Fall nails are my favorite season to do at home. Warm tones photograph well and hide small mistakes better than bright colors do, which makes this a forgiving time of year to try something new.
Six fall nail ideas
1. Classic terracotta (easy, 20 minutes)
One coat of a burnt orange polish and a topcoat. This is genuinely as simple as it looks and still gets compliments.
2. Chocolate brown with a glossy finish (easy, 20 minutes)
Deep brown reads more expensive than black and works across almost any outfit color.
3. Burgundy with a single gold accent nail (medium, 35 minutes)
Paint one nail per hand gold or add gold foil detailing. The accent nail trick makes a simple manicure look intentional.
4. Cinnamon swirl marble effect (medium, 40 minutes)
Two warm tones dragged together with a thin brush while still wet. My first attempt smudged badly, so work on one nail at a time rather than all ten before the polish sets.
5. Olive green with a matte topcoat (easy, 20 minutes)
Matte topcoat changes the whole feel of a color. The same green looks completely different glossy versus matte.
6. French tip in caramel instead of white (medium, 35 minutes)
A nude or caramel base with a warm brown tip feels more fall than a classic white French.
What you actually need
A base coat, your color, a topcoat, and if you are trying the marble effect, a thin detail brush. Drugstore polish (Sally Hansen, Essie) performs close to salon-brand for a fraction of the cost.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a DIY manicure like this actually last?
With a good base and topcoat, 4 to 6 days before noticeable chipping, versus 2 to 3 weeks for gel at a salon.
Which of these designs should a beginner start with?
The classic terracotta or chocolate brown. Single-color, glossy finishes are the most forgiving place to start.