The 12 Best Fall Nail Colors, According to Byrdie Editors

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As summer comes to an end, it's easy to feel a sense of sadness. Sunlit days are fleeting, beach days become a happy memory, and weekend getaways become few and far between. It's enough to make you play Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Ray on repeat. But before you pack up your belongings and move south for the winter, know that it's not all bad. After all, autumn means sweaters, hot coffee, apple orchards, and Halloween. It also means we can take a break from wearing bold and vivid brights, opting for moodier shades of red, plum, brown, and black instead.

(The thought of dark and dramatic colors like those is enough to bring out our inner Wednesday Addams, and we love it.)

How do we begin to make the transition between bright and dark, you ask? Easy. We start by painting our nails. It's the perfect way to begin our yearly autumnal love affair with gloomy hues. Keep scrolling to see the best fall nail colors, according to Byrdie editors. 

Jinsoon Absolute Black Nail Polish

Jinsoon Absolute Black Nail Polish $18.00

"This black polish from JinSoon's Monochrome collection is the inkiest, shiniest black nail polish I've ever seen, which makes it perfect for moody fall days. Plus, I've worn it for four days so far with zero chips. Yes, it's still 80 degrees in New York, but something about the month of September makes me want to embrace my angsty side, and this polish is my new go-to. I recommend bringing it to your neighborhood nail salon to have an expert apply it because it's so inky. It requires precision!" — Faith Xue

Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Bitter Buddhist

Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Bitter Buddhist $29.00

"This murky green-gray shade is the perfect transitional shade from summer to fall. The olive tones make it flattering on most skin tones, and it's an easy gateway if you're not ready for full-on emeralds and olives just quite yet." — Faith Xue. (This item is no longer in stock, but we suggest Pacifica 7 Free Nail Polish in Safari Vibes, $5, as a similar option.)

Amanda's favorite fall nail polish color is this stormy navy blue from Essie. It's equal parts classic and moody. We like to think it's the nail polish equivalent of a weathered Ivy League blazer, which is worn by someone sharp-witted and wizened. In other words, it has personality, which is something we look for in a nail polish. 

Sally Hansen Nail Color in Wine Not

Sally Hansen Nail Color in Wine Not $7.00

She also likes this Bordeaux shade, which belongs to the oh-so-classic family of deep autumnal reds. It's not totally traditional, though. Unlike other wine-colored polishes, it has a subtle shimmer finish that catches light in the prettiest way. 

Tenoverten Nail Polish in Hester

Tenoverten Nail Polish in Hester $12.00

This shade from cruelty-free and vegan brand Tenoverten is described as "canyon clay." We think it's the perfect rosy-brown color for anyone who considers themselves a naturalist—or anyone who remains nostalgic for the '90s. 

Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Tang Bang

Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Tang Bang $18.00

Erin also recommends this unique burnt orange shade, called Tang Bang. This color from Smith & Cult sits somewhere right between pumpkin orange and burnt umber. In other words, it has autumn written all over it. Does anyone else think it's subtly reminiscent of a '70s color palette? We do, and we're not mad about it. 

Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Peaceful Paranoia

Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Peaceful Paranoia $18.00

Here's another shade of nail polish we're guessing you've never seen before (or if you have, then you haven't seen it quite like this). The hue, which is called Peaceful Paranoia, is a creamy mauve shade that comes complete with a holographic magenta finish. It's so pretty, so fresh, and so on-trend.

Flora 1761 Nail Lacquer in English Ivy

Flora 1761 Nail Lacquer in English Ivy $16.00

In the bottle, this polish looks like liquified emerald green Italian marble. Rest assured that it looks the same after having dried on the nails. It's clear whey Erin swears by it. After all, it's bold, but not overwhelming, and dramatic, but not ostentatious. (This item is no longer in stock, but we suggest Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Darjeeling Darling, $18, as a solid replacement.)

FLORA 1761 Nail Lacquer in Sweet William

FLORA 1761 Nail Lacquer in Sweet William $16.00

We're very much into this moody magenta color, called Sweet William. Erin names it as one of her top fall shades, thanks to its universally flattering effect. Seriously, it looks amazing on every single skin tone, but that's kind of a trademark of bright magenta, no?

OPI Nail Lacquer in Lincoln Park After Dark

OPI Nail Lacquer in Lincoln Park After Dark $10.00

"I don't think a single fall has gone by without Lincoln Park After Dark on my nails. It's the sultriest purple shade I've ever met and I feel like a complete badass when I'm wearing it. I love deep nail colors against my dark skin. This is the shiniest, most opaque one I've found and it doesn't chip for days. I've gone through about five bottles, and I barely paint my own nails. So yeah, the love is real." — Maya Allen

Context Nail Lacquer in Breaking The Law

Context Nail Lacquer in Breaking The Law $15.00

I've searched far and wide, and I'm confident I've found the perfect dark red nail polish. This one, from Context, is vivid, eye-catching, and moody (the trifecta). Plus, a deep blood red is a natural transition from the bright cherry hues we've been wearing all summer. 

Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish in Good Knight

Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish in Good Knight $12.00

I'm also a loyal devotee of OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark. It's been my go-to vampy purple shade for years. I never thought I'd find another quite like it until I got my hands on this Essie polish. The color is similarly dark and saturated, while a single coat is all it takes to achieve a fully opaque finish. The color looks red in the image, but there's a deep plum tone to it IRL. I'm in love (again).