1Gothcore fall nail trend
3Galaxy fall nail trend
Yup, we’re going back to 2010, the year of mustaches and galaxy print. Except this fall nail trend is majorly upgraded from backpacks at Hot Topic and nyan cat to multi-chrome, shimmery finishes with deep, jewel-toned shades. Paint on a few different shades and mix them together with a nail brush to get a blended, watercolor look.
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4Wine nails for fall 2023
I know, dark-red nail colors for fall are ~groundbreaking~, but consider it a slightly toned-down version of stark-black, gothcore nails. Plus, there are so many depths and dimensions to choose from here, like the rusty, deep-brownish red above, or a violet, berry-toned merlot shade.
5“Lip gloss” nail trend
Mark my words: This will be the new “glazed donut” manicure of fall 2023. Coined “lip gloss” nails by celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik, this mani involves the same shiny gold finish as Bieber’s famous nails, but with a nude nail polish underneath that matches your skin tone. It’s basically like the nail version of outlining your lips with a neutral lip liner and topping it with lip gloss.
6Micro-French nails for fall
Ultra-thin lines make a classic French mani look way cooler, IMO, especially when paired with short, squared-off nails, says Green. Why? Because of their matching angles and lines. “We’ve seen a rise in micro-French manis on square nail shapes, because they look much more seamless on square tips,” she says. If you need a little ~guidance~ to DIY a straight line, paint your polish on a silicone manicure sponge, push the tip of your nail into it to get a thin line, then clean up any excess with a nail polish remover pen.
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7Natural lengths for fall 2023
I, personally, will never give up my long gel extensions, but I am having fun playing around with short, natural lengths for fall. It’s a cool dichotomy if you’re used to long nails and looks timeless with a simple neutral shade or even a micro design. I invested in a full manicure set so I could clip, file, and buff my nails at home. I’ve also been layering up cuticle oil every time I think about it to keep my nail beds moisturized and smooth. Which reminds me… lemme do that rn.
8Candy-red nails for fall
I predicted a few months ago this would be a trendy af summer nail color, and it’ll continue to be everywhere this fall. Bright-red nails have been all over TikTok, thanks to the “red nail theory” (which I personally tested on my last date, and it works). I did an all-over red with Mischo Beauty’s Good Kisser, but I’ll def be implementing two trends in one by trying a French tip with red polish next.
9Velvet fall nail trend
“Thanks to the glazed-donut nail trend, we’re thinking that shimmer shades will definitely make a major comeback in fall 2023,” Green says. And the coolest way to wear shimmer on your nails rn? With a magnetic nail polish that “activates” the shimmer flecks to result in this fuzzy, velvet-esque texture. Top it off with a shiny top coat and rhinestones for an extra-blinding finish.
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10Matte nails for fall
Because fall 2023 will be all about opposing trends (i.e., Tiktok’s “ballerina sleaze” aesthetic), expect a major resurgence in matte nails, especially when they’re combined with chrome elements or embellishments. To DIY, just paint a matte top coat over any of your polishes, then, add adhesive rhinestones for some contrast and visual interest.
11Floral nail designs for fall 2023
12Light-pink nails for fall 2023
If you’ve also been wearing leg warmers, ballet flats, and ribbons the last few months, you should def bring those “balletcore” vibes into your next fall nail look with a blush-toned light-pink polish. Essie’s Ballet Slippers and Olive and June’s Pointe are my faves because they don’t get streaky or need a bajillion coats to build up (and obviously, the names totally fit the vibe).
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13Metallic embellishments
Nail jewelry, nail piercings—whatever you call it, metallic accents like chains, hoops, and charms are an extra-cool way to accessorize your nails. Celebrity nail artist (and my favorite person to follow on Instagram ever) Betina Goldstein kept her look super fresh by painting a shiny top coat on bare nails before adding chains and pearls. If you’re looking to try this trend at your nail salon, make sure to bring the embellishments you want with you, just in case your artist doesn’t have them on hand.
14Bubble accents trend
If you’ve spent the last year trying gemstones, pearls, and confetti on your nails, you’ll probably be down to try these lil bubbles next. Your nail artist will likely mix hard gel and whatever polish shades you choose to create this raised, aura-like effect. Celeb nail artist Naomi Yasuda tried it on Solange Knowles, pictured above, by using a cocktail of shades—like a bright white, deep blue, and gold—on top of bare nails, though you can also try it with chrome underneath for hella contrast, as Yasuda did here).
15Heart motifs for fall 2023
It’s all love for our nails this fall <3. Expect to see tons of heart details, whether they’re charms, decals, or drawn-on. You can also try a monochromatic look, or combine it with French tips, as seen here. Worried about it looking too cutesy? Play around with the shades (I’m a fan of blacks and blues), and feel free to skip the pink and red altogether.
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Meet the experts:
- Thea Green is a nail expert based in London, UK. She is the founder of Nails.Inc., a full line of nail polish and nail care products.
Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching, writing, and editing nail stories that range from New Year’s nail ideas and Christmas nail ideas. She’s an authority in all nail categories but is an expert when it comes to 2023 nail trends after interviewing multiple of the industry’s top nail artists.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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