TRENDWATCH
NEXT IN NAILS: AW25 edition
Stay ahead of the nail game & discover the products, colour palettes & pairings set to rule the months ahead
JESS WATTS REPORTS
The seasons of falling leaves, cosy firesides and hot chocolate are upon us, and with them, we welcome new waves of colour and style. Autumn/winter invites you to embrace alternative colour palettes and try out styles that are dominating the social scene. Let’s dive into the various ways you can embrace the new season…
Melanie Graves (@overglowedit)
incorporates hand-painted
cherries amongst a deep red hue.
CHERRY RED
The 2025 Pinterest Predicts report shares
that searches for ‘dark cherry red’ have
increased by 235% over the last three
years. Ever-popular year, the dark
and sumptuous hue epitomises the
elegance of autumn/winter.
Bluestreak Crystals brand ambassador,
Denise Mills, incorporates Serinity Flat
Back Crystals into this fun cherry design.
Instagram.com/medusa_boutique_nails
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Hybrid trend
Why not combine two trends in one? Larissa
of @polish.lab.rat uses OPI Nail Lacquer
in I’m Not Really A Waitress to create this
cherry red meets jewel tone mani..
Nail stylist, Monika Mrózek,
crafts a stunning, starry nail style
using Glitterbels Hema Free Gel
Polish in One More Bite.
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Luxury manicurist & content
creator, Leah Parr, serves up
a stylish, deep red style on
square-shaped nails.
Instagram.com/byleah.x
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Deep red nails for design house, DI PETSA,
at London Fashion Week autumn/winter
2025, courtesy of Tyler Phoenix using
The GelBottle Inc and Peacci products.
Instagram.com/_tylerphoenix_nails
Nail artist & The Nail Team ambassador, Kelly Kemp, crafted a deep red rose design amongst alternative French tips. She used Gems Gel Polishes, Gel Paints and Chrome Flakes. Scan for a step-by-step.
1 Peacci ‘ Nail Polish in Bloodgood £7.49 + VAT www.thegelbottle.com
2 Bluestreak Crystals Serinity Flat Back Crystals Non Hotfix in Siam (150pk) £6.38 + VAT www.bluestreakcrystals.com
3 Artistic Colour Gloss in Voguing It Out! £9.95 + VAT www.sweetsquared.com
4 Halo Hema-Free Gel Polish in Cardigan £5.95 + VAT www.purenails.co.uk
5 Glitterbels Hema Free Gel Polish in One More Bite £8.99 inc VAT www.glitterbels.com
6 OPI Nail Lacquer in I’m Not Really A Waitress £8 + VAT/RRP £15.60 uk.wellaprofessionalstore.com
7 The GelBottle Inc BIABTM in Fire £18.95 + VAT www.thegelbottle.com
8 Gelish Soak-Off Gel Polish in Hit The Hotspot £16.99 + VAT www.gelishmorgantaylor.co.uk
TOP TIP
Consider adding
embellishments or
chrome details to
elevate jewel tones to a
new level of luxury.
JEWEL-TONED TALONS
A rich colour palette is synonymous with autumn/winter, and can be incorporated into nail looks by leaning into the opulence of jewel tones. From precious amethyst to luscious emerald, these colours bring vivacious energy to seasonal nail looks.
This decadent, deep purple nail style was designed
by Montreal nail artist, Tamara DiLullo, for THE BLONDS
New York Fashion Week fall/winter 2025 show.
Tamara used CND™ products including SHELLAC™
shade, Battle Royale, to create the look.
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Jewel tones feature at the tips of this nail design by the team at Northamptonshire salon, COCO Towcester. It was created using chrome powders from The GelBottle Inc.
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Delaware nail artist, @linaamarbeauty, adds gold chrome to this nail design, creating a deluxe border for jewel-toned enhancements.
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Nail stylist, @nailedby_aj, adds sapphire sparkle accents to nails using products from Bluestreak Crystals. Turn to page 90 for more sapphire nail inspo!
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Nailchemy’s Iced Doughnut Glaze Chrome Palette is used by Anglesey nail artist, @vanity_nails.__, over a green gel polish base, to create glistening jade nails.
Instagram.com/vanity_nails
Canada-based nail stylist & international judge, Giselle Caballero, collaborated with CND™ to create dazzling ‘Jewelled Serpentine’ nails for models walking THE BLONDS
New York Fashion Week
fall/winter 2025 show. She used CND™ Pre-Shaped Stiletto Tips with SHELLAC™ shades, Aura and Bouquet, Matte Top Coat and CND™ PLEXIGEL Shaper to adhere the crystals.
Photo by Jennifer Graylock (@graylockphoto).
Gel nail specialist, @polishedby.savannah, chooses a different jewel tone for each nail to create a sumptuous style.
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Lecenté Creator, Samantha Jones, used the brand’s Create Gel Polish in Broadway for this sophisticated and versatile nail style.
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FUTURE TREND NOTE
According to WGSN’s Global Colour Forecast, ‘Fresh Purple’ will be popular in autumn/winter 2026/27. The report states: “Fresh Purple is a culturally emotive colour with links to royalty, love, mystery and spirituality.”
1 Gel Junkie Gel Polish in So Kate £7.95 inc VAT www.geljunkie.co.uk
2 Light Elegance Glitter Gel in Sinful £14.95 + VAT www.lightelegance.co.uk
3 CND SHELLAC™ in Battle Royale £14.95 + VAT www.sweetsquared.com
4 The GelBottle Inc Chrome Pigment in Cerise £10 + VAT www.thegelbottle.com
5 Bluestreak Crystals Serinity Flat Back Crystals Non Hotfix in Dark Sapphire (150pk) £6.38 + VAT www.bluestreakcrystals.com
6 Mii Cosmetics Colour Confidence Nail Polish in Purple Elderberry £6.75 + VAT/RRP £13.50 www.gerrardinternational.com
7 Nailchemy Iced Doughnut Glaze Chrome Palette £11.99 inc VAT www.nailchemy.co.uk
8 en Vogue lac it! Gel Polish in Water £POA (available from 22 September 2025) www.envoguenails.eu
9 CND SHELLAC™ in Aura £14.95 + VAT www.sweetsquared.com
10 HD Pro Nails Colour It! Gel Polish in Blazeberry Purple £10.49 + VAT www.hazeldixonnails.com
11 Lecenté Create Gel Polish in Broadway £11.99 + VAT www.lecente.com
Earth tones reign supreme in
this French tip twist design by
nail artist, @nailsbylivsrae.
Instagram.com/nailsbylivsrae
DOWN TO EARTH
‘Tis the season of harvest, wood fires, stormy weather and the occasional spot of golden sunshine. “Earth-inspired palettes will dominate this autumn/winter, but with unexpected pairings,” says Sara Pinto, product director at Andreia Professional.
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Jenn of @thenailpolishsh3lf updates summer’s butter yellow nail trend for the new season by choosing Peacci ‘ Nail Polish in Mustard.
Kansas City pro, Bella McKay, creates complementary nail designs for friends in earthy tones.
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Earth tones reign supreme in this French tip twist design by nail artist, @nailsbylivsrae.
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Unexpected colour pairings work in perfect harmony in this nail style by California-based pro, @lolo.nailedit.
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Gold and deep green combine in this playful nail finish by Florida nail artist, @lynlynnailspa.
“Butter yellow brought a soft, optimistic energy to summer manicures, and for autumn/winter, expect this trend to evolve into warmer, richer interpretations,” shares Sara Pinto. “This includes mustard, ochre and muted saffron tones.” Scan to view Scratch’s online roundup of mustard yellow nail products:
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Lisbon’s Geisa Coelho used OPI’s
Icelanded a Bottle of OPI shade to
create this versatile, greige nail finish
Instagram.com/geisacoelho.nails
Nail artist, Mariah of MXM Beauty, Texas, incorporates the warm hues of autumn leaves with shimmering green and 3D elements in this earth-inspired design.
1 Halo Gel Polish in Hunter £5.95 + VAT www.purenails.co.uk ‘
2 Peacci Nail Polish in Mustard £7.49 + VAT www.thegelbottle.com
3 HD Pro Nails Design It! Colour Gel in Emerald Eclipse £12.49 + VAT www.hazeldixonnails.com
4 NailKind Nail Lacquer in Queen Bee £POA/RRP £8.95 www.nailkind.com
5 Cuccio Veneer Soak Off Gel in Nirvana £8.99 + VAT www.cuccio.co.uk
6 Andreia Professional Gel Polish in BP4 £6.89 + VAT www.andreiaprofessional.comwww.salon-services.com
7 OPI GelColor in Icelanded a Bottle of OPI £19.90 + VAT uk.wellaprofessionalstore.com
8 Roxi Gel Polish in Smoke £10 + VAT www.nsinails.co.uk
PRINCESS NAILS
Inspired by the manicures of the royals, ‘princess nails’ have dominated 2025, and the trend shows no sign of slowing. Characterised by pinky-nude hues and a short, squoval shape, this mani epitomises the ‘barely there’ look. “Many clients continue to lean into clean, minimal finishes with impeccable structure,” says Sara Pinto. “Short, square and almond nail shapes will lead the way.”
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This pretty princess mani by Cuccio educator, @bydawn_x, was created using the brand’s shimmery pinky-nude shade, Be Awesome Today!
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Instagram.com/bydawn_x
Paris-based nail artist, Eri Narita, embraced simplicity with nude nail looks for the Ganni runway at
Paris Fashion Week
autumn/winter 2025.
This elegant iteration of the princess nails trend was created by Ontario-based nail artist, Carolina Borges. The nail pro used Andreia Professional Gel Polish in 220.
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HONA’s TrueBuild builder gel in Milkshake adds the perfect hint of pink to this mani by @nailsby.megan_.
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HAND-YHYDRATION
Protecting skin from the elements is essential year-round, but is even more necessary when the cold air makes hands feel chapped and flaky. Leave the crunchy dryness to the falling leaves this autumn/winter and encourage clients to moisturise by retailing handy hydrators.
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Manicurist, Jodie Swannell, uses The GelBottle Inc’s BIAB
TM
in Fancy to create this effortlessly chic princess style.
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1 Cuccio Veneer Soak Off Gel in Be Awesome Today! £8.99 + VAT www.cuccio.co.uk
2 Andreia Professional Gel Polish in 220 £6.89 + VAT www.andreiaprofessional.comwww.salon-services.com
3 Lecenté Create Gel Polish in Spun Sugar £12.99 + VAT (available from 8 September) www.lecente.com
4 Artistic Colour Gloss in Not A Fad £9.95 + VAT www.sweetsquared.com
5 HONA TrueBuild in Milkshake £18.50 + VAT www.homeofnailart.com
6 Gelish Soak-off Gel Polish in Hugs & Blisses £16.99 + VAT www.gelishmorgantaylor.co.uk
7 Glitterbels Nail Varnish in Lingerie £9.30 inc VAT www.glitterbels.com
8 The GelBottle Inc H2O Cream™ & Better Balm™ Mini Duo £21.90 + VAT www.thegelbottle.com
9 Light Elegance ButterCream in Heavenly £17.95 + VAT www.lightelegance.co.uk
10 The GelBottle Inc BIABTM in Fancy £18.95 + VAT www.thegelbottle.com
11 Morgan Taylor Nail Lacquer in In The Nude £5.50 + VAT/RRP £11 www.gelishmorgantaylor.co.uk
FELINE PHENOMENON
Pinterest Trends
reveals that the number of searches for ‘cat eye nail designs’ has increased by 1,500% since 2024. Its popularity is set to continue into the new season. The look, inspired by the reflective nature of a cat’s eye, is created using magnetic gel polish, which, when passed over with a magnet, shifts to produce a plethora of patterns.
1 Andreia Professional Meowgic Cat Eye Effect Gel Polish in MC6 £5.99 + VAT & Magnetic Stick 3-in-1 £4.24 + VAT www.andreiaprofessional.comwww.salon-services.com
2 Gelish Cream Gel Magnetic Cat Eye Gel Polish Palette in Magnetic Madness £19.99 + VAT www.gelishmorgantaylor.co.uk The GelBottle Inc Magnetic Gel Polish in Juicy £17.95 +VAT www.thegelbottle.com
4 Bluestreak Crystals Serinity Flat Back Crystals Non Hotfix in Crystal Silver Night (150pk) £7.80 + VAT www.bluestreakcrystals.com
5 Kirsty Meakin Cat Eye Magnetic Gel Polish in Lilac Lady £14.99 + VAT & Double-Ended Magic Wand £9.99 + VAT www.kirstymeakin.com
6 Light Elegance Cat Eye P+ Gel Polish in Ice Kitty £17.95 + VAT www.lightelegance.co.uk
7 Gelish Pure Velvet Soak-off Gel Polish in Pull Me In £16.99 + VAT www.gelishmorgantaylor.co.uk
8 The GelBottle Inc Magnetic Cat-Eye Gel Polish in North Pole £17.95 + VAT www.thegelbottle.com
France-based nail pro, @pimpa_nails, crafted this shimmering nail style using Andreia Professional’s Meowgic Cat Eye Effect Gel Polish in MC6 and the Meowgic Magnetic Stick 3-in1.
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Session nail stylist, Coca Michelle, created monochrome marvels for the Kim Shui show at
New York Fashion Week
fall/winter 2025, using OPI products.
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4 Velvet tones are elevated by sparkly embellishments in this design by Texas-based Bluestreak Crystals ambassador, Gisselle Zamora.
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A halo effect is created by Denmark’s Line Schou using Light Elegance Cat Eye P+ Gel Polish in Ice Kitty over a baby blue base shade.
Hybrid trend Due to their iridescent nature, jewel tones are extra impactful when combined with the cat eye trend. This dreamy amethyst finish was created by @__nailsbysamantha__ using Gelish Pure Velvet Gel Polish in Pull Me In, over Gelish Soft Gel Tips.
These couple’s cat eye nail styles were crafted by nail artist, Heather Errington, using The GelBottle Inc Magnetic Cat-Eye Gel Polish in North Pole with the brand’s Chrome Pigment in Emerald.
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BACK IN BROWN
Mocha Mousse was announced as Pantone’s
Colour of the Year
2025, and the new season is the perfect time to embrace rich, chocolate tones. These hues add warmth and sophistication to nail designs.
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Hara Professional’s Tortoiseshell Nail Bundle includes products required to create the effect: the Hara Ultra Bond Nail Primer; Gel Polish Base Coat; Gel Polish No Wipe Top Coat; Gel Polishes in Pumpkin, Umber and Ebony, and Pro Round Gel Brush.
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A slick mocha mani by London-based nail artist, Olga of @like_my_nails_london.
Award-winning nail artist, Marley Neufeldt, shares a sleek, matte brown and nude style coupled with black swirls.
Nail artist & Halo VIP, Holly Rodgers, says: “Tortoiseshell designs, alongside brown floral and leaf artistry, will be popular this season. Clients will seek warm, dark tones for their nails, with something extra to elevate the look.”
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Bosnia nail salon team, @atelje.ljepote.lilabebica, showcases Andreia Professional Gel Polish in 239 within this chocolate-coloured manicure.
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1 The Manicure Company Death By Chocolate Collection £44.25 + VAT (available from 10 September) www.themanicurecompany.com
2 OPI GelColor in Band Tease £19.90 + VAT uk.wellaprofessionalstore.com
3 Mii Cosmetics Colour Confidence Nail Polish in Chocolate Roulade £6.75 + VAT/RRP £13.50 www.gerrardinternational.com
4 Hara Professional Tortoiseshell Nail Bundle £40 + VAT www.haraprofessional.com
5 Nailchemy FX Gel Polish in Underworld £11.39 inc VAT www.nailchemy.co.uk
6 Andreia Professional Gel Polish in 239 £6.89 + VAT www.andreiaprofessional.comwww.salon-services.com
7 Glitterbels Coloured Acrylic Powder in Hot Chocolate £7.99 inc VAT www.glitterbels.com
8 Gel Junkie Gel Polish in Midnight Mocha £7.95 inc VAT www.geljunkie.co.uk
9 Halo Gel Polish in Toasty £5.95 + VAT www.purenails.co.uk
10 Footlogix Ultimate At Home Foot Care Combo £19.95 + VAT www.sweetsquared.com
11 OPI Moisture Mission Hand & Foot Cream £9 + VAT/RRP £21.75 uk.wella.professionalstore.com
Make way for matte this season, as nail pro, Lexie Williamson, demonstrates an oh-so chic, chalky finish.
Holly Rodgers used Halo Gel Polish in Toasty to create this earthy, animal print look.
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TRANSITIONAL TRENDS Why not shift summer styles into autumn-appropriate designs? Polka dots trended this summer, so add flair with seasonal shades, as seen in this brown dotty design by Chorely nail pro, @___beautybynicole.
BEST FOOT FORWARD
Though the sandals may have been retired to the back of the wardrobe, encourage clients to book pedi services year-round. The autumn/winter chills can contribute to dry, rough skin, causing the fate of soles to hang in the balance. Take charge of your clients’ footcare needs by encouraging regular hydration, exfoliation and general maintenance.