Fall Nail Trends That Scream Christian Girl Autumn (Non-Derogatory)
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It feels like just yesterday we were all bed-rotting on a Sunday with the AC on full blast after hitting week two of a never-ending heatwave, and now it’s so chilly in the mornings that I have to throw on a cable knit sweater in the middle of September. Don’t you love global warming?
As I’m writing this, it’s the Fall Equinox, meaning Christian Girl Autumn is officially here. In other words, it’s prime time to pull out your knee-high boots, plaid skirts, and knitted cardigans from their hiding spot in the corner of your closet because Pumpkin Spice season is in full force. And, honestly, TG because I was getting tired of recycling the same pair of denim shorts, a white tank, and my Teva’s. [Insert “finally fall now i can really start dressin” meme here.]
But no fall ‘fit is complete without a seasonally appropriate mani. Even Mrs. ‘Christian Girl Autumn’ herself, lifestyle influencer Caitlin Covington, debuted a dark burgundy set in her recent Instagram Reel announcing the return of the most wonderful time of the year (ahem, that’s the period between early September and late November if you weren’t following).
When you think of fall nails, shades like dark brown, deep red, and olive green might come to mind. But while merlot nails are definitely a top nail trend for the season, there are so many more creative ways you can take your manicure this fall. A quick search of “fall nail trends” on TikTok will give you a cornucopia of inspiration. While the summer gave us aura nails and had us painting tiny cherries on our French tips, the fall is all about animal prints and chrome.
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Ahead, all of the best fall nail trends that scream Christian Girl Autumn (complimentary).
Khaki Chrome Nails
Khaki Chrome nails were all the rage last fall, and they’re making their return to the zeitgeist in 2024. To take on the nail trend, start with an army green base color and then top it off with a pearl chrome dusting.
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Try it at home with: Sally Hansen’s Later Alligator
Moscow Mule Nails
Moscow Mule nails are another chrome nail trend that’s popping off on TikTok. It’s essentially a copper chrome, but it wouldn’t be a nail trend if it didn’t have a funky, food- or drink-related title. To get the look, begin with a black dip base and then follow up with a copper chrome dusting on top to match the hue of the copper mugs Moscow Mules are usually served in.
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Try it at home with: Olive & June’s Penny
Merlot Nails
It’s not a dark red, it’s merlot, actually.
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Dark nail colors are very popular for the fall, especially a moodier take on the classic red manicure. You also might consider opting for Cherry Mocha nails, which have a similar hue except with more brown undertones.
Try it at home with: Londontown’s Elderberry
Cow Print Nails
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Animal print nails are another popular fall nail trend. But if you’re someone who thinks leopard print is overdone, opt for a more underrated look like Cow Print nails — because you’re not like other girls.
Try it at home with: Zazzle’s Cow Spot Decals
Tortoise Shell Nails
Match your nails to your tortoise shell frames by taking on the Tortoise Shell nails trend — a classic fall nail design — because ~maximalism~. To get this nail color at home or at your next nail appointment, you’re going to need a jelly brown and jelly orange for the base and then a brown and black polish to apply on top with a dotting tool.
Try it at home with: GAOY’s Jelly Brown Gel Set
Pistachio Butter Nails
If you’ve been dreaming of that pistachio cream you had during that one summer in Rome, now you can relive that fantasy… through your nail color. Unlike a neon “Brat” green, which we should collectively leave in the summer of 2024 along with the end of the “Brat summer” era (sorry, not sorry), or an olive green, which is synonymous with fall, a Pistachio Butter is demure enough to wear all year long.
Try it at home with: Dazzle Dry’s Pistachio
Amber Drops Nails
Surprise, surprise, another chrome nail design to consider for this fall season. Amber Drops is a sparkly amber marble design popularized by nail artist and TikTok creator Aiste Haas (@heygreatnails) that is essentially what I would imagine your nails would look like if you cut up slices of Tiger’s eye, glued them onto your nail bed, and then threw some glitter on top. In other words, it’s expensive-looking and très chic!
Try it at home with: Londontown’s Posh Forever
Espresso Nails
“Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter may be a summer hit, but Espresso nails are exclusively reserved for the fall. In short, it’s a coffee brown color to match your equally fall-appropriate espresso martini.
Try it at home with: Essie’s Take The Espresso
Dirty Martini Nails
Nail trends love a cocktail drink reference apparently. Dirty Martini nails are another fall nail trend blowing up on TikTok — thanks to Selena Gomez. It’s similar to Khaki Chrome nails, but rather than a khaki green, go a few shades up for an olive green base. Then, top it off with a pearl chrome dusting for that added shine.
Try it at home with: Essie’s Willow In The Wind
Dark French Nails
Your classic French mani, but make it fall. There are plenty of ways in which you can tackle this nail trend, like opting for black, dark red, or espresso-colored tips. Or, you can take a more creative approach and do an ombre dark French with your favorite fall tones (think: browns, yellows, reds, and oranges).
Try it at home with: Olive & June’s Spacey
Naydeline Mejia