12 Pedicure Trends That Will Take Over the End of Summer, According to Nail Artists

Summer isn’t quite ready to let go, but your pedicure can already start hinting at what’s next. The end-of-season stretch calls for colors and finishes that still feel sun-warmed but carry a little more depth, texture and attitude than the pastels of June. We asked nail artists which looks are dominating appointments right now, and here are the 12 trends worth screenshotting before your next salon visit.

Plum has quietly become the shade everyone wants the moment temperatures start to dip even slightly. It reads as moody and rich without tipping into full-on Halloween territory, which makes it an easy transition color for feet that have spent the summer in brights. Nail artists point to it as the pedicure equivalent of swapping a linen dress for a slightly heavier fabric — same silhouette, different mood.

How to get this look:

• Start with a ridge-filling base coat to keep the deep pigment from looking patchy.
• Apply two thin coats of a blue-based plum polish, letting each layer dry fully.
• Seal with a high-shine top coat to let the color’s depth catch the light.

Leopard print on toes isn’t loud so much as confident, and that’s exactly why it keeps resurfacing every transitional season. The pattern works because it’s abstract enough to pair with almost any sandal or barefoot, yet distinctive enough to feel like a real style choice rather than an afterthought. Artists say it’s the print clients ask for when they want something with personality but don’t want to commit to a full nail-art appointment.

How to get this look:

• Paint a warm caramel or tan base and let it cure completely.
• Using a fine detail brush, dot irregular brown shapes across each nail.
• Outline each shape with a thinner black or dark brown line, leaving gaps rather than closing the circle.
• Finish with a glossy top coat to keep the spots crisp.

Silver glitter has shifted from a holiday-only reservation to a genuine late-summer staple, especially as a way to squeeze a bit more shine out of the season before fall mattes take over. It catches light in a way that flat polish simply can’t, which is part of why artists keep bringing it up as an easy upgrade for anyone who feels their pedicure has gone stale. It photographs particularly well against tanned skin, which is likely why it’s having a moment right now.

How to get this look:

• Apply a sheer silver or pale gray base coat.
• Dab on a glittery silver polish, building coverage with two light layers.
• Smooth everything down with a thick, glossy top coat to avoid a gritty texture.

Deep brown has become shorthand for “elevated basic” in a lot of salons this season, standing in for black on days when clients want something with more warmth. It reads as polished and grown-up in a way few other neutrals manage, and it works with essentially every skin tone. Nail artists describe it as the color clients return to when they’re tired of choosing but still want to look intentional.

How to get this look:

• Use a strengthening base coat, since darker polishes can sometimes stain nails.
• Apply two even coats of a rich chocolate-brown polish.
• Cap the free edge with each coat to prevent early chipping.
• Finish with a glossy top coat for a lacquered, espresso-like finish.

This one is less a color and more a tiny piece of seasonal art, with hand-painted leaves in amber, rust, and olive scattered across a neutral base. It’s the kind of design that signals the calendar is turning without forcing anyone into full-on pumpkin-spice territory. Artists mention it as one of the few nail-art trends that feels genuinely tied to a specific stretch of the year, rather than a generic “fall” catch-all.

How to get this look:

• Paint a soft beige or oat-colored base and let it dry.
• Using a small brush, paint leaf shape in burnt orange, rust, and olive on one or two accent nails.
• Add a thin center vein to each leaf with a toothpick or striping brush.
• Seal the design with a glossy top coat.

Lilac occupies a strange, useful middle ground between the pastels of summer and the deeper tones of fall, which is exactly why it keeps showing up right now. It’s soft enough to feel breezy but has just enough gray undertone to avoid looking overly sweet. Nail artists suggest it as a gentle way to ease into cooler colors for anyone not ready to abandon lighter shades entirely.

How to get this look:

• Apply a white or pale pink base to help the lilac stay true to tone.
• Paint two coats of a dusty lilac polish, allowing full dry time between each.
• Top with a glossy finish for a soft, almost powdery effect.

Olive has spent the last few seasons moving from a niche fashion color to a genuine nail staple, and this end-of-summer window is proving to be its moment on toes. It works because it sits comfortably between green and brown, meaning it never looks too bold or too safe. Artists describe it as the color clients gravitate toward once they’ve grown tired of predictable neutrals.

How to get this look:

• Start with a neutral base coat to keep the green from looking flat.
• Apply two coats of a muted olive polish, wiping the brush before each stroke for even coverage.
• Finish with a satin or glossy top coat, depending on how understated you want the effect.

Snake print has traded its usual reptilian intensity for something a little more wearable this season, showing up in softer, tonal color combinations rather than high-contrast versions. It gives feet a textured, almost tactile look that stands out without relying on a single bold hue. Nail artists note that it’s become a popular request for statement toes at the end of summer, when clients want texture more than color.

How to get this look:

• Paint a warm tan or taupe base and let it cure fully.
• Use a fine brush to draw a loose zigzag pattern down the center of the nail.
• Fill in alternating sections of the zigzag with a slightly darker shade of the base color.
• Outline the edges lightly in black, then seal with a glossy top coat.

Chrome finishes never fully disappear, but pink chrome specifically has taken over as the go-to for anyone who wants shine without going fully metallic silver or gold. It gives toes an almost liquid, mirror-like quality that catches the light from every angle. Artists point to it as one of the easiest ways to make a simple manicure look expensive with minimal extra effort.

How to get this look:

• Apply a solid white or light pink gel base and cure it.
• Using a small sponge applicator, rub the pink chrome powder across each nail until fully reflective.
• Buff away any excess powder with a soft brush.
• Seal with a no-wipe glossy top coat to lock in the shine.

Brick red has taken over from the brighter cherry reds of midsummer as the shade nail artists reach for once the light starts to change. It’s warmer and slightly muted compared to a classic red, giving it a more grounded, autumnal feel while still delivering a strong pop of color. Artists describe it as the red that works just as well with sandals now as it will with boots in a few weeks.

How to get this look:

• Apply a ridge-filling base coat for a smooth foundation.
• Paint two coats of a terracotta-leaning red polish, keeping strokes even to avoid streaking.
• Finish with a glossy top coat for a deep, saturated look.

This combination takes the drama of an all-black pedicure and adds just enough shine to keep it from feeling heavy, thanks to a few thin metallic accents. The contrast between the flat black base and the reflective lines gives it a graphic, almost architectural quality. Nail artists mention it as a favorite for clients wanting an edgier look that still feels deliberate rather than harsh.

How to get this look:

• Paint two coats of a true black polish and let them dry completely.
• Apply a matte top coat over the entire nail.
• Using a fine striping brush, draw one or two thin silver lines across each nail in an asymmetric pattern.
• Leave the silver lines glossy for contrast against the matte black.

Coffee-toned polish has become the neutral of choice for anyone who wants a manicure that looks effortless but expensive, splitting the difference between beige and brown. It has enough warmth to flatter tanned summer skin while still feeling appropriate as the season shifts. Artists say it’s the shade clients ask for when they want their pedicure to look put-together without drawing too much attention.

How to get this look:

• Apply a sheer beige base coat as a foundation.
• Paint two coats of a warm coffee-brown polish, allowing each to dry before the next.
• Finish with a high-shine top coat for a rich, glazed effect.

End-of-summer pedicure trends prove that you don’t have to choose between holding onto summer and welcoming fall — the best looks this season do both at once. Whether it’s a warm neutral like coffee or brick red, a playful print like leopard or snake, or a bold statement like matte black with silver lines, each trend offers an easy way to refresh your look without a full reinvention. The common thread nail artists keep coming back to: small changes in tone and texture go a long way in making a pedicure feel current.

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