15 Dark Nail Art Ideas For Fall, From Black Lace to Toffee Cat-Eye

The Gist

• Now that fall is here, nail artists are gravitating towards designs that feel dark and moody.

• Explore 15 ideas to inspire you below, from pops of blue on tortoiseshell backgrounds to inky leopard print.

There's a chill in the air. Everything is pumpkin flavored. You're already starting to think about possible gifts to give this holiday season. That's right—we're firmly in the middle of autumn. And as the leaves continue to deepen into shades of mustard and rust, your nails might be due for a change as well.

"You can never go wrong with the classics, like wine, burgundy, [and] brown," says Rita de Alencar Pinto, founder of Vanity Projects, a luxury nail salon in New York City and Miami. Rather than playing it safe with a solid manicure, consider experimenting with inky animal prints, dark auras , moody cat-eye finishes , or even adding a splash of color to a rich base. "I'm loving all shades of brown right now with pops of color, especially blues and greens," says California-based nail artist Pitrizz Gangcuangcoz.

Ahead, explore 15 dark nail ideas that will make for a standout fall manicure.

Meet Our Expert

• Rita de Alencar Pinto is the founder of Vanity Projects , a luxury nail salon in New York City and Miami.

• Pitrizz Gangcuangcoz is a nail artist and content creator from California.

• Tara Haye is a nail artist based in New York City.

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Autumn Flowers

In between dark burgundy nails, nude nails with a floral design add levity. Each bloom is sprinkled with a touch of gold glitter.

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Black Lace

This set lowers the opacity on black nails. A sheer jelly base lets polka dots and lace take center stage.

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Night Sky

Elevate your dark nails with a shimmery finish. This set is coated in glitter that gives the moody manicure a polished, elegant finish.

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Yves Klein Blue

Yves Klein blue is one of fall's top trending colors. The vivid, cool-toned color makes an especially bold statement against a warm, muted tortoiseshell base.

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3D Gems

Bring every fall color into play with this 3D design . Look closely, and you'll notice that the middle finger design mirrors a leaf changing in front of your very eyes.

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Velveteen

As far as textures go, velvet is a true must for fall. These burnt orange nails bring sparkle and shine to the lexicon of gorgeous dark nail shades.

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Fall Sunburst

Mix and match your favorite fall colors with this airbrush design. "There's been a major resurgence of airbrushing as a tool for blending," says Alencar Pinto. "It's a seamless way to blend, achieving that flawless gradient look. We love using it as a technique at our salon as it suits any color palette, but does especially lend itself beautifully to fall colors."

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Cherry Accents

This cherry red is the perfect dark hue for fall. Use it on your accent nail for a design featuring its namesake fruit. Whether it's 3D or 2D, this look is sweet all fall long.

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Blue Ombré

These dark blue ombré nails are the perfect sultry look for a magical fall evening. The rounded almond shape softens the design's geometric lines, but you could also lean into them with a sharply-filed square.

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Cheetah Cat-Eye

This set combines two of fall's biggest trends: cheetah spots and a cat-eye base. Try for a moody take on monochrome nails.

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Contrasting Patterns

Pops of white add contrast to this set's brown-and-black color palette. A few solid-colored nails are sprinkled in to break up contrasting zebra prints, polka dots, and a diamond pattern.

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Plum Aura

An airbrush gradient radiates a lighter shade, creating a mesmerizing halo effect on these plum-colored nails.

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Burst of Blue

Bright blue blooming gel breathes new life into classic burgundy nails. The combination is earthy and modern.

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Two-Toned

You 'll be seeing double with this dark nail art. The top half of each nail is coated with a glossy black polish, while the bottom half gets a matte finish. The contrast makes this eye-catching design feel fresh for fall.

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Plaid Cat-Eye

Cozy plaid takes on a subtle edge with this glassy, cat-eye finish. A different-colored base on each hand—olive green and a dark, smoky blue—also add interest.

Read the original article on InStyle