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Fall is a textural season. Close your eyes and think about it: dry, crunchy leaves strewn all over the sidewalks; plush, cozy sweaters; fuzzy socks we wear to shuffle around the house; the knobby gourds and stringy fake cobwebs we use to decorate our front porches. This fall’s biggest nail trends seem to capture this abundance of texture, says Marnae Orton, nail artist and educator at The Nailsaloon in Washington, DC. “Velvet nails, 3D embellishments, and abstract designs using chrome will have their moment as a fashion accessory,” she says.
Rita Pinto, founder of Vanity Project salons, has a similar prediction across her client base in New York City and Miami: “We’ll continue to see a trend toward a more textured, 3D chrome look with jewel tones and cat-eye gel this fall.”
And speaking of cat-eye nails, magnetic polish will remain a favorite among nail art lovers, says San Diego-based nail artist Alora Reyes. “It’s a design we incorporate into ‘crazier' sets as a pop of something interesting,” she explains, “but I also have clients that are obsessed with it as one color.”
But telling you cat-eye nails are “in” is no news flash, especially if you're someone with a standing salon appointment. What is fresh for fall, though, is taking some of the year’s biggest trends and giving them a sumptuous, autumnal twist. Nail artists are using chrome finishes and builder gel to create bespoke, mixed-metal manicures that flout old-school fashion rules and echo what’s happening in the jewelry space. They’re breaking out the biggest, flashiest crystals for dazzling designs that border on the baroque. They’re using animal prints on the tips of nails and dreaming up aura designs in rich fall shades like mauve, plum, and apricot.
But it’s not all bold bling and flashing metallics. On the other side of the nail art spectrum are a growing number of trends that rely on subtle, neutral tones while still managing to capture that textural element we’re loving this fall. Expect to see tiny, flat-back studs on nude nails, nail art designs done entirely in luxe neutral tones, and sheer textile prints layered over a pale nail that look as delicate and diaphanous as expensive lingerie. When it comes to nail art, there’s so much beauty to choose from; you just have to know where to look.
Meet the experts:
- Rita Pinto is the founder of Vanity Project nail art salons in New York City and Miami.
- Alora Reyes is a nail artist based in San Diego.
- Hang Nguyen is a Los Angeles-based nail artist.
- Marnae Orton is a nail artist and educator at The Nailsaloon in Washington, DC.
- Bana Jarjour is a Los Angeles-based nail artist.
- Julie Kandalec is a New York City-based nail artist and Kiss brand ambassador.
- Maki Sakamoto is a New York City-based nail artist.
- Miss Pop is a New York City-based nail artist.
- Julie Kandalec is a New York City-based nail artist and Kiss brand ambassador.
Mixed metals
This fall, nail artists are tossing out the old-school fashion rule that says you shouldn’t wear silver and gold at the same time. “Mixed-metal nail art has been my latest obsession,” says nail artist Hang Nguyen. “I used to think they’d clash, but turns out they look amazing together. I mean, why choose one when you can have both?”
Nguyen finishes her mixed-metal designs with a no-wipe topcoat (her favorite is the Kupa Gelfinity Gel Top), which eliminates the step of having to remove the sticky layer that’s typical with traditional gel finishes. This makes a no-wipe gel topcoat an ideal option when using builder gels and gems—both often used in mixed-metal designs—as it keeps you from disturbing those 3D elements underneath.
There’s no right or wrong way to try the mixed-metal trend. “You can keep it minimal or add more 3D designs for a more dramatic look,” says nail artist Bana Jarjour. Both Nguyen and Jarjour use builder gel and chrome powders to create unique and maximalist mixed-metal manicures. Nguyen considers OPI to have some of the best chrome powders for this type of manicure, while Jarjour gives a shout-out to The Gel Bottle Mirror Chrome Studio Gel.
You can stop at using builder gel and chrome powder or you can go even more maximalist by adding appliqués or colored crystals, says Nguyen, who did just that for the look above. “This look feels perfect for fall,” she says. “It gives off a witchy, celestial vibe with the mix of gold and silver, and the deep blue gems feel almost like little galaxies on my nails. Kind of moody, kind of magical, and I’m obsessed.”
Understated elegance
For those who prefer a more subdued level of sparkle for fall, there’s plenty of inspiration coming from the red carpets, with dozens of celebrities opting for delicate crystals atop sheer, nude polish. Marc Jacobs experimented with the look for the Met Gala, as did Olympian Gabby Thomas (below). Sabrina Carpenter is also a fan. “We always see the return of understated elegance during the fall,” says Jarjour, “so something simple like this is much more wearable for people who want to add a little pizzazz without going overboard.”
For Thomas’s classic look, but “with a little extra zhuzh,” nail artist Maki Sakamoto used Kiss Classy Premium Nails in Stunning. “They were perfect, with their chic crystals and glitter, yet still neutral,” she says.
You can also reach for any natural-toned base color and flat-back crystal studs from Amazon. Says Orton, “Camel and neutral pink tones provide a versatile foundation for any skin tone, making the crystals and gems the star of the manicure.” The design can be done with traditional lacquer or gel, explains Jarjour, who recommends Essie Nail Lacquer in Fairy Tailor (for a traditional lacquer) or The Gel Bottle in Dune (for a gel formula).
Transparent textiles
Another subtle nail art trend features designs you might expect to find on racks at Wolford or Agent Provocateur (and not your fingertips). Textile-inspired prints such as lace and snakeskin laid over a nude nail created a lingerie-like effect at runway shows like Kim Shui and The Blonds—and manicurists nationwide are already getting requests. Says Reyes, “I've been doing a lighter nude base and using lace nail transfers to achieve a subtle but stunning nail look.”
Reyes likes sweeping on a sheer, pale shade like DND Gel Polish in Team Time #870 before using Daily Charme Transfer Foils. If that sounds like too much effort (we hear you), you can opt for press-ons. Paintlab offers a beautiful beige and white lace press-on set that’s perfect if you like a long, almond nail shape.
'80s French
Pinto noticed throwbacks to the ’80s (like shoulder pads and crocodile textiles) all over fall runways. “That said, I think a white French manicure is going to be in the narrative,” she adds. And let’s be real, a French manicure never goes out of style; it’s been a go-to design since Jeff Orly created the two-toned look for Hollywood movie sets in 1976. But we’re already seeing celebs like Jenna Ortega and Ariana Grande embrace a bolder, chunkier version that pays homage to long-nail queen Barbra Streisand or Pamela Anderson in Barbarella.
Nail artist Thuy Nguyen used Aprés Gel Couleurs in Maybe and Cloud Nine to achieve Ortega’s “clean, chic, and effortlessly elegant” classic French tips at the Met Gala, but press-ons are an easy, temporary alternative if you want to try the squared-off style for size. Kiss and Glamnetic both have loads of square and squoval options in a variety of lengths and opacities.
Dripping chrome
Nail artists and nail art lovers are still having fun with chrome powder and 3D gel, and Orton predicts that abstract designs using both elements will have their “moment as a fashion accessory” this fall. The options are endless with this trend—the only possible limitations are your or your manicurist’s imagination.
Our best advice is to search for inspiration on Instagram and TikTok, and not just from nail art accounts but also from jewelry brands, as a lot of the designs we’re seeing reflect trends happening concurrently in the accessory space. Orton likes the juxtaposition of a high-shine silver chrome with a matte-black base (try Mooncat Nail Polish in Emo For Life), but you can use colorful chrome powders and builder gel to create abstract French tips or slapdash metallic blobs on a neutral base.
Cozy aura
Aura nails are still a top request at salons around the country, and for fall, they’re getting a cozy, autumnal twist. “Everyone is always so blown away by the optical illusion it creates,” says Reyes, who notes you can play with different color combinations to create soft and bold versions of this dreamy design.
For fall, that might mean using mauve as a base color and mixing up a white or light pink polish into the airbrush machine to create a subtle aura effect, explains Reyes, who likes DND Diva Gel Polish in 179 Dusty Mauve Diva. For clients who want a bolder aura look, Reyes loves using Aprés Gel Couleurs in Never Bordeaux You as a base shade. “This color is such a gorgeously rich plum red that works on every client,” she says.
To create the “ultimate cozy fall nail look,” Reyes suggests using a burnt orange (like Aprés Gel Couleurs in Autumn Apricot) in the middle of each nail. For something a little louder, she recommends a teal blue aura (DND DC Duo in Beautiful #126). “Plum and teal blue isn't a color combo most people would think of,” she notes, “but the contrast is so yummy and irresistible to look at.”
Achieving aura nails at home requires having an airbrush machine in addition to an at-home gel kit. If you don’t own any of that equipment, your best bet is to head to the salon, although a few brands like Paintbox and Manisfest have press-ons and nail wraps that are aura-like and come with everything you need to apply them.
Animal print
Animal prints are still going strong, according to the manicurists and salon owners we spoke to, and show no sign of slowing down since we predicted this would be one of the year’s biggest trends. This fall’s take on the look, however, is scaling things back slightly, with animal prints limited to the tips and top half of nails.
Channeling her inner Fran Drescher in The Nanny, nail artist Miss Pop has been playing with cheetah-print tips (Salon Perfect makes a press-on version of the look if you want to try it at home). At the same time, Orton says, croc-print French manicures have been a popular design at Vanity Projects in New York and Miami.
But our favorite version of this look is an ombré, snakeskin effect created by Jarjour. “This design works best with gel, so I’d use OPI’s Put It in Neutral and a snakeskin nail foil on top using The Gel Bottle Foil Glue,” she explains. “Apply the foil glue gel on the top half of the nail, ombré-style, and cure. Then apply the foil on top of where you placed the glue.”
Chunky crystals
When it comes to sparkly nails this fall, the bling-ier the better, says Miss Pop. “When I first started my career, I wanted to prove that nail art wasn’t just a bunch of rhinestones,” she says. “And now, over a decade into my career, I can’t get enough of them. I especially love ones that are so big, they shoot rainbows.”
Miss Pop got to indulge her current rhinestone obsession backstage at Alice + Olivia’s fall 2025 show. “This past season was truly an over-the-top extravaganza, so I wanted to make sure the nails earned the extra in extravaganza,” she says of the designs she created.
For the custom nail jewels, Miss Pop sourced elements from around the globe, then designed and crafted each piece using Salon Perfect Heavy Metal Solid Chrome and Magnetic Silver press-ons, adhering the flat-back crystals and pearls with Salon Perfect Gel Adhesive (the brand sponsored the show). “There is nowhere you can buy them….” says Miss Pop. “The hundreds of pieces used in the show were all built in my studio with my team.”
Adding large crystals to your nails can make a big visual impact. Says Orton, “It’s not just a manicure—it’s an accessory, like jewelry.” That being said, the runway look may not be entirely suitable for some people IRL, especially if you have weak nail beds or a proclivity to pick. Taking a page from Miss Pop’s book, we recommend trying the trend with press-ons.
Nude-on-nude
This nail art trend is striking in its simplicity. On the runways and red carpets, we’re spotting a growing number of nail art designs done entirely in neutrals, and—like many of fall’s nail art trends—there are hundreds of ways to wear it.
At Christian Cowan’s fall 2025 show, nail artist Julie Kandalec created tonal polka dot designs using CND Shellac in Bouquet, Powder My Nose, Bare Chemise, Wrapped in Linen, Field Fox, and Willow Talk—all luxurious nudes. “We didn’t match the nude base exactly to the models’ skin tones because the point wasn’t to create a mannequin-hand effect but rather an elegant, tonal design,” explains Kandalec, who free-painted the oversized dots onto the nail using the brush that comes with the bottle. “Instead, we chose nudes that flattered their undertones.” For example, a model with cool undertones might get a pinky-nude, while one with warm undertones might get something more beige or camel-colored.
For Jordan Roth at the Met Gala, nail artist Elle Gerstein created a manicure that featured faint silver lines over a beige base, mimicking a couturier’s pattern paper. “Skin-toned hues are trending, so it's only natural to make a design entirely out of neutral colors,” says Orton. Whether on the red carpet or in everyday life, “it makes for an effortlessly elegant look that doesn’t overpower an outfit.”
Read more about the latest trends:
- The Biggest 2025 Nail Art Trends Are Miniature Works of Art
- Chrome Nails Are the Ultimate Y2K Beauty Trend
- 11 Neon Nail Looks That Are Less Day-Glo, More Loud Luxury
Now, watch Isabela Merced's 10-minute classic beauty routine.
