35 black nail designs everyone will be wearing this autumn

Step aside rosewater nails and nude BB cream nails because this season, black nails are set to become the uniform of cool-girls everywhere. The understated inky shade, which conjures up glossy liquorice sweets, is a classic neutral that works for so many situations. Depending on how you wear it, it can read tailored, glam, grungy or edgy. Not to mention, it taps into the Brat cultural moment, too.

“Black manicures are definitely the ‘winter nude’ of this season,” confirms pro nail artist Julia Diogo (known as @paintedbyjools on Instagram). “They’re super chic, elegant and timeless. It’s also a shade that flatters all skin tones.”

It's been a favourite among the street style set and celebrities such as Selena Gomez and Dua Lipa for years, largely because the shade is so versatile. It can be worn matte, glossy, with glitter or metallic accents. Also a great choice for minimalist nail art, black details work so well with a neutral or bright base, too.

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From solid blocks of glossy black to a black micro French manicure, there are several ways to experiment with this trend. Julia’s advice? Play around with the finish. “Using a matte top coat gives the nails a slightly edgy feel – my favourite is Chanel’s Matte Boy de Chanel,” she says.

Keep scrolling for all the black nail inspiration you need ahead of your next nail appointment and the best black nail polishes to create a DIY manicure.

1.Silver sliced black nails

This reverse micro French, with its slash of silver, is perfect for party season.

2. Heart black nails

A simple heart design and crystal elevates this black nail and steers it away from traditional red hues.

3. Tattoo black nails

Sometimes a simple word, artffully inked onto a nude nail a little like a tattoo, is all it takes to make a statement.

4. Animal print black nails

This has Studio54 vibes written all over it! Forget run-of-the-mill leopard print and opt for this disco-influenced zebra stripe instead.

5. Mix and match black nails

Why not choose a mix of black and silver accents for you nails with a smattering of tiny hearts and a focus on the pinky finger.

6. Glossy black nails

One of Julia’s go-to nail looks, an all-black manicure looks perennially chic. “Finish with a super high shine glossy top coat for maximum impact,” she says. Fan of bio sculpture? Ask your nail tech for shade Licorice to recreate Julia's mani above.

7. Matte black nails

This dual finish mani features matte for the majority, remixed with a glossy black tip to keep things interesting.

8. Black French tip nails

A French manicure is a classic, but swap out the white tip for black and add extra drama with an elongated stiletto shape.

9. Velvet black nails

Is there such a thing as too much sparkle? We think not. Perfect for party season, recreate these velvet nails with a coat of silver or dark green glitter (as pictured above) painted on top of a black base.

10. Kylie Jenner's black nails

Kylie Jenner's nail artist, Zola Ganzorigt, created an almost-black mani with OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark (a black with a tiny tint of purple).

11. Ariana Greenblatt's black nails

Ariana matched her mani to complement her all-black outfit. “We went for a nail look that seamlessly blends simplicity, chic elegance, and a touch of edginess to perfectly complement her stunning black Vera Wang gown,” explained Zola who created the look.

12. Charli XCX's brat black nails

Charli helped to put moody nails back on the map this summer. Her nail artist, Steph Stone revealed the exact bougie-brat shade used – Chanel's Rouge Noir (a black with a hint of red).

13. Short, shiny black nails

You can't go wrong with a classic short, shiny, squoval black mani.

14. Ombre black nails

We love this ombre colour-fade upgrade to a classic black mani.

15. 3D chain black nails

This press on set of nails levels up the impact with a 3D chain detail embedded into the clear tip at the top.

16. Black almond nails

Elongate the appearance of fingers with a longer, almond manicure.

17. Ayo Edebiri's sheer, sparkly black nails

Swipe across to see how Ayo Edebiri's nail artist, Eri Ishizu, created the prettiest black, sparkly sheer nails for Ayo's Emmy's appearance.

18. Sydney Sweeney's black nails

Sydney matched her nails to her all-black outfit and statement black, winged liner.

19. Dua Lipa's black aura nails

Dua Lipa's nail artist, Michelle Humphrey, created a moody aura manicure for the singer with black as the base.

20. Kerry Washington's black swirl nails

Kerry Washington's nail artist, Kim Kim, used black as an accent to create these eye-catching swirls over the top of a sheer, matte white base.

21. Black stiletto nails

These dagger sharp black stiletto nails steal the show.

22. Long black nails

A long, black glossy mani is simple, but makes a statement.

23. Matte and glossy

Elevate a classic black manicure by playing around with texture. First, paint the nails with a matte black base before adding glossy black details on top. We adore this combination of shiny stripes and shapes.

24. Double French

The French manicure has come a long way since its ‘90s heyday. From fluro tips to a reverse French manicure, there are so many modern French tip nail designs. Our favourite? A double French, featuring two arcs at the tip of each nail.

25. Dark night aura nails

Guaranteed to get you compliments, this aura inspired manicure is intriguing and edgy. Mimicking a night sky it's a little spooky, but we love it.

26. Matte black hearts

A great idea for Valentine’s Day nail art, this cutesy design is so easy to do DIY. Just use a dotting tool (or bobby pin) to draw on two black dots, before joining them up to create the ‘V’ shape. Finish with a matte top coat for a fresh finish.

27. Micro French mani

As the name suggests, a micro French manicure is where an ultra-thin line of polish is applied across the tip of the nail. Suiting all nail shapes, it’s a great way to add length to the nail for a more elegant look.

28. Black flames

Edgy and cool, these black flame tips are guaranteed to turn heads. To try this at home, use a fine liner brush to apply black French tips before dragging the colour down the nails in waves.

29. Sheer black hearts

Like lip gloss nails but edgier, this moody manicure combines sheer glossy polish with black love hearts for a romantic/gothic vibe. We’re into it.

30. Black nails - but on toes!

Black nail polish looks just as chic as a pedicure.

31. Negative space black nails

This clever negative space design looks like butterfly wings.

32. Black polka dot nails

Rather than mirror the design of your polka dot nails on each hand, try reversing the colours. We guarantee it'll be a conversation starter!

33. Halloween black nails

Spooky season is almost upon us and this delicate monochrome spider web detail is ideal if you just want to gently lean into Halloween.

34. Crystal-embellished black nails

If you prefer a more elevated polka dot design, choose tiny rhinestones and wear the design on one hand only.

35. Celestial black nails

We love this manicure's celestial tips, which perfectly conjure up a starry night sky.

Best black nail polishes

Dior Vernis Nail Polish in 908 Bold Black

£30

Selfridges

Manucurist Green Nail Polish in Licorice

£14

Manucurist