From metallic sheens to poppy color combos, this fall’s nails are anything but ordinary—even the neutrals are unconventional.
Read on for this season’s trends, including the inside scoop on the next stage in long-wear manicures. After all, when your toes are hidden away in chic boots, it’s nice to let your fingernails have a little fun.
Metallics
Like they did on fashion runways, metallic hues have taken nailbeds by storm. Silvers and golds look great, of course, but try a rich jewel tone for some extra pizzazz.
We’re dazzled by (clockwise from top left) Zoya’s Edyta ($7, zoya.com), Deborah Lippmann’s Across the Universe
Purples
From sparkly eggplants to dusty plums, purple is royally right this fall.
Check out Butter’s Marrow ($14, butterlondon.com), Deborah Lippmann’s Bad Romance
Neutrals
The neutrals this fall continue the obsession with grays, browns, and now, “greige,” or gray-beige tones. Military fashion has seeped into polish bottles, as well, giving us army greens and khakis. These neutrals work on a variety of skin tones and are fantastic options for nail colors that are subtle but still a bit unusual.
The popular kid on the block has been OPI’s You Don’t Know Jacques ($8, drugstore.com), but make way for RGB’s Steel ($14, rgbcosmetics.com), Chanel’s Le Vernis Khaki Vert ($25, chanel.com) and Butter’s All Hail McQueen ($14, butterlondon.com).
Abstractions
Let your nails be your canvas and experiment with textures and colors. For an understated look, layer together matte and shiny polishes in monochromatic hues for different effects. OPI offers matte and suede finishes in many shades.
Alternately, take inspiration from YSL’s candy colored French manicures and limited edition polish duos. For cool sophistication in plum and gold, try YSL’s Belle de Nuit ($30, nordstrom.com), or have some fun and mix and match colors you already own.
Shellac Two-Week Manicure
We break down the pros and cons of Creative Nail Design’s Shellac Manicure:
Pros:
- The mani really does last for weeks and doesn’t chip, says Penny Halonen, co-owner of Bliss Salon in Wilmette. Your nails look as shiny on day 14 as they did on day 1.
- The gel-polish hybrid, which is also “3-Free,” takes only minutes to dry under a UV light. When you’re finished, your nails are hard as, well, nails.
- The treatment protects and strengthens your nails, and won’t ruin your nailbeds.
Cons:
- A salon technician has to apply and remove the polish. Normal polish remover won’t affect Shellac.
- The color selection is not that broad yet, though CND promises to roll out new shades in the future.
The price: Expect to pay as much as twice your regular manicure (Bliss does them for $40). You are getting a lot more wear out of this one, though.
The Ruling: If a lasting mani is important to you, give it a try! Shellac has been getting rave reviews from customers and salon workers alike.
