Smiling blonde woman standing beside white garden flowers

Plum perfect: 15 ways to style purple nails & products to nail the trend

By Jess Watts | 08 September 2026 | Art & Technique

Plum nail design, image courtesy of Instagram.com/press_reset_nails

As predicted by WGSN’s Global Colour Forecast, purple is already a huge hit for autumn/winter 2026. The report states: “Purple is a culturally emotive colour with links to royalty, love, mystery and spirituality.”

This year, burgundy is making way for a cooler-toned colour: universally loved fruit and stunning nail shade, plum.

Incredibly versatile, the hue can be worn as a vampy nod towards the cooler months, or a sweet sigh looking back on summer.

Plant a seed of inspiration with these plum nail designs and product recommendations…

Plum manicured hands holding black Louis Vuitton purse
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/klawsbysonia
Purple CND Shellac gel polish bottle with black cap
CND Shellac™ Gel Polish in Verbena Velvet, www.sweetsquared.com
Gelish purple soak-off gel polish bottle
Gelish Soak-Off Gel Polish in Plumb and Done, www.gelishmorgantaylor.co.uk
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/thenaillologist
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/thenaillologist
Glitterbels Coloured Acrylic in Purple Rain, www.glitterbels.com
Glitterbels Coloured Acrylic Powder in Purple Rain, www.glitterbels.com
OPI Nail Lacquer in O Suzi Mio, uk.wella.professionalstore.com
OPI Nail Lacquer in O Suzi Mio, uk.wella.professionalstore.com
Halo Gel Polish in Goddess, www.purenails.co.uk
Halo Gel Polish in Goddess, www.purenails.co.uk
The Manicure Company Gel Polish in Pepperberry, www.themanicurecompany.com
The Manicure Company Gel Polish in Pepperberry, www.themanicurecompany.com
Artistic nail lacquer in fierce, www.sweetsquared.com
Artistic Colour Revolution Nail Lacquer in Fierce, www.sweetsquared.com
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/nailsbyminahanh
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/nailsbyminhanh
Hara gel polish dark violet
HARA Professional Gel Polish in Dark Violet, www.astonandfincher.co.uk
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/kezz2107
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/kezz2107
The GelBottle Inc Magnetic Gel in Obsession, www.thegelbottle.com
The GelBottle Inc Magnetic Gel Polish in Obsession, www.thegelbottle.com
Monika nails
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/monika__nails
ButterCream purple glitter UV/LED colour gel pot
Light Elegance ButterCream in So Dramatic!, www.lightelegance.co.uk
Nailsbytickaz
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/nailsbytickaz
Purple Purr glitter gel nail polish bottle and swatch
HD Professional Nail Systems Colour It! Gel Polish in Purple Purr, www.hazeldixonnails.com
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/henriettenails
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/henriettenails
Morgan Taylor Nail Lacquer in Love Me Like A Vamp, www.gelishmorgantaylor.co.uk
Morgan Taylor Nail Lacquer in Love Me Like A Vamp, www.gelishmorgantaylor.co.uk
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/swellgelnailz
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/swellgelnailz
Andreia Professional Gel Paint in 08, www.andreiaprofessional.com
Andreia Professional Gel Paint in 08 Deep Purple,
www.andreiaprofessional.com / www.salon-services.com
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/britts_manis
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/britts_manis
MelodySusie purple gel nail polish bottle and colour swatch
MelodySusie Gel Polish in 065 Dark Purple,
www.melodysusie.com
ABS Gel Polish 181 bottle with deep plum swatch
Allure Beauty Supplies Gel Polish in 181 – Cherry Chutney,
www.allurenails.co.uk