Lately as I've been scrolling on IG, one thing has become clear: we're fully in the swing of our autumn nail trends. From brown nails to dark French tips, we're embracing those autumn and winter shades as we book in for our salon appointments. However, there's one shade I'm seeing everywhere night now, and that's cherry red.
If summer was all about the cutesy "strawberry girl" aesthetic, then autumn has ushered in the moodier, more grown-up cherry vibe. All of the top London nail techs have been sharing their takes on this expensive-looking hue on their Instagram grids, and I'm now seeing it all over the fashion set, too. There are so many shades of red to choose from, so what what exactly do we define as "cherry"? Both rich and glossy, these darker-toned reds have a luxurious lacquer that resembles a punnet of freshly picked cherries. They can have an almost purple undertone, or some shades have a brighter, true red base—a nod to maraschino cherries.
Want in on the cherry nails aesthetic? I've saved my favourite cherry red looks below, as well as the best dark red nail polishes to get the look at home if you're not heading to the salon.
Cherry Red Nails
This shade almost looks good enough to eat.
Deeper reds look beautiful on shorter nails.
How gorgeous is this ripe cherry hue?
Combining dark cherry hues and French tips, this mani ticks off two trends in one. I love the contrasting matte and gloss finish, too.
Dark cherry red looks great as a micro-French tip. Why not experiment with a little heart or cherry nail art in the same shade?
How pretty is this double French-tip look in cherry red?
This deep, glossy red shade not only looks incredibly expensive, but it is giving major autumn vibes.
Nail artist Iram Shelton coins her take on cherry red nails, "mocha cherry", and I'm obsessed with the chic burgundy shade.
Shop Cherry Red Nail Polishes:
A timeless shade that will see you through all seasons.
Price shown is members' price.
A deep, dark cherry hue. I love Beauty Pie's long-wearing formulas.
A ripe, freshly picked cherry shade with an ultra-glossy finish.
This candied cherry hue is *chef's kiss*.
OPI's Malaga Wine is a favourite amongst nails techs—it's the perfect black cherry shade.
Essie's Gel Couture formulas promise a gel-effect with long-lasting wear.
Straight to basket.
This polish cares for nails whilst coating them in an expensive-looking lacquer.
A brighter take on the cherry trend, this glossy red is an instant mood-booster.
A deep, spicy red that's perfect for autumn.
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Oat, Almond, or Strawberry? The Best Milky Nail Polish Shades for an On-Trend Summer ManicureSoft, subtle, barely there nails.
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Scoping Out Nail Trends Is My Extreme Sport, and I'm Predicting a "Sunny French" SummerClassic yet striking.
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From L.A. to London: The Top 5 Pedicure Colors Stylish People Are Wearing for Summer 2025Celebrity nail artists have spoken.
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Sorry, French Tips—I'll Be Wearing This Cute, Low-Lift Nail Trend All Summer LongEffortlessly chic and so much fun.
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I Won't Wear Sheer Nail Polish Unless It's This Exact OPI Shade CombinationOnly the best.
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If I See You Wearing Any of These Summer Nail Trends, I'll Immediately Know You Have TasteHop on before they hit the mainstream.
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Charli XCX Wore This $13 Anti-Brat Nail Polish on the Cannes Red CarpetIt's a classic choice.
