Adobe StockSave this storySave this story
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Getting a pedicure during the fall is like wearing a particularly daring lingerie set under your outfit. It’s a thrill! And a way to experiment with something that might be outside your comfort zone. “Fall is the ideal opportunity to try out bolder, darker, or unexpected shades without the pressure of constantly coordinating with open-toe footwear,” says Erica De Los Santos, manicurist and founder of Nail’d It Beauty Lounge. If the mood strikes and you want to unveil your look, you’ll be walking more confidently than ever.
This season, you can expect deep, moody colors and ultrarich earth tones. “These hues totally set the fall mood,” says Sojin Oh, 3D nail artist and creative consultant to Kijibae. “They're cozy, grounded, and have depth.” You’ll also find unexpected colors like sheer neutrals, concrete, and sage green, adding a soft, subdued take to the fall palette. Read on to discover the pedicure colors that capture the many vibes of the season.
Meet the experts:
LargeChevron
- Sarah Chue is a nail artist based in Los Angeles.
- Erica De Los Santos is a nail artist and founder of Nail’d It Beauty Lounge in Kenvil, New Jersey.
- Mazz Hanna is a Los Angeles-based manicurist and CEO of Nailing Hollywood, a boutique agency.
- Julie Kandalec is a New York City-based manicurist, educator for CND, and brand ambassador for Kiss Nails.
- Lily Nguyen is a manicurist and founder of Labo Beauté Salon in Los Angeles.
- Sojin Oh is a 3D nail artist based in Los Angeles and creative consultant to Kijibae.
Sage Green
OPI
Nail Polish in Leaf by Example
Amazon
Manucurist
Green Natural Nail Polish in Sage
Manucurist
Mooncat
Devil's Ivy
Mooncat
Burning sage is said to help cleanse and reset energy. IMO, getting a sage color pedicure can have the same effect. “Sage is a soft, transitional green that bridges summer and fall,” says Mazz Hanna, manicurist and CEO of Nailing Hollywood. “It adds a subtle pop of color without clashing with deeper autumn shades.”
Try your hand at the cat-eye effect with Devil’s Ivy by Mooncat, which has a silver shimmer that you can activate by hovering a magnet above the wet lacquer. If a sparkle-free finish is more your speed, pick up the Manucurist Nail Polish in Sage. Looking for something deeper? Opt for the rich and creamy OPI Nail Polish in Leaf by Example.
Plum
ILNP
Currant Nail Polish
Amazon
ILNP
Tenoverten
Orchard Nail Polish
Amazon
Tenoverten
Londontown
Lakur in Vixen Red
Londontown
If milky lavender or punchy purple tones are your go-tos during the warmer months, consider plum their moody big sister with the best goth-rock playlist on repeat. “Deep plum gives the same sultry vibes seen in velvet and wine-hued accessories, which are always popular in the fall,” says Oh. ILNP’s Currant and Ten Over Ten’s Orchard are classic creme-finish plums that are ripe for the cooler weather.
Feeling something with a little more dimension? Londontown Lakur in Vixen Red is an eggplant infused with pink shimmer that would look right at home in the Hocus Pocus makeup trailer.
Burnt Orange
Habit Cosmetics
Nail Polish in Tandoori
Amazon
Habit Cosmetics
Cracked Polish
Nail Polish in I Yam What I Yam
Cracked Polish
Kokie Cosmetics
Green Polish in Hotline
Amazon
Kokie Cosmetics
Whether you’re inspired by the changing foliage or the seasonal treats you pair with your pumpkin spice latte, warm siennas pair especially well against an otherwise neutral ensemble. “Burnt orange brings a surprising pop of color that’s fitting for cooler weather,” says manicurist Lily Nguyen. “It’s a shade people don’t tend to reach for when it comes to their toes, but it works well in the fall.”
Go for an opaque option like Tandoori by Habit Cosmetics. We also love I Yam What I Yam by Cracked Polish, which has a jelly finish, and Kokie’s Green Polish in Hotline, which is packed with shimmer.
Oxblood
Deborah Lippmann
Gel Lab Pro Color Nail Polish in Vampire’s Touch
Amazon
Le Mini Macaron
Nail Polish in Cassis
Ulta Beauty
Beyond Polish
CND
Vinylux Take Root
Beyond Polish
Like the coat you reach for as soon as the temperature dips into the low 50s, oxblood is a timeless fall staple. “This shade evokes the cozy, warm feeling of fall, mirroring seasonal changes like turning leaves,” De Los Santos says. “Deep reds also exude a sense of elegance, making them a go-to for those looking to add a sophisticated touch to their pedicure.”
Pay homage to your favorite campy, bloodsucker-themed YA series with Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Color Nail Polish in Vampire’s Touch or Le Mini Macaron Nail Polish in Cassis. CND Vinylux in Take Root also nails the oxblood trend and comes with a built-in base coat, eliminating the need for that extra step.
Earthy Browns
SpaRitual
Nail Polish in Potery Reading
SpaRitual
Pacifica
Natural Nail Polish in Plant Magic
Amazon
Death Valley Nails
Nail Polish in Tannins in the Leaves
Death Valley Nails
Rich shades of brown—from deep espresso to warm amber—add a touch of depth to any look and are perfect for the peep-toes you might be wearing while the weather’s still mild. “Earthy browns feel naturally fitting with Western-inspired footwear and add warmth to both structured and textured designs,” says De Los Santos.
Spa Ritual’s Poetry Reading is a milk chocolate with slight red undertones that brings warmth to your skin, while Olive & June’s CN is a true dark chocolate. Tannins in the Leaves by Death Valley Nail Polish is one of the more unique takes on the trend: Re-create the effect of a tiger’s eye crystal by holding a magnet over the wet lacquer to activate a stripe of amber shimmer.
Concrete
Tood
Vegan Nail Polish in Luna
Revolve
Kapa Nui
Non Toxic Nail Polish in Hinahina
Kapa Nui
Kijibae
Semi-Cured Gel Nail Strips in Moon Dust
Kijibae
Cool grey is an elevated way to complement the sheer flats you're breaking out this fall. “Colors like bone gray or charcoal gray offer up a bit of attention, but not too much,” says nail artist Sarah Chue. “For the most part, we don't want to draw much attention to the toes, but if you were to see them, they’re well-kept and chic.” If you want to play with a matte finish, Chue notes the effect is especially flattering over lighter grays. TooD’s Luna and Kapa Nui’s Hinahina (which means gray in Hawaiian) are classic opaque slate shades, while the Kijibae Semi-Cured Gel Nail Strips in Moon Dust are a demure gray ombré design sized just right for all 10 toes.
Taupe
Sundays
No. 50
Sundays
China Glaze
Mega Pigment Nail Lacquer in Weathered Bark
Ulta Beauty
Static Nails
Liquid Glass Lacquer in Rob the Bank
Static Nails
Feeling more of a neutral vibe? Taupe, the happy medium between beige and gray, is a versatile choice that plays well with minimalist and maximalist aesthetics alike. “Taupe is an understated neutral that feels like fall,” Hanna says. “It’s soft, wearable, and works with just about everything in your wardrobe.” For a taupe that makes an impact, go for a pigmented creme formula like China Glaze’s Weathered Bark, Rob the Bank by Static Nails, or No. 50 by Sundays.
Dark Denim
Sally Hansen
Miracle Gel Nail Polish in Midnight Mod
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Essie
Nail Polish in To Me From Me
Amazon
Olive & June
Quick Drying Nail Polish in Midnight Blue
Amazon
If an inky black lacquer feels too intense to wear on all 10 toes, consider a dark indigo in its place; the end result is just as polished without feeling too severe. “Navy pedicures are sleek, polished, and always in season,” Hanna says. “It’s a cool weather staple that’s a softer alternative to black.”
To match your toes with your favorite pair of jeans, try Essie’s From Me to Me or Sally Hansen’s Midnight Mod, two creme-finish indigos, or veer more toward sapphire with Olive & June’s Midnight.
Sheer Neutral
Lights Lacquer
Nail Polish in Clueless
Lights Lacquer
Le Mini Macaron
Nail Polish in Blush
Ulta Beauty
Holo Taco
Nail Polish in Celestial Lights
Holo Taco
Consider this trend the autumnal answer to the lip gloss nails trend. Mimicking the appearance of a bare nail with a little extra shine, Julie Kandalec, a New York City-based manicurist, has been noticing many celebrities going color-free on the red carpet. “I have just started seeing some non-polished toes on celebs like Anne Hathaway and Hailey Bieber, and I do see this as a trend as well,” she says. “I don’t mean completely undone. I mean a perfect cuticle with the sheerest of pink and white gel polishes to mimic a perfectly healthy, buffed nail.”
Most Popular
NailsThe 6 Fall Nail Color Trends You Need to Know About
NailsHailey Bieber's New Faded French Manicure Is Destined to Be a Huge Trend
NailsHailey Bieber Skipped the Glaze on Her Signature Manicure
Try a sheer ballet hue like Clueless by Lights Lacquer, or Blush by Le Mini Macaron, or keep the glazed-donut effect going strong by wearing a shimmery topper like Celestial Lights by Holo Taco over a bare nail.
