If summer is the Elle Woods of nail-polish colors [1] — bright, fun, the perfect accoutrement to holding fuzzy pink pens — then Autumn is the Rachel Green. It's simple, understated, and cool as hell . . . and definitely more likely to travel to Central Perk than Harvard Law School for a man. (Winter is Wednesday Addams, if you were curious, for obvious reasons.)
Over the last few months, we've seen the return of minimalist beauty [2], which is perfectly up Rachel (and everyone else's, it seems) alley. The upcoming Autumn season's biggest nail-polish trends are definitely sticking to that theme.
"While we love nail art, this Autumn we're seeing a shift to more muted looks and sophisticated solids," Michelle Nguyen, founder of Paris Lash Academy [3], tells POPSUGAR. If you aren't a fan of keeping things simple and instead like your nails to be a little more out-of-the-box and in-your-face, not to worry. There are plenty of maximalist options to keep on your radar over the coming months.
Ahead, we break down the best Autumn nail colors you're about to see everywhere. Keep scrolling to peep our predictions and shop the products needed to make your nails the envy of everyone in the room.
Autumn Nail Trends: Olive Greens
Nailberry Viva La Vegan [5] (£16)
"Earth tones always transition beautifully into autumn, and we love a good olive green especially paired with a matte top coat," Nguyen says. This colour from Nailberry fits the bill perfectly.
Autumn Nail Trends: Charcoal Gray
Zoya Nail Polish in Genevieve [6] (£10)
"Charcoal grey is a brighter neutral, making it the perfect transitional shade from summer to autumn. You can also go lighter or darker depending on your preference," Rachel Apfel Glass [7], founder of Glosslab [8] tells POPSUGAR. This Zoya Nail polish is the perfect moody grey to add to your collection.
Autumn Nail Trends: Balanced, Subdued Oranges
Essie Playing Koi [9] (£9)
"With balanced oranges replacing neons, the gourds are rolling in! We love terracota and darker orange shades for autumn," Nyugen says. For this look, try a more muted orange like this shade from Essie.
Autumn Nail Trends: Earthy Brown
Zoya Nail Polish in Desiree [10] (£10)
"Perfectly balancing out a fun, bright summer dress, don't underestimate the power of a good, earthy brown tone," Glass tells POPSUGAR. Brown has seen a huge comeback over the last few months, especially in tones like this Zoya nail polish.
Autumn Nail Trends: Rich, Passionate Reds
Chanel Le Vernis Pirate [11] ($13)
"While we loved all things Barbiecore, we're temporarily retiring our bright pinks and shifting into rich, passionate reds," Nyugen says. The deeper shades evoke the changing of the seasons, like this gorgeous red from Chanel.
Autumn Nail Trends: Silver French
OPI Infinite Shine 2 Long-Wear Lacquer in Silver on Ice [12] (£12)
"A classic take on an old favourite, the silver french is super dainty and pretty and will become even more all the rage this fall," Glass says. If you want to go a little bold with your silver french, try adding silver tips with a bit of glitter. This shade from OPI is our pick for adding a little extra something to your manicure.