"Given that animal prints are constantly trending in fashion—hello, leopard!—it was only a matter of time before an animal-centric manicure began getting buzz. Lo and behold, the trending fall 2024 manicure that will have you nail-repeating all season long is tortoise shell nails.
Because trends may fade, but these classics will last forever.
Autumnal browns are a fall mainstay, and tortoise shell nails incorporate the moody, rich shade into your manicure in a whole new way. With a mix of browns and a bit of black, they’ll complete your seasonal outfits in the same way your favorite tortoise sunnies do. And the best part? Since they are so customizable, they can be designed to fit whatever shape of nail you prefer.
How to Get Tortoise Shell Nails
Whether you’d like to take on the challenge of tortoise shell nails on your own or leave this one to your nail tech, these nails are achievable with a few warm brown polishes, nail polish thinner, and a brush. Starting with a warm orange-brown color as your base, then layer on increasingly darker splotches of warm browns across the nail, ending with the darkest brown (or a bit of black) on top. Each color should be thinned before it’s applied to make sure it is not too pigmented, and to give the transparent, tortoise-like effect. These splotches can be placed and shaped however you’d like, so get creative with it—but consider starting with a test nail to see how your shades work together.
Whether you opt for a full tortoise set, a singular spotlight nail, or tortoise French tips, the subtle pattern is the perfect seasonal art to take to your next manicure appointment.
Jenna Piotrowicz, Editorial Assistant
Jenna began working as an Editorial Assistant for The Everygirl in 2024. With her eye for detail, she assists the team with content creation, sourcing products and images, and works behind the scenes to support The Everygirl in uploading and updating content.