be warm up manicures below black polka dot details.

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Mirror Chrome vs. Glazed Shimmer

The chrome looks á la Hailey Bieber that broke the internet are here to stay, but this fall is shaping up to have chrome nail looks that are much more cosmic than traditionally cozy. The glazed, shimmery manis of falls pasts are being replaced with elegant, cool-toned chrome shades (think glass nails with even more pigment and shine). The best part? It's easy to recreate with the help of metallic polish or nail powder to finish things off.

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Minimalist Glass vs. Busy Designs

Glass-inspired nail finishes were spotted on the fashion crowd as early as last spring, but we're starting to detect a shift towards minimalist, glass finishes with warm undertones rather than the icy shades (and later, the citrus-inspired brights) the dominated the beauty space in the first half of the year. This clean approach to a manicure is undoubtedly bumping the nostalgia-fueled, busy designs and 3D nail art of this summer.

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Tactile Textures vs. Jelly Finishes

This fall, we'll also be taking notes from the stunning fabric textures and touches featured on this year's spring/summer collections. Nail experts are sensing a return to bohemia and grunge with eye-catching touches that take notes from the chunky belts, studs, knits, and layered fabrics we've seen grade the runways of NYFW. That's right—the barely-there hint of color and glossy finish of the jelly nails are saying goodbye just in time for sweater weather.

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Retro Florals vs. Vintage Rosebuds

Florals might be a shoe-in for spring, but they're also springing up on nails for fall (albeit with some retro inspiration). Coquette manicures claimed the first few months of the year with soft petal details and whispers of pink for a timeless touch, but retro fall florals are coming for their crown. Using the season's trending nail shades and dot designs, these whimsical designs are easy to create at home and request at the nail salon. All you need is a good eye for color pairings and an idea of flower art placement.

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