'Cabernet with Bae' and more nail polish colors to help you win fall
If you haven’t snagged the perfect “it” bag or stylish coat just yet, there’s another must-have to add to your list of cold-weather essentials: fall nail polish colors. Fresh hues and finishes — from deep ruby reds and galaxy blues to confetti-like glitter and plums that pop — will really help you stand out and make everyone stop and stare at your nails.
Yahoo Lifestyle collaborated with international nail artist Tracylee Percival to create a guide on the six trendiest fall nail colors. Keep scrolling for some manicure inspiration and to learn DIY tips to re-create these looks at home.
Royal red
Red will always be a classic nail color, but for the cooler months, a true ruby red is the way to go. Modernize it by adding negative space. “The easiest way to create negative space, or ‘floating nail art,’ as I like to call it, is to use guides of striping tape,” says Percival. “Place the sticky guide or tape to the nail and polish were you want your design to go. Finish by removing the tapes after drying one minute.”
Try these shades:
1. Zoya Nail polish in Sheri ($10, zoya.com)
2. Oribe Lacquer High Shine nail polish in Bloodstone ($32, oribe.com)
3. Butter London Patent Shine 10x nail lacquer in Rather Red ($18, butterlondon.com)
4. Lauren B. Beauty Nail polish in Laurel Canyon Lover ($18, laurenbbeauty.com)
5. Dior Diorific Vernis Holiday 2017 Limited Edition in 745 Grenat ($28, dior.com)
Plum-tastic
Whether you are more into eggplant or sangria, plum is one of those fall colors that never really gets old. Try an accent nail with hints of gold shimmer to really make a statement. For the cleanest DIY manicure, Percival always suggests using a base coat. “I hear often that people skip the base coat when doing their own manicures,” she says. “This is one of the most important products for polish longevity and should never be omitted.”
Try these editor-approved shades:
1. Essie 2017 Holiday Gel Couture Color in Amethyst Noir ($11.50, essie.com)
2. Smith & Cult Nail polish in Opaque Aubergine ($18, smithandcult.com)
3. Mischo Beauty Lacquer of Love ($17, mischobeauty.com)
4. OPI Infinite Shine 2 Longwear Lacquer in Feel the Chemis-Tree ($12.49, sallybeauty.com)
5. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Cabernet With Bae ($9.99, target.com)
Glitter girl
Rumor has it that glitter polish will leave your nails damaged and it’s hard to “neatly” apply. But that’s not quite the case if you have a little guidance. Percival explains, “The easiest way to control glitter polish on the nail is to use a dabbing motion. Remove the brush from the bottle and wipe off most of the clear base polish on one side of the brush only. This will leave a lot of glitter on the other side. Then dab glitter onto the nail. You can also apply glitter polish to a makeup sponge and sponge it onto the nail — it’s a little messier but works just as well.”
According to Percival, the best tool to remove glitter polish is felt, which you can purchase from your local craft store. “Cut it into small pieces. Then use pure acetone on the felt, hold it on the nail for 30 seconds, and rub the glitter off. The felt grabs the glitter and holds it for easier removal.”
Try these editor-approved shades:
1. K Squared Nail Paint in Confetti Wish ($5.00, k2nailpaint.com)
3. Jinsoon Nail polish in Glacé ($18, jinsoon.com)
4. Pure Ice Nail polish in It’s Complicated ($2.73, walmart.com)
5. Sinful Colors Nail polish in Pop the Cork ($1.99, target.com)
Galaxy blue
Space age-like blues are taking over this season, and if you are ready to try a completely new color that is also a great conversation starter, you might want to make this your go-to. For a fun, festive flair for your next holiday party, add in a few metallic purple stripes to your mani. The best part: Instead of attempting to draw straight lines, you can fake it until you make it with metallic striping tape that you can buy at a drugstore. After applying the striping tape, lock it all in with a glossy top coat.
Try these editor-approved shades:
1. Essie Nail polish in Dressed to the Nineties ($9, essie.com)
2. Surya Brasil Exotic Animals nail polish in Dark Blue Angelfish ($8, suryabrasilproducts.com)
3. OPI Infinite Shine 2 Gel-Lacquer in Turn on the Lights ($12.50, amazon.com)
4. Lauren B. Beauty Nail polish in House of Blues ($18, laurenbbeauty.com)
5. Mineral Fusion Nail polish in Galaxy ($8.99, mineralfusion.com)
Gray-ish
This muted light gray tone isn’t too light or too dark, and incorporates a subtle yet stunning touch to any fall or winter wardrobe. Give it a try once or make it your staple — there’s really no wrong way to wear it, and it looks amazing on many skin tones.
Try these editor-approved shades:
1. Mischo Beauty Nail polish in Unbroken ($17, mischobeauty.com)
2. Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color in 578 – New Dawn ($28, chanel.com)
3. Essie Nail polish in Chinchilly ($9, essie.com)
4. Jinsoon Nail polish in Milieu ($18, jinsoon.com)
5. Zoya Nail polish in Presley ($10, zoya.com)
Burnt orange
Instead of boring brown nail polish, opt for this burnt orange rendition that’s a little spicier. It’s sort of like a nude — but with a little more pizzazz. If you are trying to figure out which variation of burnt orange works best for you, Percival suggests taking a closer look at your cuticles. “This is a great color guide to use for finding your perfect shade,” she says. Individuals with lighter skin tones should look for burnt orange nail polish colors with cool undertones, while those with medium to dark complexions would look best in lacquers with warmer undertones.
Percival’s final words of advice: “Don’t be afraid to layer different colors or tones to get the perfect match!”
Try these editor-approved shades:
1. Dior Vernis Limited Edition Couture Colour Nail Lacquer in 614 Jungle Matte ($27, dior.com)
2. Sonia Kashuk Nail Colour in Skin Deep 02 ($4.79, target.com)
3. J. Hannah Nail polish in Saltillo ($19, jhannahjewelry.com)
4. Jinsoon Nail polish in Idyll ($18, jinsoon.com)
5. Mented Nude Nail Collection polish in Brown & Bougie ($8, mentedcosmetics.com)
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Laverne Cox’s Emmy nails and the meaningful message behind them
The reason why Cardi B’s nail lady made her cry on her birthday
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