The hue is rich, sophisticated, and earthy.
Unapologetic color saturation and cozy earthy hues reign through the chilly months, and plum happens to toe the line of both. This season, the sophisticated, rich purple fruit is the ultimate source of autumn inspiration for everything from knitted sweaters to handbags to, yes, even your fingernails. If you’re dreaming up your next manicure, consider one of these plum nail designs that pay homage to this gorgeous stone fruit.
Plain Plum
It may be one-note in hue, but this manicure is absolutely mesmerizing. Let plum speak for itself by applying two or three coats of the hue and adding a super glossy topcoat.
Plum Cat Eye Nails
To elevate your plum manicure a notch or two, opt for the trendy cat eye effect. This is a special gel nail polish with metal in it, and the design is created by strategically sweeping a magnet across the nail.
Plum Aura Nails
For a similar dimensional effect that doesn’t require special polish, consider tapping into the aura nail trend. It’s an ombre effect where the center is lighter and it gets darker as you approach the edges.
Plum Swirls
To create some contrast, paint all your nails plum except for the middle and ring fingers. Add a lighter complementary hue—like the pale pink shown here—and a swirl of the plum from top to bottom. Glitter is optional, but it adds some pretty dimension.
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Plum French Tips
If you want just a hint of plum, go for a French manicure that leverages the hue on the tips. It’s simple and wearable, but still taps into the richness of this autumnal hue.
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Marbled Plum Nails
A swirling marbled effect with plum as the hero hue feels positively autumnal (and perhaps even a little witchy). This plum nail design incorporates gilded details, but you can go with or without.
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Plum Chrome
Add a chrome finish to your plum nails and you’ll want to stare at them all day long. To keep the plum hue true, opt for a sheer iridescent chrome. If you want a color flash, opt for one that leans blue for a cool finish, or warm for a golden-y effect.
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Plum Polka Dots
Polka dots are one of our favorite autumn nail trends, and this one is especially eye-catching. Choose two complementary, but contrasting colors and paint one hand each hue. Using the opposite color, add polka dots on each nail.
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Sparkly Plum Nails
This plum manicure idea really brings on the sparkles by layering different effects on one nail. Start with a plum base, add an auru effect, then add some subtle golden flairs and stars on each nail. Finish with a super glittery topcoat.
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Fantasy Plum Nails
Take your inspiration straight from a fairy tale with this pretty plum mani. It also uses an aura effect on some of the nails along with some gilded details. French tips on the other nails create some contrast.
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Dotted Florals
Opt for the minimalist-maximalist approach with this plum manicure, which features dotted florals and flourishes across each nail. Start with a marshmallow-y nude base, then add the simple designs with a dotting tool.
