This Nail Color Is the Coolest Way to Transition Your At-Home Manicure for Fall
ICYMI, our mani-obsessed brains are always going a mile a minute when it comes to plotting our next polish endeavor. (And really, said excitement reaches a fever pitch at the turn of the season.) It's no secret you can sport a chic gray paint job any time of the year, but as the temperatures cool and the daylight hours dim, it's a great way to bridge the transition from summer to fall and winter.
Like its sister nail polish shades, white and black, gray is a convenient and surprisingly flattering alternative within your basic family of neutrals. That said, choosing the perfect iteration that will really suit your skin tone is crucial. Luckily, the nail polish gods have blessed us with hundreds of shades and formulas to shop, and we've gone ahead and selected 15 of our all-time favorites spanning silver, disco-inspired glitter to classic charcoal gray and everything your heart could ever desire in between. Below, 15 of the best gray nail polishes to transition your manicure aesthetic this season. Keep scrolling!
Habit Cosmetics Non-Toxic + Vegan Nail Polish in 37 Phantom
FYI: You're going to fall in love with each and every wish list worthy polish Habit Cosmetics makes, but as far gray colors go, it doesn't get any cooler than this eye-catching, silvery-gray number leveled up with a hint of iridescent shimmer. Not to mention it's a nontoxic formula that utilizes nail-strengthening natural ingredients like myrrh.
Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Leveled Up
No time, no problem. Thanks to Essie's super-glossy, quick-drying Expressie collection, you can get pro-level results from the comfort of your own home in under five minutes. We recommend swiping on two coats of this blue-toned charcoal number, giving each layer about one minute to dry. The best news? Forget your base and topcoats!
OPI Nail Lacquer in Suzi Talks With Her Hands
LaPierre Cosmetics Nail Lacquer in Generation X
Smith Cult Nail Polish in Stockholm Syndrome
Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen in Silver
Pear Nova Classic Nail Lacquer in Night in Shining Armor
Static Nails Liquid Glass Lacquer in Lithomancy
We dare you to try one of Static's glass-finish lacquers and resist splurging for 15 more shades immediately after. In the gray vein, try this prismatic color-shifting hue that's loaded with natural antioxidants and will remain chip-free for 10 (or more!) days when paired with the brand's Liquid Glass Primer ($16) and Top Coat ($16)
Olive and June Nail Polish in Cloudy Skies
Cloudy Skies is one of our favorite gray nail polishes of all time, and the nearly white tone is equally striking paired with deep and fair skin tones alike. Plus, because it's from Olive and June, you know the longevity and shine factor of your manicure will be unparalleled.
Orly Nail Lacquer in Sagebrush
JINsoon Nail Polish in Grace
Zoya Nail Polish in Freja
Sinful Colors Nail Polish in Queen of Beauty
Bess Color Nail Polish in Cab Co.
Base Coat OG (10-Free) Nail Polish in Bottle Rocket
Base Coat will always be one of our all-time favorite, squeaky-clean polish brands. Not surprisingly, its has tons of gorgeous grays to choose from, but it's this versatile muted-gray number called Bottle Rocket that we're especially head over heels for.
Up next, This "Intimidating" Shade Is Pretty Much the Chicest Way to Elevate Your Nails
Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing for over five years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie andBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor.
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