30 Trendy Yet Unexpected Fall Nail Designs To Try In 2023

Fall Nail Colors

Essie Transcend The Trend ($9)

This marine blue will remind you of the ocean on winter days where you're wishing for summer. It's a deep enough color to go with all your fall outfits!

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Catch Me If You Clam ($6)

A rustic red can go with a range of different outfits, adding that moody vibe to dresses and jeans alike. Plus, we love how quickly this formula dries. By the time you finish your last nail, the ones you painted first will be dry!

ORLY Act of Folly ($10)

Act of Folly is a long-lasting polish that'll cover your nails in an enticing mossy green, reminiscent of the growing fall season.

Sundays No.32 ($18)

We *dare* you to go darker with your fall nail designs. This rich shade is described as a "dark olive gray" – ideal for celebrating spooky season's arrival. 👻

Jin Soon Audacity ($18)

This sultry red wine-esque nail polish is giving mystery! romance! sexiness!

ORLY Rehab ($11)

This pick is great for anyone who loves polish, but doesn't love a ton of color. Our favorite thing about this formula is that it's infused with argan oil, pro vitamin B5, and vitamin C to keep your nails healthy AF underneath the polish.

Sundays S.01 ($18)

This golden metallic polish emits that quintessential autumn look. It'll add some down-right *glam* and warm up your aura at the same time.

PLA Resting Witch Face ($12)

A mocha brown that's not muddied? Astounding! This gel-based nail polish is neutral enough for any fall outfit ensemble, and will make your nails stand out with boldness.

Fall Nail Design Stickers & Press-Ons

Every Body In Love 4-Piece Nail Polish + Sticker Set ($18, was $23)

This polish set offers you some variety, because you can add the stickers or rock the nail polish on its own. Either way, these coffee-colored manicures won't let you down.

Chillhouse Want S'more? ($16)

Checkerboard patterns will up the trendiness of your mani. This brown and white combo also reminds us of our favorite s'mores snacks! 👀

Olive & June Coffee French Press-Ons ($10)

These subdued press-on nail designs give us ​all​ the fall coffee run feels. ☕️

Chillhouse Discoteca Tips ($16)

The carefree waves feel fresh and bold, but warm tones on the nails ground them for fall. Wear the whole set – or add a new pattern into the mix to play with an accent nail.

Betty Cora Solid Color Multicolor Medium Almond Press On Nails ($11)

This press-on set reminds us of the glazed donut and lip gloss nail trend that took the internet by storm. The nuetrals are simple, chic, and classy all in one – perfect for falltime!

Fall Nail Design Inspiration

Glossy French Tips

Play with textures by painting your entire nail with a matte top coat, then adding a glossy version of the same color to the tips of your nails. It's a barely-there detail that really makes a difference.

Half moon nails are the newest iteration of the French mani, and we're obsessed with the artsy look. “The half moon nail has become a go-to design over the past few months," Wethrift trend expert Nick Drewe said. "The best thing about the nail design is that it can be incorporated into your individual style, you can go for a bold and daring colour or opt for a neutral tone."

Fall In Love

Tiny hearts are always in-season as far as we're concerned, and with the autumnal color palette, they look like they could be fall leaves! You can swap the colors each season to keep your mani on-theme.

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Patterns *Galore*

Do a different pattern on each nail to keep things interesting – but use the same handful of colors to be cohesive.

Pearl Manicure

OPI nail polishes and chrome powder are the best-kept secret to getting this pearly mani, and we're absolutely obsessed.

All Smiles

Add some aesthetically-pleasing contrast using Jin Soon Smiles Nail Art Appliqué ($12) on top of their Absolute Black($18) polish. Pick out a few orange stickers for that *classic* fall color combo (hello, Halloween!), or try a different color on each nail. 🤪

Glass Nails

“Glass nails are back in full force. The technique created by nail artist Eun Kyung is going to be a huge hit this autumn," sais Wethrift trend expert Nick Drewe. "The nail art involves applying shards of cellophane to the nails, which gives the illusion of shattered glass. You can customize the trend to make it unique to you. For example, try adding some chunky glitter for a fun festival vibe, apply a matte topcoat for a sophisticated look, or play around with different colors to create a rainbow effect.”

Van Gogh Inspo

Freeform shapes turn a regular manicure into something that's extra artistic. Play with different widths and straight lines versus curved lines for added dimension!

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Ghosties

Autumnal motifs like ghosts get a chic upgrade when paired with pink shades, instead of black or orange. It's a feminine and fun way to set your nails apart!

Pink Gingham

The key to making this nail art from Holly Falcone look like gingham instead of a regular checkered pattern is using two different shades of pink to create the overlap.

Curves + Twirls

Adding your own designs to your nails can be a fun way to find out which shapes you like best on your nails! How do long curves look? What about short and wide ones? Get a small nail art brush ($9) to practice.

Skittles

This toned-down version of a multicolor manicure gives us *all* the fall vibes. Bonus points if the colors you pick play into your fall wardrobe color palette.

Smokin' Hot

If you have a summer nail trend that you love, try recreating it with colors that are more autumnal for an updated version! Empty space on the nails becomes even more of a statement with a deep red polish. 🔥

An Ethereal State of Mind

Getting a plain mani can have dimension when you pick a shade that's holographic or iridescent. Holly Falcone picked the ORLY shade Ingenue ($10) to create this Sugar Plum Fairy-approved look.

Tortoiseshell

Give your manicure some visual interest without relying on different top-coat textures by doing a multicolor look like this tortoiseshell mani. It's chic, warm, and interesting without looking overwhelming.

Animal Print

Walk on the wild side with a zebra print mani. “Animal prints seem to be one of the hottest trends of the season," Wethrift trend expert Nick Drewe told B+C. "People are putting a spin on the classic leopard print nail, opting for a cow or zebra print and creating a printed french. For maximalists, we’re stepping away from the traditional cow and zebra print colors and going for a more daring color palette, of pinks, blues, purples and oranges."

The *Perfect* French Tips

To get the perfect French tip, use a small brush to draw an outline around the tips of your nails and then fill in the empty space with your regular polish brush. After it's dry, you can use that same small brush to add any and every detail your heart desires.