23 Nail Polishes Perfect for that Dark Fall Mani
Every fall we look forward to autumn leaves (depending on where you live), cozy sweaters, cute ankle booties, and the perfect dark shade of nail polish
Photo: Unsplash/@krisatomic
Every fall we look forward to autumn leaves (depending on where you live), cozy sweaters, cute ankle booties, and the perfect dark shade of nail polish. We’ve spent all of spring and summer rocking white nail polish — the summer mani and pedi trend that keeps on giving — along with other pretty pastel shades and shocking neons. But in the fall we definitely enjoy sprucing thing up with richer and darker shades that complement the season. Fortunately, we’ve got plenty of options.
As with most beauty products, there are a dizzying number of nail polishes out there but we want to make the selection process as easy and fun for you as possible. So, we put together this handy (pun intended) guide to 23 of our favorite polishes for fall. While you can usually get each from a variety of shops, we took it a step further, including links so you can buy them ASAP and at a great price — check them out!
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Selenia Beauty La Agrado
We are proud to say that the first nail polish on our must-have fall list is from an Afro-Latinx brand! Selenia Beauty’s La Agrado is a rich, deep, dark burgundy that’s perfect for autumn and winter. Added bonus?! The line is vegan, cruelty-free, and 10-free.
Available at etsy.com, $12
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Live Love Polish Roots
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByBItr3h72p/
Who said darker fall colors had to be boring? Live Love Polish has rad hues, like this one inspired by Frida Kahlo’s painting Roots, and is part of the brand’s Frida Kahlo Collection. The gorgeous nail polish seriously looks like fall leaves in glitter form and features “color-shifting flakes with shades of red, copper, orange, and gold.”
Available at livelovepolish.com, $16
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Zoya Kateri
We know Zoya to make some beautiful nail polish colors, with several options great for when it starts getting colder outside. Like their dark-chocolate hued Kateri. It’s a perfect option when you want to go dark for nails, but want something different than the usual dark burgundies and black.
Available at amazon.com, $10
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ella + mila Rising Violet
Ella + Mila’s Rising Violet is a deep berry polish that you’ll want to rock this autumn Not only is the color gorgeous, but the 7-Free product doesn’t contain formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde resin, camphor, TPHP, or xylene. It’s also cruelty-free, which is a major plus!
Available at ellamila.com, $10.50
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Essie Licorice
Black is another must-sport fall nail polish shade. It’s no longer reserved just for goth vibes but also finishes off a look with a chic, edgy, and sophisticated touch. It makes everything worn with it look that much cooler. Essie’s Licorice is a great option for glossy and timeless black nails.
Available at walmart.com, $6.17
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OPI Things I’ve Seen in Abergreen
We just mentioned Licorice, a nail polish classic, but you know we’re all for trying the latest and greatest polishes for the season. Take OPI’s Things I’ve Seen in Abergreen for example. It’s a dark mossy green from the brand’s Fall 2019 Scotland Collection that will complement most of your cold-weather outfits.
Available at opi.com, $10.50
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OPI Set in Stone
Another great OPI nail polish for autumn and winter is Set in Stone. It is a fab color right at the intersection of dark grey and taupe. Added bonus? “Infinite Shine is a 3-step system which provides up to 11 days of wear and gel-like shine.” You can’t go wrong with this one!
Available at walmart.com, $8.99
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Orly Retrograde
Orly’s Retrograde, from the brand’s Holiday 2018 Deep Wonder Collection, is a fall color for those who want to try something outside of what everyone else is doing. The shimmery “June Bug Duo Chrome” is such a rich, dark blue-green-purple with a touch of black.
Available at beyondpolishcom, $4.25
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Chanel Vamp
Chanel Vamp is such a classic. You may remember Uma Thurman wearing it in the movie Pulp Fiction. It’s so iconic, the nail polish has its own Wikipedia page. The reddish-black hue was created in 1994 and has been a fall favorite ever since.
Available at chanel.com, $28
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Zoya Storm
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1cJJGwAon0/
Another great Zoya hue to paint your nails with when it gets chilly outside is Storm. The brand describes the color as “black with a high concentration of micro fine diamond holographic glitter.” We call it the perfect hybrid of glitzy chic and edgy inkiness.
Available at walmart.com, $8.67
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Cirque Colors Amethyst
Rich purples, like Cirque Colors’ Amethyst, are dark enough to welcome in fall, but still, play on all the fun you had with your manis this summer. This polish is so purple and sparkly, it’s like wearing Selena’s iconic jumpsuit on your nails.
Available at circuecolors.com, $12.50
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Madam Glam Electric Blue
Want to go a bit darker with your nails for fall, but still, want to wow with a pop of color? Try a hue that does both like Madam Glam’s Electric Blue! The color is so intense, you won’t want to stop looking at your uñas. It’s also a fun way to incorporate blue into your autumn palette.
Available at madamglam.com, $19.95
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Nails Inc. Living for the Tan Lines
Some colors are meant for summer, but great enough to feature again come fall. Nails Inc.’s Living For the Tan Lines, part of the brand’s Beach Bottled Collection, is such a hue. Inspired by a deep dark tan, the company describes the color as “a deep maple bronze with a micro glitter shimmer finish.”
Available at sephora.com, $11
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ella + mia Mediterranean Mist
Ella + mila’s Mediterranean Mist is the prettiest shade of dark teal. It’s moody and inky and will go with most anything you wear it with, yet has enough color to add some oomph to all your fall neutrals. It’s a win-win situation!
Available at target.com, $10.49
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butter LONDON Oil Slick
When you see a great limited edition nail polish color, you know you better snatch it up before it’s gone. Butter LONDON’s Oil Slick Glazen nail polish is a perfect example. It’s described as ” an iridescent chameleon shimmer nail lacquer” that has a “purple green shift.” Just like an oil slick!
Available at butterlondon.com, $11
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OPI Lincoln Park After Dark
Our next hue for fall nails is from OPI. The brand has knocked it out of the park, with a bunch of classic nail polishes that have stood the test of time. One such color is Lincoln Park After Dark. The super dark shade is described by OPI as “where midnight meets purple.” It’s so close to being black, but you can still see that hint of color.
Available at target.com, $8.79
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LaPierre Cosmetics No, It’s Navy!
Navy is a popular go-to for fall — it’s a great neutral hue that evokes all-things nautical, preppy, and classic. But if you want a darker, inkier, and moodier version for your next mani or pedi, try LaPierre Cosmetics’ No, It’s Navy!.
Available at lapierrecosmetics.com, $15
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Essie Bed Rock & Roll
We live for those incredible colors that live between two or more hues we know and love. Essie’s Bed Rock & Roll is part red, part brown, and part nude. The result is a rusty, Southwestern-esque color that is so sophisticated and fresh.
Available at essie.com, $9
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OPI Malaga Wine
Another stunning burgundy nail polish color that is a tried-and-true favorite is OPI’s Malaga Wine. It’s a classic color that can be layered to create a deep dark wine hue. You can also wear one coat for a dark red. Either way, it’s a great shade for autumn.
Available at walmart.com, $6
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OPI Latest and Slatest
It’s no real surprise that OPI has multiple entries on this must-have full colors list. Not only do they have a solid assortment of classic go-to polishes, but they are always releasing cool new collections with colors we want to buy immediately. Latest and Slatest is a steel grey that looks fashionable but is also timeless.
Available at amazon.com, $12.35
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OPI Bahama Mama
Bahama Mama is one of those classic, tried-and-true OPI shades we were talking about! It’s another color we found that is deep enough to say “hello, fall!,” but punchy enough to make things fun. This rad grape/berry hue is definitely one that you can wear again and again.
Available at amazon.com, $8.70
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KB Shimmer Santa Claws
A color that has “this is autumn” written all over it is KB Shimmer’s Santa Claws. Don’t let the Christmas-y name fool you. It’s great for the holidays, but the magnetic polish is made up of colors that are also great for fall — an olive green, an orangey-red, and gold.
Available at kbshimmer.com, $10
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OPI Vamsterdam
The last must-have polish for fall is OPI’s Vampsterdam, a hue from the brand’s 2012 Holland Collection. It’s all in the name — this dark purple color is vampy and moody. Added bonus? There some shimmer to give it dimension and a little oomph.
Available at beyondpolish.com, $6.75
