Tips To Healthy, Salon Like Nails This Fall

Originally published October 2020. Updated October 2025 for current nail trends and seasonal nail care tips.

Question Answered: How Can You Keep Your Nails Healthy This Fall?

The best way to keep your nails healthy during the fall is to moisturize regularly, protect your cuticles, use non-drying polish removers, and switch to nourishing DIY treatments that combat dryness from cooler fall weather. These steps prevent breakage, strengthen your nails, and keep your manicure looking salon-fresh all season long.

Summary
As the leaves change, so should your nail care routine. The drop in humidity, frequent handwashing, and chilly winds can leave nails brittle and dehydrated. In this guide, you’ll find DIY nail-care tips, fall polish ideas, and at-home treatments to keep your nails strong, shiny, and salon-fresh all season long.

Top Seven Tips To Healthy, Salon Like Nails This Fall

Do Not Bite or Pick Your Nails

Are you a biter and a picker? Thankfully I am neither, but my sister sure is.  I see the pain from her biting and picking. Not only can cause you to rip your nails further down your finger then you should, but it can also lead to infection and painful injuries. Cut them evenly and squarely and avoid rough edges. If you are a chronic biter, it may be worth taking steps to determine why you do it and how you can prevent it.

Disinfect Your Nail Tools

Speaking of clipping, before you dive into clipping and trimming, you need to ensure that you disinfect your at-home nail tools. You want to make sure you are doing this after each use. To keep them clean, soak in alcohol 70% or higher. Also, do not use the same nail clippers on your fingers that you would use on your toes; you need a separate one for each.

Keep Your Cuticles Healthy

Put the scissors down, beauties! While some salons love to trim or push back cuticles, those little edges actually protect your nail beds from bacteria. Instead, soften them with warm water and a touch of cuticle oil. Then gently nudge them back with a wooden stick — no cutting needed.

Why Shorter Nails Need Extra TLC

Before we get into our DIY Fall nail moisturizing secrets, we want to point out that shorter nails can be a problem. If you are one that prefers shorter nails, you will run into issues, like hangnails. Which can lead to chronic picking and cutting. Which leads us to the next tip on keeping your hands moisturized! 

Keep Nails and Hands Moisturized

No one wants hands as dry as fall leaves! Constant washing, sanitizers, and the changing temps can strip your nails of their natural oils.

Here are a few DIY ways to bring them back to life:

• Oil Soak: Olive, coconut, or vitamin E oil are perfect for softening nails and cuticles.
• Lip Balm Trick: Rub a little on your cuticles when you’re out and about.
• Honey Mask: It’s not just for tea! Honey is full of antioxidants and is naturally antifungal.
• Salt & Oil Soak: Great for exfoliating and hydrating at the same time.

Prep for a Longer-Lasting Mani

To get salon looking nails at home this Fall, I have some other quick nail secrets, like ways to keeping your polish longer: 

• Skip acetone removers — they dry out your nails.
• Wipe nails with vinegar before painting to remove any residue.
• Apply a little petroleum jelly around the nail edges for easy cleanup if you go outside the lines.

Top Fall Colors for Your Nails

Like the change in the color of leaves, Fall invites a change of nail polish colors. There are tons of shade options for Fall, all that will look amazing with those cozy blazers and fall sweaters.

This year, I’m loving:

• Deep burgundy wine
• Olive green
• Caramel nude
• Burnt orange
• Espresso brown with a glossy finish

Sally's Beauty has a great selection of gel-based nail polishes that can allow you to be creative and even SPOOKtacular when Halloween comes around. 

How to Fix a Broken Nail (Without Panicking)

Broken nail? Don’t worry, I’ve been there! Here are a few quick fixes that actually work:

• Tea Bag Patch: A small piece of a teabag and nail glue can save the day.
• Baking Soda Mix: Mix superglue with baking soda for a dip-style repair.
• Press-On Replacement: For a fast fix, just pop on a single nail — no one will know

Go To a Professional For Your Mani Needs

Finally, you can always go to a professional if you have any concerns or worries about your nails or hands. Ignoring small problems can lead to big ones. You don't want a small chip to lead into a fully broken nail, just because you didn't want to bother someone with such a simple problem. They're experts for a reason. See them as often as you need to.

Well, beauties, I think we nailed this Fall nail tips, how about you? 

Looking for some other fall beauty tips

• The Best Spa Treatments This Fall
• Beauty Tips To Update Your Fall Routine
• Fall Hair Tips For Layered Hair 

Originally published October 2020. Updated October 2025 for current nail trends and seasonal nail care tips. Question Answered: How Can You ...