Summer’s soft washes are clocking out and fall nails are punching in with more depth, texture, and all around moodniess. This season is giving “main character in a gritty indie film who still knows how to have a good time.”

We’re seeing bolder shapes, richer colors, and enough texture to keep your nails interesting even when you’re holding a pumpkin-spiced-anything.

The biggest nail trends for Fall 2025 include...

• jelly nails and glass manis
• cat eye effects with chrome accents
• moody aura nails
• matte nail finishes
• touchable textured nails
  
• layered 3D nail designs

But, let's really get into it with the help of our nail artist community on what’s popping off lately and how you can recreate these types of looks.

1. Jelly-Glass Manis

Transparent, high-shine nails are still in rotation, but fall is giving them a new filter. Think richer berries, smoky teals, and translucent warmth that looks like stained glass at golden hour. This is the mani that lets you play with color without going full opaque.

To get that buildable, glassy finish, our Flex Tint Jelly Bounce Rubber Base has 12 translucent shades that layer beautifully. Pomegranate Crush and Electric Lagoon are basically begging to be worn with oversized sweaters.

2. Cat Eye Chrome Fusion

Cat eye nails aren’t going anywhere, but the upgrade is real when you throw chrome into the mix. Instead of just a velvety shimmer, you get depth and reflective flash that shifts with every angle. Think silk fabric… with molten metal poured on top.

For this set, your main stack should include  Hyper Silk Micro Cateye with a hit of Heavy Metals Chrome on top. The combo makes the magnetic lines look richer and more dimensional, like liquid light woven through the design.

It’s luxe, it’s layered, and it’s exactly why we’re calling this the fusion era of cat eye.

3. Autumn Aura Nails

Aura nails have shed their summer sorbet phase and gone full fall mood board. We’re talking smoky petrol blues, mossy greens, and burgundy fades that look like they belong in an art gallery.

Our Aura Melt Garage Collection nails the palette for this. Rebel, Grime, and Angst are basically bottled fall energy. Blend them over a matte base for a smooth, grunge-inspired aura that’s equal parts chic and witchy.

4. Velvet Matte Finishes

Gloss will always have a place, but matte in fall hits different. Velvet matte takes it further, diffusing light so it feels soft and touchable, like your nails are wearing their own cozy knit.

For a smooth, luxe finish that works over any color or art, our Ceramic Matte Topcoat is a go-to. It makes deep shades look plush and brings out hidden details in nail art.

5. Touchable Textures

If fall nails had an art movement, this would be it. Painterly touchable textures feel tactile and alive, with visible brushstrokes, layered pigments, and organic patterns that look hand-built.

OILWHIP Earthen Collection is made for this style. The whipped texture holds every intentional streak and swirl, and colors like Aged Moss and Worn Indigo are basically the definition of fall. Perfect for designs that look as good zoomed in as they do from across the table.

6. Layered Nail Art & 3D Details

Fall is not the time to be shy about dimension. Layers of color, sculpted elements, and gloss/matte contrasts make nails look complex and expensive, even if it’s just you and your lamp at home.

Think of it as building a tiny mixed-media sculpture on your nails. Maybe that means a beetle-green accent crawling through a scoop of pistachio, maybe it’s a translucent jelly wash layered over metallic textures. The point is depth — color that shifts when you move, details that reveal themselves when someone looks closer.

Supersculpt 3D Gel is ideal for creating raised lines, textured shapes, or designs that seem to float under a translucent layer. It’s the kind of mani you keep catching yourself staring at in the middle of a meeting.

Quick FAQ

What nail shapes are trending for fall 2025?

Almond, tapered square, and short squoval are leading the pack.

How do I make jelly-glass nails last longer?

Proper nail prep, apply in thin layers, and always seal your edges.

What’s the difference between cat eye and glass nails?

Cat eye nails use magnetic particles to create a moving, light-catching line or pattern. Glass nails are translucent or semi-transparent, giving a smooth, see-through finish without magnetic effects.

What’s the difference between cat eye and chrome nails?

Cat eye nails rely on magnets to shift fine glitter particles into patterns. Chrome nails are coated with a powder or pigment that creates a uniform, mirror-like shine with no moving effect.

Why are they called jelly nails?

They’re called jelly nails because the translucent color looks like tinted gelatin. Basically, sheer in thin coats, richer when layered, and glossy like glass.

How to do the aura effects on nails?

After applying a matte topcoat, use a light tapping motion with pigment powder (like Aura Melts by Function of Vex) in the center, blend outward in soft circles, dust away excess, then seal with topcoat. For step-by-step instructions (no airbrush, all mood), check out our full tutorial here: How to Do Aura Nails (No Airbrush Needed).