These Gorgeous Nail Polish Colors Will Have You Dreaming of Fall

When the temperatures drop, the leaves turn, and the sunny days slip into cool nights, it means it’s time to trade in your flip-flops for boots and tank tops for sweaters. And to take advantage of all the gorgeous tones autumn’s foliage has to offer, you’ll want to swap your summery polish for a fall nail color, too.

To help you find your new favorite hue, we spoke with some of the industry’s top nail artists to find out which shades are trending for fall 2021. Here are the top fall nail polish colors to consider for your next manicure:

✔️ Chocolatey hues and nudes: “For this fall season we should look for dreamy, creamy chocolate or nude colors,” says celebrity and editorial nail artist Elizabeth Garcia. This can range from peach to rich caramel, depending on your skin tone. Celebrity nail artist Elle Gerstein (who goes by just “Elle”) agrees. “Another look for fall is going neutral and keeping it very crisp and clean, like a tailored suit,” she explains.

✔️ Blues and grays: Blues—from navy to teal to turquoise to cobalt—are definitely in right now, along with lighter grays. “All of these shades will go great with any nail shape and nail length,” Garcia adds.

✔️ Metallics: “The biggest trends I see coming up are highly-reflective metallics, very opulent shades,” Elle says. Think: rose gold, gunmetal silver, and black diamond.

✔️ Pops of color. Vibrant fall colors that will take over the season include burnt orange, violet, and magenta, says Rachel James, CEO and founder of Pear Nova, a cruelty-free and vegan nail polish company. Celebrity and editorial nail artist Miss Pop Nails says rich tones will also be popular, like wine red, golden yellow, and olive green.

✔️ Nail art is here to stay. “Expect to see swirl nail art, ultra-thin French manicures where each nail has a different tip color, and different nail art trends on each hand because at this point in time—more is more!” says James.

Ultimately, you should paint on the polish that makes you happy—and the following picks will help you do just that. Ahead, experts share the best fall nail polishes to stock up on for the cozy season.