I don’t paint my nails often, but when I do, I really like to experiment with new colors. I don’t mind getting a little wild in that department. I went through a nail-art obsession phase in my mid-20s, so I’m not exactly a minimalist. I have the go-to hues that I gravitate toward, but I like to look all over for inspiration.
Recently, I’ve been using my co-workers, Instagram, and celebs as my nail-color muses. And they’ve provided a lot of ideas. I don’t know what it is, but lately I’ve been really drawn to dark, moody colors. In addition to my matte-finish fixation, I think one reason behind this is that the cozy fall season is just around the corner. When September rolls around, I’m thinking of using a dark, sophisticated color palette in both my beauty and fashion choices: dark lips, richly hued sweaters and dresses, and deep-tinted nails. While I don’t limit dark hues to just fall and winter, I like to go all in with a seasonal palette. I’m the type of person who immediately transitions to bright colors at the first sight of spring.
In preparation for the fall season, I’m sharing my “inspiration board” of sorts featuring the nail colors I have on my radar that I’ve spotted on both celebs and Instagram. Maybe you’ll find some light-bulb moments here for autumn (or any season, really).
A deep red really conveys a lot. It’s dramatic, romantic, sensual, and a little bit sassy. To me, it says, “I’m not messing around.” The range of red options is pretty big. You can go with crimson, blood red, or a burgundy. I saw Lizzo wearing dark-red nails, and I truly think that’s all there is to say on the subject, so I rest my case.
Don’t ask me why, because I can’t really explain it, but I used to be so afraid of wearing black nail polish. I guess I just didn’t know if I could pull it off. When you want to appear fearless, chic, and serious all at once, reach for this hue. I like to think of it as fall’s “nude.” It goes with everything.
Bella Hadid wearing a navy manicure on the beach shows us that dark nail colors are not relegated to certain seasons. Navy is a good option if you want the moodiness of a rich, dark hue but don’t want to go all the way with black. My favorites are the inky polishes that look black in some light and blue in other environments. It’s kind of like having two different manicures in one.
Think beyond the lilacs and lavenders, and gravitate toward the plum and eggplant nail lacquers. Since most people go with red or black manicures, a rich purple would be an unexpected and unique choice.
Gray is a neutral that works well in any season and with any outfit. The deeper grays are so moody and a little bit mysterious. It’s another alternative if you want to try something other than black or navy.
Whether it’s chocolate or a taupe-like hue (similar to what Dua Lipa’s sporting here), brown can be a sleeper hit in the dark-nail colors department. It can feel a bit warmer than a black or navy, but it’s still sophisticated.
