The Best Fall 2024 Manicure Inspo For Short Nails

Every season is a time for change. Whether that means switching up your hairstyle and shade, giving your wardrobe a complete overhaul regarding pieces and color schemes, or transitioning your skincare to adjust to the elements; every three months is a time to modify, revamp, and shift into new season mode.

One of the best and really fun ways to prepare for a new season is by spicing up your nails. Especially when it comes to fall manicures — there are just so many shades and designs to choose from that it's an autumn lover's delight. "Fall is a season for cozying up, and represents comfort and nostalgia," nail artist Hang Nguyen told Vogue. "It's the perfect season to be inspired by colors and art that bring a sense of warmth as the weather cools down."

Ready to find the cozy fall manicure to suit your short nails? Of course you are! Let these colors and designs inspire you to nail the autumn mani flawlessly.

If you're one of those people who waits all year so you can pull out your Halloween decorations, your Halloween-themed outfits, and everything else Halloween-related, then this manicure is for you. It's not only playful thanks to the spiderwebs and jack-o'-lanterns, but the solid black nails, as well as the French manicure on the index fingers, add a whole other level of sophistication to the look. 

Not everyone is interested in having a busy-looking manicure, so that's where dark, rich, Malbec-toned nails come into play. Not only do they go with everything, but they're the height of sophistication. Also, if you feel a bit adventurous but still want to stick to this deep, alluring color, you can try a French manicure with Malbec tips or a reverse French mani where your cuticles are painted Malbec, but the rest of the nail is a natural color.

When we think of fall activities, apple picking and wandering around a pumpkin patch looking for the perfect gourd for Halloween is essentially the whole point. Although pumpkins have become so synonymous with pumpkin spice that sometimes one has to wonder how our culture existed before it, that's not what this mani is conveying. (Don't worry; we cover that later.) Going for a playful manicure in which each nail expresses your pumpkin-loving soul is all the fall inspo you need. 

In case you didn't get the memo, matte nails, also known as linen nails, are still trending in 2024. There's just something so understated, yet so chic about linen nails that if you haven't given them a try, you should put it on your to-do list. Not only are linen nails still enjoying their moment, but in brown they're all the rage this fall. "[Warm browns are] one of the more popular colors we are seeing this fall, and the matte topcoat makes it feel warm and cozy," nail expert Mazz Hanna told Vogue. Add a plaid accent nail in similar shades or some other design that's autumn-related and you've mastered the fall manicure.

Let's get one thing straight: black nails always work. You can wear them to the office, to fancy events (even a wedding), or just to hang around every day, because they never fail to make sense. There's also, of course, the black nail theory that claims that black nails promote confidence while adding a bit of mystery and rebellion to the wearer. Even though black nails work all year for a lot of people, especially those who regard it as their signature color, for those who can't quite commit to such a dark shade before September, then fall is the season to shine.

Although once a drink created by Starbucks that legions of fans waited months to get their hands on, pumpkin spice everything is everywhere. Every coffee chain has its own version of it, half the candles online smell like it, and the flavor has made its way into so many different foods, it's gotten out of control. However, if you're a lover of pumpkin spice and refuse to turn your back on it, then a traditional orange color with some shimmery flecks (you know, to represent spice) is the fall manicure for you. 

Just as much as leopard print remains part of timeless sophistication, it also invokes a serious mob wife aesthetic. It's a print that can go in either direction, depending on how you wear it. But whether you don these leopard print nails with bold makeup and big hair, or tone it down so it's no more than a statement-making accessory, the fact remains that as far as manicures go, it's a fantastic choice for the fall.