Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Birthday suit manicures all year 'round.
Nude nails are like a great black sweater, or a tinted lip balm: they never go out of style, they’re always chic, and there are a thousand ways to take a spin on a classic to make the design work for you. While we love a classic, single-toned mani as much as anyone else, there are so many ways to style this look for whatever your plans are. You can give yourself an upgraded French manicure, add some length with press-ons, or even add a nail sticker for a fun, no-mess moment. Especially as summer wanes and we start getting ready for cool winter nail colors, it’s time to put your mind to the task and get some inspo for your next mani. Here, find the 16 best nude nail designs we’ll be coveting this fall.
Spotted on the hands of the one and only Billie Eilish, nude nails get an upgraded with a chic branded moment. By channeling Burberry, Eilish elevated a simple look with their iconic pattern, nova check.
JinSoon Nail Polish in Nostalgia, $18, macy's.com
Beetles Nail Art Brushes Set, $8, amazon.com
Make a classic extra classy by adorning your manicure with gold leaf. This is the perfect way to create a truly special look for a wedding, anniversary, or extra-chic event. If you don’t feel like DIYing your own version, a golden-tipped press-on is the way to go.
L.A. Gold Leaf 24k Gold Leaf Booklet, $60, amazon.com
Static Nails Rose Gold French Velvet Effect Almond Press-Ons, $24, staticnails.com
A bare hand can be livened up with the simplest of looks. If you have five minutes and a brightly-colored bottle of nail polish, you’ve already achieved the look. Simply dot an accent color at the top of your nail to make it look like you put effort into an effortless mani.
Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Nail Color in ASAP Apple, $7, ulta.com
HiMo Dotting Pen Nail Art Tool, $5, amazon.com
French manis are the latest '90s trend to make a roaring comeback. While we love the classic, up the ante with a darker twist. Instead of opting for a white tip, go dark with a black or navy. Don’t have the dexterity to paint them yourself? Then grab a ready-made press-on kit that’ll get the job done.
Glamnetic Press-On Nail Kit in Caviar, $15, sephora.com
O.P.I Nail Lacquer in Black Onyx, $11, amazon.com
You can’t go wrong with a simple, single-toned manicure. They’re classy, go with everything in your closet, and simple enough that even an amateur nail artist can achieve the look at home. The only thing you need to get this look done properly is your favorite nude polish.
Cirque Colors Nail Color in Cocoa Jelly, $13, cirquecolors.com
Essie Gel Couture Nail Color in Walk the Hemline, $13, ulta.com
Dying to add a little color to your hands? The nude look isn’t for everybody, so show your artistic side with some dots of color. The best part is, you can brush on your favorite tones to either a blank mani or your bare hands. And don’t worry about it not looking perfect–the messier it looks, the better.
HERMÈS Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in 33 Orange Boite, $45, saksfifthavenue.com
Côte No. 71 Blue Periwinkle Nail Polish, $18, coteshop.co
Barbiecore has made its way into every area of our lives. If you don’t believe pink is a neutral manicure color, think again. This look can be done in a ton of different ways, from the minimalistic to the bonkers.
Glamnetic Juicy Press-On Nails, $22, ulta.com
Paintbucket Nail Wraps in Sorbet Skies, $15, amazon.com
The easiest way to make it look like you spend a ton of time on your nails? Adding a few graphic lines. Even if you’re not extremely dexterous, it’s easier than it looks to create straight lines with polish.
Chillhouse Chill Tips in Type A, $16, chillhouse.com
Pear Nova Reflect Classic Lacquer, $14, pearnova.com
We love a manicure length so impractical it makes everyone understand that you don’t need to lift a finger. If you don’t have time to run to the salon, adding ultra-long press-ons is a great way to mimic the look. But don't worry if you can’t commit to nails that make it hard for you to get anything done–a few coats of nude polish can mimic the look the easy way.
Kiss Nude Glow Bare but Better Nails, $8, ulta.com
Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish in Naked, $20, sephora.com
If you only have five minutes to get your nails looking presentable before having to run out the door, an accent nail will trick people into believing you have it all together. The easiest way to get this done is to pop on a nail sticker, coat it with clear polish, and get going.
Olive & June Nail Art Stickers in Tutti Frutti, $8, target.com
PaintLab One in a Melon Press-On Gel Nails, $10, beautybay.com
High-shine, glossy nails are like a blowout for your hands. They make any look seem elevated and chic, even if you only spend five minutes getting them done. Still looking for the perfect pinky nude shade? You can’t go wrong with the classic Ballet Slippers. Adding a super glossy top-coat pulls the whole look together.
essie Ballet Slippers Nail Polish, $7, amazon.com
Chanel Le Gel Coat Longwear Top Coat, $30, nordstrom.com
Looking to get dark and dirty? This manicure can be done in a few different ways. The true, edgy way is to paint on dark polish and use nail polish remover to remove pigment from the center. But we also love a leveled-up version using cow-print press-ons.
UN/DN LAQR Depresionist Nail Color, $18, undnlaqr.com
Quickies Reverse Cowgirl Press-On Nail Set, $24, getquickies.com
Move aside, wallflowers. Blinged-out nails are the Y2K trend we love to see. You can take this look in a few different directions, depending on your level of personal glam. We love a fully glitzed out manicure, but you can go subtle with some strategically-placed gems, too.
Kiss Heirloom Masterpiece One-of-a-Kind Luxe Mani Fake Nails, $11, ulta.com
SHRINE Euphoria Diamond Press-On False Nails Set, $18, urbanoutfitters.com
Why mimic the look when you were born with the real deal? It’s time to accentuate what you already have and let your nails go au naturel. Of course, that still means giving your hands a little T.L.C. Adding some nourishing cuticle oil and giving your nails a quick buff will go a long way.
Bare Hands The Dry Gloss Manicure Kit, $42, barehands.us
O.P.I Nail Envy Nail Strengthener, $16, amazon.com
If you don’t have plans to make it to Paris this season, adding a little Frenchness on your hands will soften the blow. French tip nails have come back in style, and they’re here to stay. There are a ton of beautiful press-on options available to get this look at home, or you can try your hand at the viral stamp that makes it easy to paint them yourself.
Olive & June Press On Fake Nails in Squoval Medium Classic French, $10, target.com
BTArtbox French Tip Nail Stamper, $11, amazon.com
A hint of glitz never hurt. Adding some golden glitter to a plain manicure is easy, cute, and brings some glamour into an otherwise plain jane look. You can also spice up the look by combining styles, like adding graphic lines or maybe a sticker or two to liven up the look and put your own spin on it.
Àuda Beauty Dirty Money Nail Polish, $19, audabeauty.com
ManiMuse You're A Gem Press-On Set, $16, manimuse.com