The 9 Best Vampy Nail Colors for Fall
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In today’s post, we’re going to dive into Vampy Nails.
So gather your deepest, darkest, witchiest nail polish shades and let’s channel an autumnal ambiance, but on the nail.
Because my personal favorite nail color is either a oxblood burgundy or a black cherry red I feel like I’m almost an expert in this category of colors, since I’m always searching for the next best black cherry nail color to top the last.
I’m the type of person who has no problem wearing a dark, blackish red in the middle of summer. I find them to be sleek and yet somehow, comforting.
Before we get to the swatches, you may be wondering…
What are Vampy Nails?
This is a good question and I am often asking myself the same thing.
So far I have come to define them as shades that are a little moodier than your classic burgundy red nails.
If you’ve ever looked at your classic burgundy manicure and thought, no, not that - I need something more dramatic, more va-va-voom, you’re thinking of vampy nail colors.
Vampy nail polishes hone in darker hues without necessarily going full black.
They feature deep, rich shades, like blood red, oxblood, black cherry, cherry mocha, dark plum, deep wine, blackish red and blackish purple.
They call in a gothic, witchy look that’s bold and mysterious, and a bit seductive.
Best of all, this look pairs well with basically any nail shape - short square, medium almond, long coffin, I’ve worn vampy shades in all shapes and sizes as you’ll see below.
This color group looks good in any nail shape.
I think we could almost describe vampy nail colors as a smoky eye for the nail.
Some would even describe Vampy Nails as the kind of dark, fall manicure your hot vampire neighbor, think Twilight and True Blood, might wear.
They evoke the alluring side of darkness and any nail color that makes you feel like you’re the lead character from The Craft, is fair game for the vampy nail look.
If you’re a witchy vibe nail polish lover, let’s look at the 9 best Vampy Nail Colors I’ve tried so far, moving from lightest to darkest:
Essie Nailed It
This is one of my favorite deep burgundy reds because it has a hint of dark plum. It’s a solid option for the black cherry red nail look.
As a nail editor, I do feel this is one of Essie’s most underrated fall nail colors.
Londontown Elderberry
Elderberry is a deep purplish red nail color.
It pulls more warmth on my nail, but in different lighting scenarios, it definitely has a darkened plum look.
OPI Como se Llama?
From the Fall 2018 Perú Collection, this is one of my favorite vampy nail shades. It’s more of a darkened maroon red than a burgundy, due to the mahogany brown undertones.
Essie Bordeaux
An Essie icon, Bordeaux is a dark wine shade with a bit of translucent jelliness to it. It’s one of the first Essie nail colors that’s still in production today.
It has a glass-like finish, and it was before “glass nails” were trending.
L.A. Colors Vampy
L.A. Colors hit the nail on the head with this one. It’s exactly how I would define a vampy nail. It’s a blackened burgundy red that you could wear in 2 or 3 coats.
If you’re looking for a vampy polish but affordability is a factor, this is the one I’d choose for you.
Revlon Vixen
Vixen is the cult-classic choice for Vampy Nails. It’s a blackened burgundy red nail color that trends to the top of the list every fall on Pinterest and it’s been in production since the mid 1990’s.
This shade was Revlon’s answer to Chanel’s Vamp (Rouge Noir) when it was released.
OPI Complimentary Wine
This is a blackened deep red.
At first glance, it appears to be a black, but as your hand moves and the light moves through the color, the deep red tones show. This is one of my favorite pedicure colors for vampy toes.
Huella Beauty Fig-Get Me Not
This is a blacked purple creme with a touch of red. It is almost a black shade, but there is a dark fig undertone. Another great one for vampy pedicures.
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OPI Lincoln Park After Dark
Finally… the icon of fall. Lincoln Park After Dark is an autumn staple among nail polish collectors for a reason. It’s a dark eggplant purple cream that is nearly black, but not quite.
It’s very mysterious and it’s what I wear when I am craving a black, but want a touch of warmth.
All in all…
Which of these dramatic, dark manicures are you gravitating towards?
Do you prefer the lighter end of the vampy nail spectrum, or do you prefer the darkest manicure possible next to pure black?
Is there a vampy nail color you love that isn’t listed here?
Let me know in the comments!
Add any of these shades to your collection using the links above ~
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