Autumn Nail Colors 2022

I always love switching up my nail polish colors when fall comes around, so I decided to share some of my favorites in this autumn nail colors 2022 roundup. Not only that, I’m also going to be sharing my go-to routine for doing a home manicure (including some useful tools you can use to get a salon-quality manicure!).

When to start wearing fall nail colors

In general, I don’t think there’s a hard and fast rule about a specific date on which you should start wearing fall nail colors. I think it’s important to pay attention to the weather and your wardrobe.

For instance, in California, it’s still pretty warm in September, so I usually don’t start pulling out my sweaters and autumn nail colors until October. In Paris, however, you can start feeling the chilly autumn breeze by mid-September, so donning a burgundy polish with a perfectly tied Parisian scarf seems totally appropriate.

Home Manicure Routine

Before I apply any kind of polish, I give my nails all the manicure prep you’d get at the salon.

First, I wipe off all polish using an acetone-based polish remover. Even if I don’t have any polish on, I still use the acetone as it helps remove any dirt or debris that may be sitting on the nail.

I then clip my nails using my clippers from my favorite nail kit. I use the clippers to trim my nails, if needed, and remove any extra skin/hangnails on the sides of my nails. Sometimes I keep my nails long, sometimes I keep them trimmed short. It just depends on the state of my nails and what kind of shape all of them are in.

Once I finish with the nail clippers, I use a nail file to shape my nails, and then smooth over the tops with a nail buffer.

After all that, I rinse my hands with warm, soapy water, dry them, and then inspect to make sure I remove any tiny fuzzies that may have hung around from the cotton balls or towel I used.

My nails are now prepped and ready for polish!

Best Fall Nail Polish Colors

I personally am not one to venture out into any exotic colors (I’m looking at you, blue and mustard color polishes). I tend to stick to the Parisian preference for neutrals or reds.

So in this autumn nail colors 2022 roundup, I’m going to share some of my go-to polishes I’ve been using on rotation this fall. Many of these polishes can easily be picked up at Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and most drugstores around the United States.

For a creamy latte color, I love using the color “Wild Nude” by Essie.

Another similar polish is O.P.I.’s “Coconut Over OPI”.

In the neutral family, I’m also a big fan of O.P.I.’s “What Are Friends Thor?”

While we’re talking about brown shades, let me share Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri “Slick Slate” shade for a darker brown.

When I go for a red, a favorite is “Cinna-Snap” by Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri collection. Very similar to this is O.P.I.’s “Got the Blues for Red.”

And when I’m feeling a bit “vampy,” I’ll reach for Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri “Go Garnet.”

Extra Tools and Product for a Perfect Manicure

To make your manicure look salon-worthy, it’s helpful to have a couple of extra items in hand when you’re applying your polish.

In the favorite nail kit mentioned above, I actually use the “cuticle pusher” tool with the soft rubber head to wipe off any nail polish I accidentally paint “outside the lines” of my nail.

When I’m doing a really light color like the creamy nudes I shared, then using the tool by itself works just fine. If it’s a darker color, and I find that it leaves a slight stain from trying to swipe off the excess on my skin, I simply dip the rubber end into some acetone and go over my skin with that.

I typically apply two coats of polish, then wait at least 5 minutes before applying top coat. The top coat is what gives nails the perfectly glossy finish, but not just any top coat will do that well.

My favorite top coat so far has been Essie’s Gel Couture Nail Polish for giving my nails that high-gloss, salon-worthy finish. Even though the name of the polish has the word “gel” in it, you don’t actually need to cure the polish with a UV lamp, nor do you have to worry about it being impossible to take off.

It’s one of my favorite steps for giving my home manicure a professional look.

In between doing my nails each week, I also dab cuticle oil around my nails since I spend so much time in the kitchen and wash my hands a bunch. This cuticle oil has always worked really well for me.

I hope you get a chance to try some of these colors this fall, and if you do, be sure to let me know how you like them in the comments below!