17 Red Nail Designs That Have Me Doubling Down on Fall's Fiery Little Nail Trend

It's a classic color for a reason.

a side by side photo of burgundy aura nails and a red manicure with black and white accent nails
(Image credit: Instagram)

If there's any nail color that will simply never go out of style, it's red. It's a color that's most often associated with feeling bold, sexy, and confident, but it's also a classic color that can look good on pretty much anyone. While a red block manicure is timeless and minimalist, playing with red nail polish doesn't mean you have to wear solid designs all the time—and it certainly doesn't mean you have to limit yourself to one shade of red.

Red nail polishes come in a variety of shades, from bright, candy apple red to deep, wine red. And even better? There's an endless amount of designs out there for you to choose from to make your manicure look fun and daring. From red, micro French tips to red cat eye nails, there's more inspiration on the internet than I know what to do with.

To help you out ahead of your next manicure, I've rounded up 17 gorgeous red manicures that you can wear during any season—especially fall.

Classic Candy Apple Red

a person with bright red nails and gray sweatpants

(Image credit: Instagram / @iramshelton)

Red nail polish obviously comes in very wide variety of shades, and the design choices are limitless. That being said, when it comes to deciding on a red nail look, nothing beats a classic, all-over, candy apple red.

Shimmery Red

a person wearing sparkly red nail polish

(Image credit: Instagram / @nailgirlnic)

If deciding on a design is too big of an undertaking, a shimmery red color will add just the right amount of funk to a traditional, block color manicure without taking you too far outside the box.

Blood Red

a person wearing a blood red manicure

(Image credit: Instagram / @lolo.nailedit)

Bright reds are closely associated with summer, so if you're a year-round red nail enthusiast hoping to transition the color to other seasons, a deep, dark, blood red color is the most obvious choice.

Deep Red French Tips

a person wearing a french manicure with dark red tips

(Image credit: Instagram / @nailgirlnic)

The French tip is the most classic nail design there is, but there's no rule that says white tips are the only way to go. Add some extra flair to the traditional design by opting for wine red tips instead.

Burgundy with Dried Flowers

a person wearing red nails with a small flower design on the ring and pinky fingers

(Image credit: Instagram / @nailgirlnic)

Burgundy is another shade of red that's perfect to wear during cooler seasons, but you can add a little fun to it by sticking on some dried flowers (or flower decals) similar to the ones pictured in this manicure.

Bright Red with Checkered Design

a person with bright red nails and a black and white checkered design

(Image credit: Instagram / @lolo.nailedit)

Again, nothing beats a classic red design, but a black-and-white accent nail can help you add something a little fun and extra.

Micro French Manicure

a person wearing a mini french manicure with red tips

(Image credit: Instagram / @iramshelton)

Red tips are already a unique take on the French manicure, but if you want to give the design even more of a twist, a micro French manicure is one of the chicest ways to do it. This design also works if your nails are on the shorter side.

Red Hearts

a person with nude nails with a heart on top

(Image credit: Instagram / @iramshelton)

Heart nails aren't just for Valentine's Day. If you're looking for a design that's romantic and minimal, grab a few heart decals and stick them on top of a nude or sheer manicure.

Burgundy with Pink Specks

burgundy red nails with pink glitter designs

(Image credit: Instagram / @melanated.mani)

Deep red nails are always stunning, but adding a glittery pink overlay takes them to another level.

Chrome Cherries

a person with red nails with a cherry chrome design

(Image credit: Instagram / @biab.byjem_)

Cherry nail designs aren't exactly groundbreaking, but if you want to add a little twist, throw some chrome powder on top to give the design a reflective, mirror-like effect.

Polka Dots

a bright red manicure with white polka dots

(Image credit: Instagram / @justpeachynailss)

Polka dot nails have been trending all summer, and the great thing is that they're pretty easy to do on your own. Grab a dotting tool and add the retro design to any all-over red look.

Iridescent Red

a chrome red manicure

(Image credit: Instagram / @melanated.mani)

There's nothing wrong with a solid red manicure, but if you're hoping to achieve an all-over look with something a little extra, consider a velvety cat-eye look.

Chili Peppers

a nude manicure with red chili pepper designs

(Image credit: Instagram / @biab.byjem_)

I'm a huge advocate for nail decals, especially if you prefer to do your nails on your own but aren't yet experienced enough to paint designs. These chili pepper decals are easy to apply and they're enough to take any look up a notch—even a simple nude manicure.

Burgundy Aura

a person wearing a dark red manicure with a blurry aura design

(Image credit: Instagram / @nailedbyvicx)

Plenty of aura nail designs feature bright, poppy colors, but you can still make the design look chic using muted colors like burgundy and wine red.

Checkerboards and Flowers

a manicure with red checkered nail designs and a flower

(Image credit: Instagram / @nailedbyvicx)

Accent nails are always fun, and if you want to add one without going for a more typical design like a swirl or a French tip, consider a checkerboard design.

Criss-Cross French

a criss cross french manicure with red and white tips

(Image credit: Instagram / @nailedbyvicx)

French manicures don't have to be boring. Get creative with a chic, red, criss-cross design.

Red Bows

a french manicure with tiny red bow designs

(Image credit: Instagram / @biab.byjem_)

Liven up a minimal French tip with a simple but elegant accent like a tiny red bow. Use a nail sticker for an easy shortcut or flex your artistic muscles with a dotting tool.

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Danielle Jackson
Senior Beauty Writer

Danielle Jackson is the senior beauty writer at Marie Claire. She has nearly a decade of experience covering beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment and was previously the senior beauty editor at Women's Health, where she thoughtfully covered topics related to skincare, haircare, aesthetics, and wellness. Before that, she spent three years as an assistant beauty editor at PS, and in the years since, her work has appeared in titles like Vogue, InStyle, Glamour, and more. Danielle graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in English, and has lived in Brooklyn for almost ten years. When she's not writing, you can find her reading romance novels and talking about sunscreen. You can find her on Instagram @danielleknecole.