Credit: @nailchark Instagram
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Fall in step with our favorite October nail colors, including rich jewel tones, eye-catching metallics, and toasty browns.
With the official start of fall comes deeper, richer, and dare we say, moodier and more mysterious, choices in nail polish colors. Celebrity manicurist Temeka Jackson echoes this sentiment, saying, “This season, nail trends lean into richness, warmth, and timeless sophistication.”
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Naturally, we’re gravitating toward hues that take their inspiration from the changing foliage. “The best thing about fall is the beautiful and unique colors that it produces every year,” says Valentina Fernandes, expert nail designer at MiniLuxe, “from the rich dark brown in the soil, to the calming hunter green, burnt terracotta, and vivid crimson in the trees.” Mystical metallic purple polishes also abound, as do milky, opalescent lacquers that look clean and crisp either alone or as a base to enliven a traditional French manicure.
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Below, explore five nail-artist-approved shades for October, plus the polishes that make achieving the trendiest manicures of the season possible at home.
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Meet the experts
Temeka Jackson is a celebrity manicurist to stars like Quinta Brunson and Jennifer Coolidge.
Valentina Fernandes is an expert nail designer at MiniLuxe.
Erica De Los Santos is a freelance manicurist and nail expert.
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Gilded Copper
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“Metallics with a warm glow are a natural fit for fall, catching light beautifully and adding instant glamour,” says Jackson. Go bold with this warm, light-reflecting nail color that’s edgier than gold but not as sterile as silver. Whether you opt for the shade in a glittering metallic or cream finish, Jackson calls copper nails “eye-catching” and “a statement accessory” for October. We found coppery lacquers that range from striking cinnamon to burnished, ‘90s-inspired brown.
Espresso Brown
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“Universally flattering and grounding, the right shade of brown looks stunning on all skin tones,” says Jackson. Choose from milky, melted chocolate shades, sultry, warm-toned mahogany tints, or rich, cool-toned browns, which Fernandes dubs the “espresso martini” nail trend. Match your nail polish to your complexion’s undertones (i.e., cool browns for cool undertones and warm browns for warm undertones), for a seamless and quietly luxurious neutral manicure. Nail artist Erica De Los Santos is partial to the Mia Secret Gelux Gel Polish in Irish Coffee.
Mia Secret Gelux Irish Coffee — $14
Nails Inc 45 Second Speedy Gloss Chelsea
Le Mini Macaron Gel Nail Polish — $13
Emerald Green
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All three of our nail experts are in agreement: While jewel tones are always a favorite for fall, this year, emerald green reigns supreme. “Emerald green carries the strength of jewel tones, elevating any outfit instantly,” says Jackson, who is especially drawn to the inky, elegant green hue of Aprés Gel Couleur in Emerald City. You can also opt for deep, blueish teal, the color of peacock feathers, or a blackened emerald that acts as an elevated neutral.
essie Off Tropic — $10
Purple Velvet
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“Deep shades of purple like plum and eggplant are flattering on every skin tone,” says Fernandes. “The right shade can be bold and sometimes have a mystical, grunge, and witchy vibe, making it perfect for your Halloween manicure if you don’t indulge in the typical scary set.” She recommends MiniLuxe Plum Pearl, a “medium plum shade with a hint of fuchsia opalescence.” Or, try a purple that’s so dark it’s almost black, shot through with flecks of jewel-like red and gold glitter particles.
Mini Luxe Pure Polish Plum Pearl — $14
Zoya Nail Laquer Gem — $12
Milky Pearl
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“Milky looks stay relevant for their balance—soft, elegant, and always in style,” says Jackson. Look for shades with a twist of shimmering, iridescent pearl to balance the darker hues and heavier fabrics in your fall wardrobe. They radiate a glittering, optimistic aura when painted on alone, but, if you have an especially steady hand, they also make the perfect base for minimalist nail art.
Lights Lacquer Mother of Pearl — $15
Halo Taco Milky White Shimmer — $15