AW25 NAILS AND MAKEUP

Colour me impressed

Colour is at the centre of all conversations when it comes to makeup and nail trends for AW25. Josie Jackson explores the shades set to dominate

YUHAN WANG. LEAD HAIR: DANILO GIANGRECO, CREDIT: SASHA LIST

Dark tones remained prominent in the autumn/winter 2025 fashion circuit, with trend forecaster WGSN reporting that these shades accounted for 33% of the colour mix on the catwalks.

Deep reds and rich berry tones were among the leading hues, with Coloro’s Cherry Lacquer named as the forecaster’s stand-out shade of the season. It’s subversive yet classic, edgy yet luxurious, all wrapped up into one.

Pantone made similar observations at New York Fashion Week, with colours such as Winterberry, Damson and Chilli Oil featuring in their top 10. Discussing this palette in Pantone’s NYFW Trend Report, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said, “Imbued with a feeling of effortless glamour, colours for AW 25/26 are approachable and accessible.”

Rich and restrained

It’s not surprising, then, that this season we’re set to see these tones appear in makeup. Discussing how to capitalise on the trend, Min Sandhu, a celebrity makeup artist who’s worked with Bulgari and Lancôme, explains, “We’re living in an era full of information overload, fuelled by fast-paced digital consumption. As a result, less is often more – simplicity is luxury. Using the same deep berry shade on the eyes, lips and cheeks for a soft, blurry finish can create an intentional look that seizes focus.”

Another shade that lends itself well to monotone makeup is Mocha Mousse, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2025. “It’s very reminiscent of the late ’80s and early ’90s,” explains editorial makeup artist Dani Guinsberg. “Mocha Mousse has just enough warmth in the tone to suit almost all skin tones, adding to its popularity.”

Unexpected colour

However, the makeup trends for the upcoming season aren’t just defined by the colours themselves – but how they’re used. At Harris Reed, models took to the runway with vibrant lashes, while at Simone Rocha vivid eyebrows featured heavily.

As we head into the new season, how can we expect these looks to translate into consumer-centric salon trends? “It’s about playing and experimenting,” says Guinsberg. “I think younger clients will jump at the opportunity to showcase their individuality, but for your more conservative clients, I would advise to pick one element to mix-up, while keeping the rest of the look pared back.” Coloured mascara is a great example. “I think jewel tones like sapphire, amethyst and emerald will be a great way to add personality to a client’s look without it feeling overdone,” explains Marla Santos, Andreia Professional makeup artist.

All about the blur

However, beauty is cyclical and driven by contrast. When one aesthetic becomes dominant, such as maximalist colour, there’s always a desire for something more minimal. Looking beyond the catwalk trends, Sandhu forecasts a shift towards simplicity, with soft-focus matte blushes making a comeback. “This will allow makeup artists to move beyond colour and lean into textures,” she says.

Guinsberg makes a similar prediction, establishing “blur” as a key theme for the latter half of 2025: “Think ‘your skin but better’ – softer and more like you’ve had a great night’s sleep.”

As for specific products that will be in demand, Santos is turning her attention towards BB creams. “Healthy-looking skin remains a major focus, and those with active ingredients are likely to gain further traction,” she says.

Make way for matcha

As we head into the colder months, these colour palettes won’t just be limited to makeup, transversing into nail trends, too.

The influence of Mocha Mousse on the beauty industry has been undeniable – but Glitterbels ambassador Katie Taylor doesn’t think the beverage hype will end there. “I think matcha is going to be massive this autumn – we’ve already seen this trend begin to emerge in spring and summer, but it won’t stop there,” she says.

One of the great things about shades inspired by food and drink is the wealth of marketing opportunities they present. By curating Pinterest-style mood boards or playful colour menus, nail techs can spark their clients’ imaginations long before they sit down at their appointments. It’s a simple yet effective way to showcase trending palettes and help clients visualise their next set, making it even easier to secure more autumn bookings.

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Brown, reinvented

“Brown has had a big moment in 2025, and while it’s always been a hot shade for A/W, this year it will reach new heights,” predicts Kezia Parkins, nail artist and beauty journalist. “Instead of just experimenting with different shades of brown – from milk chocolate to teddy bear – I think nail techs will start getting creative with texture and design, too.”

“Brown doesn’t have to feel flat or traditional,” agrees Sara Pinto, product director at Andreia Professional.

“Glassy topcoats and chrome finishes can help take a shade to the next level.”

Meanwhile, Taylor is envisioning the return of the classic tortoiseshell – with a twist. “It’s an autumn staple that we all know and love, but this year I think we’re going to see techs breathing new life into this classic brown design,” she explains. Deep reds – much like Coloro’s Cherry Lacquer – will be perfect for clients who still want to keep to a dark, moody palette to their tortie, while teal green offers more contrast for a fun pop.

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Butter turns bold

Another colour that’s been trending throughout the year is butter yellow. Shea Osei, London-based session nail tech and educator, believes this will continue into the colder months, sharing, “I’m thinking about adding a chrome on top for a festive feel.”

For clients that favour warmer, darker tones during this time, there’s an opportunity to guide them towards deeper shades such as mustard and ochre. Of course, curating fun, descriptive names for the shades in your colour menu (Osei suggests caramel butter or warm custard) and posting about these on social media can also help you capture the attention of prospective clients.

“Last year’s burgundy trend could easily make a comeback and could be paired with rich yellows to create layered, autumnal looks,” says Jodie Keen, Kent-based nail artist. “This is perfect for clients who want to step out of their comfort zones but still want something wearable.”

Another way to put an autumnal twist on butter yellow is to pair it with brown. “Brown is such a rich canvas to start a nail design on, and this helps to showcase butter yellow in a way that will stand out, breathing new life into a popular trend,” explains Osei.

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Let’s get personal

According to WGSN’s senior strategist for buying, Jessica Seddon, trends were too saturated in the market between 2023 and 2024, resulting in a shift. “It wasn’t sustainable, in terms of the environment but also personal spending. Consumers’ spending power isn’t strong enough to keep up with all the changing trends, so it has driven them to return to personal style and more considered consumption,” she says.

This behaviour is something Keen has observed with her clients, sharing: “The clean-girl aesthetic, which encompasses milky pinks and sheer finishes, is still thriving – as is the classic French.” However, many clients see their nails as an outlet for personal expression, so it’s unlikely that experimental techniques are going to disappear.

“Nail art is always in demand,” asserts Monika Ferreira, Gelish master educator. “However, lately we’ve seen more requests for bespoke art based on personal interests – such as the latest Disney film, or holiday-themed art.” In fact, Keen also notes that she’s been seeing more clients than ever stepping out of their comfort zone with intricate layered designs, textured finishes and 3D embellishments.

With so many talented techs sharing their work on social media, it’s easy for clients to hear about new techniques and trends. “Pinterest and Instagram are still the most popular client mood boards that get presented to me in a consultation, and chrome is certainly making a comeback,” explains Ferreira. However, instead of soft cottage-core tones with an ethereal glow, Parkins is predicting a grunge revival, with silver and pewter tones favoured over the more feminine gold.

Meanwhile, much like Sandhu’s makeup predictions for the upcoming season, Osei is dialled in on texture: “Whether it’s swirls of velvet finishes with builder gel, or even a matte topcoat, clients will be ready to experiment.”