AUTUMN EDIT

Houston megaspa boss reveals how to totally nail it with fall's coolest trends

Richer colors and fun nail art are just one of the trends for this season.

Photo by Alex Montoya

Maybe it's the new season or a bit of Barbie fatigue, but nail techs everywhere are seeing a resurgence of darker fall-inspired nails. Celebrities such as Selena Gomez, Haily Bieber, Lizzo, and Kylie Jenner are opting for richer hues and more simple styles.

Nails are an excellent option for those looking to channel their inner cozy girl aesthetic without overhauling their wardrobe. From hot chocolate hues to vampy reds and seasonal nail art, there are many options to stay fashioniable.

To uncover the hottest autumn-inspired nails, we went straight to Brian Nguyen, managing partner of Milano Nail Spa The Heights. Nguyen spends his days in the largest nail salon in Texas, giving him the inside scoop on the most sought-after styles right now.

Clean aesthetic/quiet luxury nails

This chic and understated trend, popularized on social media, embraces a minimalist look. Kylie Jenner, once queen of oversized talons, proved that less is more in her latest photoshoot for Kylie Cosmetics.

According to Nguyen, shades like OPI's Funny Bunny and Bubble Bath are staples. He has also seen a resurgence of the classic French manicure with an updated twist. "We have a lot of requests for French manicures on almond or squoval tips (square and round). We are also seeing a lot of thin tips and bolder double French tips – this timeless style is making a strong comeback."

French manicure nails The squoval tip (square + round) is an updated choice for the classic French manicure. Photo by Opi/Instagram

Colors of the season: Cherry Red and Chocolate Brown

The pink and silver nails of spring and summer have given way to the richer hues of fall. Celebrities like Hailey Beiber embrace the chocolate brown tortoiseshell look, while Selena Gomez opts for a cherry red vampy color.

Selena Gomez rocks a dark red color for the VMAs. Photo by Tom Bachik Nails/Instagram

Chrome

With over 1.4 billion views on TikTok, the Chrome nail trend might be here to stay. Nguyen and his team see chrome used over colors, including blues, greens, and French manicures. They are also seeing a rise in requests for chocolate-glazed donut nails. A play on summer 2022's hottest trend, this look has a velvety brown look perfect for fall fashion.

chrome nails The Chrome nail trend has racked up 1.4 billion views on TikTok.Isobel Grace Wassall/Instagram

Retro/Mix Match Nails

Intricate nail designs with patterns and multiple colors are a fun way to set off any outfit. Gwen Stefani chose checkerboard nails by celebrity nail artist Eri Ishizu for the premier of this season's The Voice. Nguyen says flower art and geometric designs are also popular with his younger clients, who often pair the looks with almond or squoval-shaped tips.

Gwen Stefani The Voice retro Gwen Stefani chose a retro checkerboard pattern for The Voice. Photo by Eri Ishizu/Instagram

Halloween Nails

It's spooky season, which means Halloween-themed nail art is the best way to live out your costumed dreams. While pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts, and spider webs are the most requested designs at Milano Nail Spa, glow-in-the-dark nails, two-toned nails, and dark French tips are also options.

Halloween nails make an excellent accessory for any Halloween costume. Photo by Alex Montoya

chrome squoval french tip selena gomez halloween nails fall nail trends

RODEO RUNWAY

Western glam takes over as RodeoHouston fans dress to impress

Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Brooke Jones, Kiala Cardenas, Brittany Ruggeri, and Franschesca Jones.

Houstonians have dusted off their boots and rhinestones as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is in full swing. Already one of the largest events in Texas, the crowds are continuing to grow. In 2025, more than 2.7 million people attended RodeoHouston, and this year the event is already on track for record-breaking numbers.

Livestock competitions, carnival rides, deep-fried food, and headlining concerts are the official reasons people come to the rodeo. Unofficially, however, people watching has become a sport all its own. The crowded walkways on RodeoHouston grounds transform into a Western-themed runway, where personal style is just as much of the experience as enjoying deep-fried Oreos or a Ferris wheel ride.

A wide range of outfits is always on display. Some attendees go all in with head-to-toe sequins, fringe on everything, and dramatically decorated hats. Others keep things casual with denim, boots, and graphic t-shirts, while groups of friends will often coordinate themed outfits for concert nights.

Rodeo Fashoin 2026 Emily Duran and Brylie Wagner.Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

No matter the style, there are two must-have accessories: cowboy hats and boots. Hats serve a dual purpose for both fashion and protection from the sun during daytime events. Boots are essential to rodeo style, but sometimes come with a painful learning curve.

Many attendees walk more than a mile from the parking lot to the grounds, and after exploring, they often add more than 20,000 steps. For those who did not properly break in their boots, the end of the day can involve blisters and a slow walk to the car, boots in hand.

“Rodeo fashion is so fun. My friends and I planned out outfits together, and we made sure we broke in our boots before tonight,” Teresa Delgado tells CultureMap. “When you are from Houston, you only make that mistake once.”

Rodeo Fashion 2026 Karson Graves, Reese, Lowery, Mackenzie Lewis, Natalie Doyle, Brandi Hunger, and Jenna Faulkner.Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Some days have them whether it's official or it's an unspoken trend. When Megan Moroney took the stage, pink was the color of the concert, inspired by Moroney's album Cloud 9. Nearly 70,000 attendees filled the stadium in everything from flouncy pink ruffled outfits to bright neon boots and hats.

“We have really been looking forward to this concert,” said Ashley Little from Cypress. “I didn't think too much about my outfit at first, but my daughter wanted to coordinate, so here we are wearing pink together.”

Between carnival rides, mutton busting, and nightly concerts, the rodeo has plenty to see, but some of the most memorable moments are stopping to notice that fashion is just another part of the show.

Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Brooke Jones, Kiala Cardenas, Brittany Ruggeri, and Franschesca Jones.

houston rodeo fashion western style