Nail polish colours and styles that are in vogue, and the ones we’re moving on from

As the seasons change, so does our polish. Summer 2026 had its fair share of bright, playful manicures, from ocean-inspired turquoise and cerulean blue to sardine nail art that somehow made tiny fish on your fingertips look chic. But autumn calls for a slightly different mood.As wardrobes move from linen and bright colours to deeper tones and heavier textures, manicures are following suit. Fall 2026 is leaning towards chocolate browns, cherry reds, deep plums, teal, translucent syrup finishes and understated shimmer. Even the more playful summer trends are being given a darker, more sophisticated update.So, before you book your next manicure, here are the summer trends we can retire for now, and the colours and styles to try instead.The spring/summer trends we’re moving on fromTurquoiseTurquoise had a very good summer. The bright blue-green shade appeared everywhere, from clothing and accessories to hair and, naturally, manicures. It was playful, nostalgic and very much in keeping with the ocean-inspired beauty trends of the season. But now that summer is behind us, it is time to put the turquoise bottle away, at least temporarily.If you are not ready to let go, simply make it moodier. A deep teal is turquoise’s more autumnal cousin: darker, richer and easier to pair with the browns, blacks and jewel tones that tend to dominate fall wardrobes. It gives you the same blue-green family without looking quite so summery.Cerulean blueCourtesy to the sequel of The Devil Wears Prada, cerulean blue had its revival this year. It is an undeniably striking shade, but its bright, clear quality feels more suited to summer than the darker palette of autumn.Polka dotsPolka dots were everywhere this summer. On clothes, accessories and nails, the playful pattern had officially reached saturation point. So maybe, this season would be less of a nightmare for a trypophobe.But, if you are not one, you do not have to abandon the nail art altogether. Fall's version is less about repeating the same graphic motif across every nail and more about subtle details, darker colour combinations and finishes that add dimension. Think tiny dots against a deep cherry base (like snowflakes), rather than a bright, candy-coloured polka-dot manicure.Bright orangeOrange is one of those colours that refuses to leave quietly. It works particularly well through October, when Halloween gives it another lease of life.The neon and citrus versions that felt right in summer can start looking slightly out of place once autumn arrives. But, if your orange polish is still going strong, use it for Halloween or as an accent nail. Otherwise, move towards burnt orange, terracotta or a richer rust shade.Sardine nailsSummer 2026's most unexpected manicure trend was, quite literally, fishy. The sardine manicure took the year's fascination with tinned fish and coastal aesthetics all the way to our fingertips, with tiny sardines painted over sheer, nude, blue or pink bases. Vogue and Cosmopolitan both picked up on the trend as a defining summer manicure.It was quirky, fun and very much a summer trend. For autumn, however, it is time to let the sardines swim away.Fall/winter: what is in trend nowCherry red“Red for fall? Groundbreaking.”Red is hardly revolutionary for autumn, but there is a reason it keeps coming back. This season, instead of bright tomato or candy reds, look towards cherry, burgundy and oxblood.The easiest way to make the classic shade feel different is through nail art. If you loved summer's polka dots, keep the idea but change the palette: tiny white dots on cherry red can resemble snowflakes as winter approaches. Or simply stick to a glossy, classic cherry-red manicure.Soft syrupy nailsIf summer was about juicy, translucent nails, autumn is simply making them darker.Syrup nails use a sheer, glossy finish that allows some of the natural nail to show through. For fall, the technique is being reworked in shades such as caramel, amber, chocolate, black cherry and deep plum. The result is somewhere between a jelly manicure and a glossy lacquer: sheer, but noticeably richer.All things brownBrown has officially moved beyond being the supporting neutral. Chocolate, mocha and espresso are some of the season's most wearable nail colours, particularly in glossy finishes. Hailey Bieber's recent chocolate-brown chrome manicure has only added fuel to the trend.PlumFor anyone who considers burgundy too predictable but black too harsh, plum is the somewhere-in-between you might be looking for.Deep purple and plum shades are being highlighted as key fall colours. For a more understated version, try a sheer plum syrup manicure. For something more dramatic, go for an opaque, almost-black purple.Mother-of-pearlMother-of-pearl nails offer a subtle, pearlescent sheen rather than the chunky glitter of traditional metallic manicures. The look is a middle ground between a glossy chrome and a minimalist old-money manicure, making it a good option if you want something polished without committing to a dark autumn colour.For autumn, try the pearlescent finish over a milky white, pale pink, taupe or even a darker base.Cloud DancerThere is also one colour that refuses to follow the seasonal rulebook: Cloud Dancer, Pantone's 2026 Colour of the Year.The soft, creamy white has been a major manicure shade throughout the year and continues to work as a neutral as temperatures drop. British Vogue's 2026 nail trend report also identified variations of warm winter whites, creamy light colours and French-vanilla tones as enduring manicure choices.In other words, if you already have a bottle of Cloud Dancer sitting in your collection, there is no need to retire it with your summer polishes.Trends don’t change, they only evolveThe easiest way to update your manicure for autumn is not necessarily to buy an entirely new collection of colours. Sometimes, it is simply about changing the finish or the depth of the shade.Turquoise becomes teal. Bright orange becomes burnt orange. Summer reds and pinks become cherry or burgundy. A pale jelly becomes a chocolate syrup nail. Even summer's shimmer can be carried forward as a subtle pearl finish.So, if your favourite summer polish still has plenty left in the bottle, keep it. Just give it an autumnal remix. After all, nail trends may change with the season, but your nail-paint rotation does not have to.(ALl images from Pinterest and Canva)You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ testGet the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.