As the leaves turn and sweater season settles in, there’s no better time to refresh your nail game. But this fall? We’re going short — and smart. The nail trends this fall 2025 are all about creating a big impact on a small surface, whether it starts with earthy shades, glossy accents, cable-knit textures, or silent luxury French tips. Curious which looks are worth bookmarking? So, it is time to jump into the most stylish, comfortable and innovative short nail designs that are currently popular.
Modern Neutrals with a Wild Edge
There’s something about a warm, rich brown paired with crisp white that feels like autumn’s version of a vanilla latte — grounded, cozy, and effortlessly stylish. These short nails combine creamy neutrals with a shiny chocolate accent and one leopard-inspired feature nail that adds the right amount of drama. The print is lightened by the gold foil detail and has an unexpected touch of elegance, a bonus earring moment, glimmering in the light. This set is not loud but it does not go unnoticed – like good perfume that stays just long enough.
I would recreate it by applying OPI Alpine Snow as the background, Espresso Your Inner Self as the brown shade and metallic golden foil, such as CND Additives in Gold Adorned. A dotting tool or even a bobby pin is good enough to simulate the animal spots, accuracy is not the issue. You want that imperfect, lived-in texture that feels organic.
Start with two coats of the white base. Then dry them thoroughly, and then go in with the brown spots in a loose pattern. Then put on pieces of gold foil on top when the polish is still a little sticky. Seal everything with a high-shine topcoat. As one nail artist explained to Allure, gold foil is an editorial touch with zero effort, and this nail look is a testament to that.
I have paired this outfit with a camel trench and loafers and honestly, I got more compliments on my nails than the actual outfit. It seems that there is something about animal print that brings out the inner confidence in us all, it is playful, it is powerful and when done in mini form, it is totally wearable. Would you try it?
Yellow-Tipped Petal Play
It is a rainy fall morning sketchbook doodle of a manicure, light, purposeful, and a bit joyful. The matte texture keeps it down to earth, but the buttery yellow French tips? Unexpected in the best way. It is the type of detail that is saying, I see color, but is not screaming it. Then there is the blue floral linework, so endearing, it being almost childish, that ran across the nails like notes in the classroom. It is fine, a little artistic, and completely relaxing to the eye.
In this type of soft-focus design, it is imperative to use a matte base coat. I’d use Zoya’s Naked Manicure base for that neutral sheer, then freehand the yellow tips with Olive & June’s “Stinson Sunset” (a buttery pastel perfect for fall). You can draw flowers in a navy-blue polish such as Essie Booties on Broadway with the help of a fine art brush with only enough contrast.
When you are doing it at home, the secret is to gently press the brush rather than dragging. You get that petal shape without thinking too much about it with short, curvy strokes. Top with a matte finish (I love Butter London’s Matte Topcoat) and voilà — cozy girl fall energy, activated.
This type of appearance makes me think of my college friend who used to wear oversized sweaters and carried tea bags with her to class. It is gentle, emotional, and completely suitable at the beginning of November when you are in a rather poetic mood.
Retro Hearts for Modern Moods
Minimal nail art has a silent power, and this style nails it. Simple white base, one brown heart per nail, and suddenly you’ve got a manicure that’s giving Pinterest-girl-with-a-side-of-coffee-date. It rides that retro 70s color wave that is continuing to trend into fall 2025 – particularly with that warm cocoa color on snowy white. Short square nails make it practical, polished, and ideal to type, text or even hold a latte as a prop.
All you need here is a true white base (try “Blanc” by Essie) and a rich brown polish like “You Don’t Know Jacques!” from OPI. Make two dots with a dotting tool or the back of a pin and drag the dots into a point to make each heart. It’s easier than it looks, promise.
As one beauty editor at Byrdie once said, the best nail art is the one you can still do after one glass of wine, and this one definitely fits the bill. It does not have to be perfect, the hand-drawn effect is why it feels personal.
This would make such a cute Galentine thing to do, but in all honesty? I would sport this any day when I want to be sweet. Nail art does not need to be extra to be ultra adorable.
Autumn Geometry in Motion
Simple, yet dramatic, this design is a blend of muted orange, greige and slate to create little windows of color like stained windows to your fingertips. It is not the typical fall scheme of colors, rather a more graphic and modern way of dealing with the season. This is to the girls who pin minimalist interiors and adore a good line drawing tattoo. The shapes here are clever, not messy, but stacked, and the short nail shape keeps the entire appearance polished.
The orange will need shades such as CND Tropix, a greyed down taupe such as Deborah Lippmann Waking Up in Paris, and deep grey such as Essie Now and Zen. Tape your nails with nail tape to give it sharp lines, or do it freehand if you have a steady hand. They need to pop off a neutral matte background, which is why the blocks of color feel architectural.
This type of mani will take a little bit of time, but it is worth it because of how sophisticated it appears. I have spotted such variations in the fall trend report in Harper s bazaar, with chunky knits and boxy coats. It’s statement-making, but still sophisticated.
If you’re someone who leans into structure over sparkle, this is your moment. The design resembles a well-chosen playlist during a rainy day – considerate, melancholic, and somehow fashionably designed.
Mint Swirl Meets Moody Chic
This one’s giving mint chocolate swirl meets grown-woman cool. The muted sage green and glossy black color combo is a complete surprise and these short rounded nails make it feel sleek rather than spooky. The swirl art is not very literal- it is more like smoke or motion. There’s something hypnotic about it. Like, it’s calm, but it’s also kind of mesmerizing. This is what I’d call “introverted glam.”
Duplicate it using Succulent Garden by Cirque Colors and Licorice by Essie to get that dusty green and the black respectively. With fine detail brush, draw the shapes of the swirls, letting your hand go freely, as though you are drawing waves. The secret? Don’t try to mirror each nail. Asymmetry adds to the magic.
According to a feature in Elle last year, celebrity nail artist Mei Kawajiri explained that swirl designs add movement to still hands. This one is no exception. You will sense it as well–that you are expressing silent power in every movement.
This is exactly what I would attend a gallery opening or a fall dinner. It’s bold but introspective. It states, I do follow the trends but I do not blindly follow them. That kind of confidence? Always in style.
Glossy Plum & Forest Green with Golden Accents
Fall is always the time when we want richer colors — and this manicure hits the spot. It is replaced by a deep plum, sultry and jammy, as grapes can be on sourdough toast, paired with a dull forest green that somehow conveys the message, cozy layering season. The delicate gold wave lines sprinkled across the green gives that luxe pop — it’s soft glam x weekend in the Catskills. Short, round nail shapes make it all feel casual and unintimidating.
This combo looks best with a really vibrant polish like OPI’s “Lincoln Park After Dark” and Essie’s “Sage You Love Me.” For the golden wave, you can use nail tape or paint on with a detail brush with something like “Good As Gold” from Essie. A glossy topcoat ties it all together.
I’ve been seeing a whole lot of green this season, like, a lot. But pairing it with plum? That feels fresh again. It is not try-hards, it is considered, like the silky scarf that can be thrown over a slouchy blazer. One of my go-to tricks when working with a bold color combo is to keep shapes clean and simple and finishes super shiny.
Pop Art Hearts on Monochrome Stripes
Ok, statement nails, the ones that will literally make people stop in their tracks. This mani goes full-on playful bold with a pop art effect: graphic black-and-white zebra stripes, plus bold red hearts slapped on top. It’s giving fashion week, it’s giving Beetlejuice chic, and somehow still a little flirty and a little rebellious. These short square nails were designed for bad girls who can make a statement without ever speaking a word.
To achieve this, I would start with a matte white base such as Sally Hansen White On, then I would paint on the thick black squiggle stripes with Sinful Colors Black Out using liner brush. The hearts can be made with a dotting tool and a bright red such as Chanel’s “Pirate.” Finish with a glossy topper just on the heart to get the bubblegum sticker look.
There’s a reason why artists like Betina Goldstein do contrast this way – it’s bold, but doesn’t need glitz to be remembered. I love this look for someone who is embracing a little bit of playful edge it’s not romantic-soft it’s romantic-bold. It says, “Yes, I have feelings. No, I won’t tone them down.”
Earthy Mid-Century Modern
This one is pure autumn poetry. A softly squared nail shape secures a color-blocked combination of terracotta, sage, mustard, ivory, and warm gold, all arranged in curving sections that are all-over mid-century modern. It’s graphic, yes — but still grounded. The matte finish dials down the drama, it feels like fall leaves deliberately placed. It’s elegant, but cool. Think Mad Men, but make it Pinterest.
You’ll want polishes in muted tones — “Desert Suede” from Orly, “Forest Drive” by Essie, and a creamy white like “Marshmallow” from Sally Hansen’s Good.Kind.Pure line. Gold foil or metallic polish is used to give the shine. Use curved striping tape, or a very steady hand with a micro brush to define the shapes.
This one’s for the ladies who have been pinning their home office redo’s with burnt orange throws and green velvet chairs. It’s aesthetic, but personal. A friend of mine had something similar to this on her at a fall wedding and the bride asked her to send the design to her nail lady. So yeah — it’s got range.
Harvest Hues with a Hint of Glitter
Let’s not pretend fall leaves are over because this manicure is what a maple tree would wear to a dinner date. Vibrant yellow, citrus orange and juicy purple are grounded by a copper glitter accent nail – and it does. The colors don’t match, and that’s the point. Collectively, they are celebratory, as in the final golden sunset to which we give up an hour. This is short nail maximalism done right.
Polishes such as Sally Hansen’s “Mellow Yellow”, Orly’s “Tangerine Dreamz” and Zoya’s “Donnie” bring you that rich fall vibe. I would recommend the glitter as Penny Talk by Essie or ILNP super glam Copper Topper. Make each color clean and be large, it is a five-nail party.
The first time I attempted mismatched nails like this, I thought they would be a fashion faux pas and clash with my outfit. But what they actually ended up making was every outfit. But it is that kind of mani that makes you smile immediately you see it, just like wearing your favorite cozy sweater or drinking your first PSL of the season.
Cozy Espresso Palette with Almond Gloss
And of course, another fall fave: the browns. But this is not your common common common boring brown – this is an espresso bar handpicked to your fingertips. Straight through deep roast, gold sheen, even an almost soft nude tinge in the center, this almond shaped, manicure grows warmer and warmer, as the finest cable-knit will. The finish? High-shine, but never too much. The vibe? Timeless, rich, and quietly luxurious.
For this combination, use “Espresso” by Revlon, “Suzi Loves Cowboys” from OPI and a warm nude like “Bare With Me” from Essie. The glitter accent can be done with “Bronzed Beauty” by ILNP — it gives just the right amount of glow.
When doing a tonal mani such as this I always advise to start with the darkest colour and apply to the thumb or pinky to ground the look. The shimmer polish? That one on your ring finger is like a piece of jewelry- it sparkles. When it comes to textures, according to nail pro Deborah Lippmann, combining them within one palette “keeps the eye active — and the style modern.”
I’ve been wearing something similar through November, and not only does it match literally every outfit I own, but it also makes my hands look extra polished in photos. That soft almond shape + high gloss = always insta ready
Wine-Dipped French with a Soft Blush Base
This is the manicure that goes hand in hand with a cashmere latte and a sense of quiet confidence. A classic oval is transformed into a canvas of this reverse wine-tinted French deep burgundy arcs surrounding a soft and almost translucent blush base. It feels Parisian. Grown. Like you would put it on with a pearl earring and a coat that fits like a glove. It is low, yes, but in a manner that says a lot.
The clean nude wash is done using OPI Bubble Bath over a ridge-filling base. The tip shade? Essie’s “Wicked” or Chanel’s “Rouge Noir.” You will need a striping brush or a nail vinyl to achieve that curved shape. Top it off with a gel finish to give it that high gloss luxury finish.
The easy nature of this mani is what makes it such a favorite among stylists, as it won t compete with a statement outfit or a statement lip. As celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik once quipped, it is not always about what is extra that makes a design land. He was so right.
Rose Gold Meets Frosted Elegance
This manicure resembles what would occur in the event that Art Deco and contemporary bridal styles became enamored. The base is matte grey-lilac and the linework and tips are mirror-finish rose gold, giving off a soft glow, it is both futuristic and romantic. It is organized, yet dainty, and it looks gorgeous on short, rounded nails. It is ideal to use during late-fall occasions or any other time when you want your hands to speak grace.
To get this look, you’ll want a satin matte top coat (try Zoya’s Velvet Top Coat) layered over a dusty base like Essie’s “Cocktail Bling.” The rose gold can be achieved with metallic chrome powder or foil strips (or even rose gold striping tape) to get that crisp edge. Paint on with a detail brush and paint one nail at a time.
Honestly? This would be so cute at a holiday dinner party or even just a weekend when you want to dress up your denim jacket and scarf. It has this sort of subdued drama which I can never get enough of.
Golden Mustard with Minimal Line Art
Yellow for fall? Yes — when it’s this spicy golden mustard tone. These nails have a lighthearted cheer to them, but they still have an autumnal quality about them because of the short length and neat finish. And that one accent nail? One of those drawings in black lines, of a plain neutral, with few lines–a little drawing in your hand. It’s bright, but it’s grounded. and I like that it goes well with a cozy knit or a smart trench.
Olive & June has a perfect mustard shade called Marigolden Hour. To create the design, use a neutral background such as Bare It All by Sally Hansen and a striping brush and solid black polish such as Black Onyx by OPI. Such sharp lines will be sent to you by a steady hand and some patience.
I spotted something like this on a barista in Chicago last fall, and it has been with me. It just goes with mustard, not every time the first choice, but when it is, you never forget it.
Blush & Cocoa with Delicate Florals
Do you know what I mean when you are cooped up all weekend, and the candles are lit, and it is all quiet? That’s the vibe here. The colors in this set are a bit romantic in style with deep cocoa and blush tones with deep, muted colors and a lone floral decoration. The flower itself, which is delicate, almost sepia, adds a little vintage but does not seem too sugary.
Apply Essie Clothing optional to the beige, and Partner in crime to that deep brown. To do the floral art, you might experiment with nail stickers, stamping plates, or use a micro brush and off-white polish such as Snow Me White. I have also tried a fine point nail pen, which is ideal to start with floral designs.
Florals in fall aren’t just for spring leftovers. They are done in neutrals and are intimate and thoughtful like a note jotted in the margins of a book. This one’s for the romantics.
Cozy Cable-Knit Texture Meets Bold Pops
Talk about texture! The design combines matte neutrals and embossed cable-knit materials with splashes of bright color accents that pop, like that bright orange nail. Chef’s kiss. And that glossy black? Sharp contrast, total balance. The 3D knit effect cries sweater weather without uttering a single word and the almond shape makes it feminine without being too long or dramatic.
The texture will be knit, and you will need a thick nude gel polish such as The Gel Bottle Marshmallow and a detail brush to recreate it. Apply the design in layers, curing each one. Choose Atomic Orange by OPI to make a statement with the orange. Apply the glossy statement nail with Blackout and top it with a gel topcoat.
It is the type of nail art that I put on when I will have a lot of photos of me holding coffee mugs. It looks like Instagram bait in the best possible sense: snug, volumetric, and characterful. Allure beauty editors have been referring to sweater nails as the textural it-girl moment of the season and I am all about it.
Earthy Khaki With a Soft Shine
This look is giving grounded, minimal, and quietly powerful. The khaki-green hue is right out of a dull fall color scheme, with dried eucalyptus, sage, and warm matcha lattes in mind. It is soft and squoval in shape, neat and short, and the glossy finish gives it the right amount of light play so it does not look flat. It is the tone not loud but never unnoticed particularly when combined with chunky knits and neutral layering.
To get that muted moss look, you can use Olive & June, WKF, or Essie Win Me Over. Never miss the high-gloss top coat I personally adore Seche Vite to have that glass effect. This is the kind of look that is high-maintenance in the most subtle way: it seems effortless, but you know that the prep work counts.
If you’re DIY-ing it, start with a clean base, push back your cuticles (gently!), and apply a ridge-filling base coat. Apply two coats of polish, one of high-shine top coat, and dry under a fan 15 minutes. Boom is a manicure that does not scream but speaks quietly of confidence.
There’s something about this tone that’s oddly comforting. It is like taking a deep breath before the busy season. I have used this same color when I had back to back meetings and still wanted to feel put together without overdoing it. Polish is the armour we do not know we want sometimes.
Cool Lavender With Micro-Crystal Detailing
This collection is sophistication with a bite a smoky lavender base edged with sharp small crystals. The color is sophisticated, even serene, but the dainty gem detailing is done to turn the volume to the right amount to those who desire polish with personality. This is the type of mani that reflects light at the perfect angle and gets you that coveted, where did you get your nails done compliment.
To achieve this at home, grab a dusky lavender polish like OPI’s “Galleria Vittorio Violet” and a pack of micro nail crystals (Swarovski flat backs work beautifully). Your best friends here will be a good nail glue and a pointed dotting tool or toothpick.
Put your base shade on first two clean coats then use the glue and your tool to place the crystals in a neat line along the cuticle line. Seal it all with top coat of gel-finish top coat. It takes patience, but the payoff is huge.
I have a friend who wore this to her engagement party last fall and it was a moment. The glitter was the right amount of glam without being excessive even on short nails. This is the most multifunctional design: bridal, workwear and even coffee date: it is everywhere.
Emerald Green With Gold Veins
Dark and moody, matte, and a tad enchanted, this forest green is literally plucked out of a foggy forest fantasy, and the gold accents introduce some serious richness. It is almost as though the marbled gold lines are cracks of light in the stone. I would describe this design as elegant and with a twist, something you need when you want to be bold, yet not to be flashy.
To create this, you’ll need a deep matte green polish (try Zoya’s “Wyatt” and top with a velvet matte topcoat), plus gold foil or a gold nail art pen for the veining. You can use a small liner brush in case you are freehanding the lines.
Paint on two coats of green, and when quite dry, either place bits of gold foil on cracks that look natural or use the pen to make fine lightning-like lines. Complete this by top coating once again with a matte topcoat to seal everything in. Nothing to it, only be steady and have a little finesse.
I was pretty much at a fall wedding last year and wore gold jewelry and a wine slip dress. I felt like a walking Pinterest pin. Matte, darker tones are so luxurious, and they never seem to go out of style.
Dusty Blue and Cream With Gold Accents
The design resembles the mornings in early November, cool mornings, a soft sweater and the final bit of golden hour that will soon turn into winter. The combination of dusty blue and warm cream is a muffled harmony between strong and weak, and the striping of gold brings in the proper measure of hardness. It is small, square-ish and very wearable even by people who do not like color.
You’ll want two contrasting polish shades (try Essie’s “You Do Blue” and OPI’s “Samoan Sand”) and some thin gold foil or a striping polish. The magic in this is the clean contrasting, not muddy, not overblended.
To wear at home, paint every other nail in your two base colors. Dry and apply clean curvy lines of gold on dry, with foil glue or striping brush, minimalist waves or curved swoops. Allow them to dry and then seal everything in by applying a topcoat.
It is a mani that is just as elegant at the desk as it is at dinner. It’s not loud, but it is memorable. I told one of my colleagues who only wears neutrals to wear this style, and she is now obsessed with it during fall. Turns out, muted blue is the new power nude.
Burnt Orange and Olive Green Duo
This combination is simply fall foliage material, a lush burnt orange and earthy olive, but with a surprise ending of mixed-nail designs. Nails are either solid through and through, or split the color diagonally or curl them together like a contemporary yin-yang. A small gold ornament gives it some depth and warmth, but not pomp. It is fun, fashionable, and just what you need when you are over pumpkin spice but still in the cozy mood.
I would choose Yes I Canyon by OPI and Saguaro by Cirque Colors. Add a bit of metallic gold polish (like Orly’s “Solid Gold”) for detailing. Your friends are nail striping tape or detail brushes.
You may paint different colors on each nail or mix both on a nail diagonally. Accentuate the transition point with gold, so to speak, gilded seams. Finish with a glossy topcoat for that candy-coated finish.
The best thing about this design is that it is so personal it does not matter that the nails are not identical it all looks planned. It makes me think of a stroll through Central Park in late October, everything a little bit out of order and yet just right.
Glossy Cranberry With Autumn Foliage Accent
This glossy cranberry is the fall glam of all time. It coats your nails in a wine-like intensity that is flattering to all skin tones but it is that one small accent nail that makes the difference. It has a bespoke, artisanal look, with a creamy nude base, hand-painted golden ochre and russet red leaves, and micro-crystals as little berries. It’s soft, festive, and just the right amount of extra.
When it comes to the cranberry base, I never fail to use “Bordeaux” by Essie, the perfect deep berry with a smooth finish. A base such as Vanilla Latte by Olive & June would be a good idea on the accent nail, and it would be decorated with ultra-fine brushes and nail art gels in autumn colours. A dotting tool helps with placing those tiny rhinestones. Nail professionals will advise the application of gel top coat instead of crystals to lock them.
Frankly, this design is a warm embrace, a bit nostalgic, a bit fancy. It takes me back to fall dinners with friends and you spend as much time taking pictures of the table setting as you do eating. These nails are that kind of energy.
Plum Gloss for Every Mood
It is one of those colors that exist in the middle ground between purple and wine, but not quite either one, but all the way to beautiful. Short, rounded plum polish is the ultimate versatility this fall. It transitions from day to night with zero effort and looks polished (pun intended) even on busy weeks when you don’t have time for fancy nail art. And yes, it looks fabulous against plaid or camel coats.
You might give a shot to Lincoln Park After Dark by OPI or Berry Naughty by Essie, which both provide that glassy finish in two coats. The finish is kept professional with a smoothing base coat below, and that mirror shine is locked in by a fast-dry top coat.
No add-ons to this one: just a nice manicure, neat cuticles, smooth and even application. You can forget how cool it is to keep things simple until you put on something like this. I have done this very color before going to New York and have had people stop me three times asking what it was. True story.
Matte Olive and Gold Edge Detail
In my mind, there is a certain silent power in a matte olive nail, especially when it is complemented by crisp gold foil. The juxtaposition of that powdery, soft green and the super-shiny jagged gold makes this design feel editorial. It is serene and audacious at the same time very quiet luxury, very I am winning but I am not trying.
To DIY this look, go with “Military Green” from Barry M (they’ve got some seriously underrated matte formulas) or Zoya’s “Ireland” with a matte topcoat. In the case of the gold accents, you can apply transfer foil, gold leaf flakes or a striping pen. A little nail art glue is useful in positioning the foil.
This one is patience asking, it needs patience and steady hand for clean edges and foil placement. But it’s worth the effort. I have combined this design with large knits and tailored blazers and it never looked out of place. It’s a mood.
Multicolor Autumn Leaves Gradient
You know when it is in November, and the leaves are all over the place and every tree is on fire in the best way? That’s what this mani captures. Deep pine green and soft chartreuse are lengthened out to amber gold and oxblood red, each overlaid with a slender golden leaf motif that fade to one another nail to nail. It’s literally fall foliage — on your hands.
The best thing about this look is that it goes with a set of polishes, like: the Into the Trees set by Olive & June, or your own curated set, including polishes like Honeycomb by Cirque Colors, Peridot by OPI, and Spice Things Up by Essie. The small leaf details may be created in stickers or a gold nail art stamp.
Application is actually pretty beginner-friendly. Apply the metallic detail with the tweezers or stamping plates and alternate the base colours on each nail. To lay stress on the richness of the color, top it with a high gloss finish.
This may be my favorite of the bunch – it is festive but not theme-y. I wore a version of this to Thanksgiving dinner last year, and my aunt (who usually doesn’t get nail art) asked me to send her the salon’s number. That’s how you know it’s good.
Minimalist Blue With Zebra Detail
Okay, let’s talk about rule-breakers. Blue nails for fall? Yes. Particularly in their soft and pastel-inclined but offset with a surprise edge, such as a minimalist zebra stripe accent. This manicure is all about subtle rebellion. It reads, Yes, I do follow the trends, but only when the trends follow me.
Take a blue such as Youre Such a BudaPest by OPI or Blue La La by Orly. To do the zebra detail, a fine black striping pen on a clean nail or a soft sheer base using Essie, Ballet Slippers and then layering the design.
Put two coats of the blue colour and leave one accent nail bare, then use freehand drawing of the zebra print or nail tape to come up with a more precise finish. Finish it off with a satin top coat to neutralize the audacity of the print.
I adore the wearability of this design in spite of the eccentric detail. I styled it in a trench coat and white boots and I felt like I walked off an IG mood board. And isn t that the fall feel we all are looking forward to?
Holographic Flash Meets Rose-Toned Glam
This design is unapologetically joyful. It is a magical combination of dusty rose, icy champagne pink and holographic nails in high gloss finish which reflects light as a prism. It is futuristic yet cozy, as autumn leaves are made out of LED shimmer. And we can also not overlook that metallic fuchsia that screams baddie without uttering a single word.
To achieve this look, I’d suggest starting with a chrome base like ILNP’s “Mega (L)” for the holographic nails — it gives you that flawless, rainbow sheen. For the fuchsia? OPI’s “Let’s Celebrate!” is your go-to. And you will need a soft pink such as Olive & June offer GH or MM to counter the aggressiveness.
Application tip: place something on holographic polish over a black base so as to add dimension. These rose and fuchsia are saturable – and in case you want that pro-smooth finish, be sure to buff your nails first before painting. Holo finishes love a clean surface.
This design makes me think of those cold autumn mornings when the sun shines upon the frost at just the right angle and everything glitters. It is intimate and glamorous and I will certainly wear this when I need to feel a bit of a pick-me-up before a hectic week.
Muted Blue Slate With Copper Strokes
This final gaze is a modest one, yet so painterly, and really is a love letter to November. The foundation is a velvet slate blue that is dark and dusky as the sky just before sunset. Next, there are free, hand painted copper brush strokes that seem to skip across the surface like golden leaves in the wind. It’s minimal, matte, but never boring.
You would need a matte navy or slate polish to recreate it, and Zoya has one called August or Cirque Colors has one called Storm King would be ideal. To do the copper accents, seek a metallic foil polish such as Penny Talk by Essie or any quick drying metallic paint pot.
This is a mani that truly glows with dry-brush. Apply with a metallic brush and wipe away excess polish and draw across the dried matte in one or two strokes. The randomness is part of the art. You do not have to use a topcoat to keep the contrast in finishes.
I have worn it on dark Sundays when I am in the middle of my reading a thriller and baking something cinnamon-related mood. It is not loud but expressive, and it absolutely captures that adult grunge look that I occasionally desire.
