Pierced nails are the easiest way to punk up any manicure style this autumn

Say goodbye to the sugary sweet fruit and bubblegum ice cream trends of the summer. With the colder months arriving, we’ve seen a hard pivot towards punky pierced nails.

Not to be confused with nail piercings – delicate jewellery that goes right through the nail and can damage them if not carried out by a professional – pierced nails give the illusion of being pierced without all the hassle. First spotted on Chappell Roan at the Rick Owens show during Paris Fashion Week in March, the singer opted for a pearlescent shimmer on her nails with nipple-like piercings studding each nail.

At the Rick Owens fashion show in Paris on March 6, 2025WWD/Getty Images

At the Rick Owens fashion show in Paris on March 6, 2025WWD/Getty Images

The best part about the pierced nail trend is that it’s very versatile and can be used to punk up any type of manicure. Whether you’re into minimal rosehip oil nails or consider yourself a maximalist manicure lover, add the studs as the final step to take your nails to the next level.

Inspired? We’ve rounded up some of our fave pierced nails below to save before your next nail appointment.

Classic pierced nails

What if a nipple piercing were on your nails instead? Similar to Chappell Roan’s PFW set, this manicure has the answer.

Nude pierced nails

The closest illusion to the real thing, these nude nails look like they’ve actually come fresh from the piercing shop. Go for one, two, three, four or more studs on each nail and mix up the placement for added effect.

Cosmic pierced nails

Take your maximal cosmic mani to the next level with some extra nail accessories – a mix of studs and diamonds.

Pierced aura nails

Aura nails aren’t going anywhere – the Blood Moon mani is autumn’s darker update – and they’re the perfect style to punk up with some pierced studs.

Pierced jelly nails

Jelly nails might have been the manicure of the summer, but transition your fave look to autumn with some punky studs.

Cat-eye pierced nails

Cat-eye nails are still going strong as 2025’s most popular nail style. While on their own, they are giving a soft, velvet-like texture – we love the subversion of adding punky piercings to the delicate shimmer.

Pierced floral nails

Florals are always a cute choice for nails, but who says they can’t be a little dangerous, too? This orchid set (with a hint of pink cheetah print) looks even more risqué, completed with pierced details.

Brat pierced nails

Will Brat summer ever be over? We hope not! Keeping flying that (lime green) flag with this star-covered, chrome and pierced manicure set.

Blooming pierced nails

We love the brown autumnal vibe of this blooming manicure set, giving a snakeskin effect.

Mocha pierced nails

Brown nails for autumn are what florals are for spring. A no-brainer!

Chrome-pierced nails

The perfect accessory to futuristic metallic-chrome nails: silver studs.

Airbrush-pierced nails

This airbrushed set are studded up to the max with double and triple pierced studs lining the nails.

Milky pierced nails

Milky nails aren’t typically associated with a punk aesthetic, which makes this set even more unexpected.

Pierced star nails

We love how the metallic star perfectly matches up with the piercings in this look.

Naked pierced nails

If you want the entire focal point of your manicure to be the pierced details, strip everything back and go fully bare.

Blue/green pierced nails

This mesmerising blue-and-green aura nail set is amped up with subtle studs.

Tattoo pierced nails

A punk manicure set already —we love the varied pierced details added to this tattooed nail look.

Extreme pierced nails

The punkiest of them all, add real nail piercings (be careful!) to your piercing studs for an all-out set.