If you’re looking for some inspiration to find your next nail color, let October be your guide. No, I’m not talking about your typical fall manicures, like black matte, forest green, cinnamon-glazed, burgundy or earthy tones (all gorgeous in their own right). Instead, we’re highlighting opal, the traditional birthstone of October. The pearly, milky white hue with its flashes of yellows, greens, blues and oranges may not be first to mind when you think “autumn,” but just look at how beautiful it is as a nail color.
There are many ways to wear the starry, light and whimsical shades of opal. Some polishes lean into the milky whites, while many have a pink or purple base. Others have chrome or satin finishes; I even found a few that go on shimmering and sheer, aka the perfect base to build an opal shade unique to you. Regardless of which direction you go in, opal nails are a multi-dimensional and eye-catching manicure that’s sure to get noticed. Ahead, scroll 13 of our favorite nail polishes to create your own opal manicure for October.
Olive & June Frosted Gloss Long Lasting Polish ($9)
This polish is described by the brand as a “sheer iridescent pearl polish ideal for a subtle shimmer or layering over everything.” Wear it alone to let the cool undertones shine through in the form of grays, greens and blues, or mix it with a warmer white to get the most traditional opal look.

Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects Nail Polish in Gilded Galaxy ($13)
Gilded Galaxy is a “peach pearl” color with a satin chrome finish. Not only does the hue lean opal, but the pinks and greens also remind me of October’s other birthstone, tourmaline.

Dior Vernis Nail Polish in Montaigne ($32)
If you love a traditional pink nail color, this is a great place to start to expand your horizons. The base is a cloudy but warm white, with iridescent pink shining throughout—like the sun peeking through after a summer storm.

OPI Nail Lacquer in Glazed N’ Amused ($12)
OPI’s Glazed N’ Amused is a fantastic option for layering. This pearl pink-to-lavender sheer polish looks stunning on its own with just a few coats.

LONDONTOWN lakur Enhanced Colour in Starry Chrome Glaze ($16)
A crème-to-chrome polish, LONDONTOWN’s Starry Chrome Glaze provides a gray, cool-toned “ethereal sheen.”

ella + mila Nail Polish in Everglow ($12.50)
Love a little more glitter? Ella + mila’s Everglow holographic nail polish has a pearly opal base with a blast of iridescent shimmer.

Nails.INC Plant Power Nail Polish in Off White ($12)
Plant-based, clean and vegan brand Nails.Inc has a pretty opal-like polish that brightens the pinks of your nail beds and white tips thanks to iridescent pearls.

Addiction Tokyo The Nail Polish in Opal Moon ($19)
It says it right in the name: Addiction Tokyo’s Opal Moon is a chromatic pink opal shade with a formula that’s fast-drying, high gloss and chip-resistant.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ in Unicorn Top Coat ($13)
With specks of greens, yellows, blues and purples, Sally Hansen’s Unicorn Top Coat is an at-home gel polish of our opal dreams (no UV light required).

Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects Nail Polish in Divine Dimension ($13)
Turning the shimmer up a notch, Essie’s Divine Dimension uses larger flakes to set this pearly-blue nail polish apart from others.

ILNP Nail Polish in Opal Sunset ($10)
If a white base isn’t your vibe, Opal Sunset by ILNP takes all the best from the hue’s flecks of pinks, golds and greens and creates a holographic sparkle that pops.

LONDONTOWN lakur Enhanced Colour in Opal ($16)
Another non-white opal option comes from LONDONTOWN’s aptly named Opal, a shimmering lilac.
