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Maroon is the nail colour I go back to every single fall, and I’m clearly not alone — searches for it explode the second the temperature drops. Here are 30 ways to wear deep burgundy this season, from a plain glossy coat to full velvet-and-gold drama, each with a polish pick to match.
My top pick: If you’re buying one bottle, make it a true deep burgundy like essie’s Wicked. It builds from a sheer tint to a near-black, so one polish covers about six of the looks below.
1. Classic Glossy Maroon
The one everyone means when they say “maroon nails.” Rich, shiny, universally flattering. Shop maroon nail polish on Amazon →
2. Maroon and Gold
A deep wine base with thin gold lines or foil. Looks like jewellery for your hands. Shop gold nail foil flakes on Amazon →
3. Maroon French Tips
Swap the white tip for maroon over a nude base. A grown-up twist on the classic. Shop nail art striping brushes on Amazon →
4. Maroon Chrome
Wine polish sealed with mirror powder for a liquid-metal finish. Shop burgundy chrome nail powder on Amazon →
5. Almost-Black Maroon
Layer it up until it’s nearly black with just a red flash in the light. Peak October. Shop black cherry nail polish on Amazon →
6. Maroon and Nude Negative Space
Maroon shapes over a bare base so it feels modern instead of heavy. Shop maroon nail polish on Amazon →
7. Short Maroon Squoval
Proof you don’t need length. On short nails, deep maroon looks expensive and low-effort. Shop maroon gel polish on Amazon →
8. Matte Maroon
Wine under a matte top coat for a suede finish that hides every ridge. Shop matte top coat on Amazon →
9. Maroon Cat-Eye
A magnetic gel that pulls a shifting strip of light through the wine. Endlessly hypnotic. Shop cat eye gel polish burgundy on Amazon →
10. Maroon and Cream Plaid
A cream base with fine maroon and grey cross-hatching on an accent nail. Shop plaid nail stamping plate on Amazon →
11. Maroon Ombre
Nude at the cuticle blending into deep maroon at the tip. Shop burgundy nail polish on Amazon →
12. Maroon with Gold Foil Flakes
Glossy wine with irregular gold leaf pressed in while the top coat is tacky. Shop gold nail foil flakes on Amazon →
13. Oxblood (Browner Maroon)
A touch more brown, a touch less red. Even easier to wear day to day. Shop oxblood nail polish on Amazon →
14. Maroon Aura
An airbrushed maroon glow in the centre of a sheer nail. Softer than full colour. Shop nail airbrush powder on Amazon →
15. Maroon Glazed
Wine under a pearl top coat so it shimmers instead of sitting flat. Shop pearl shimmer top coat on Amazon →
16. Maroon and Black Halloween Nails
Alternating maroon and black with a tiny bat or web on one nail. Subtle spooky. Shop halloween nail decals on Amazon →
17. Maroon Velvet
A soft, sanded shimmer finish that looks like crushed velvet. Shop velvet sugar nail powder on Amazon →
18. Maroon with a Single Leaf Decal
One accent nail with a pressed-leaf sticker over glossy maroon. Shop fall leaf nail stickers on Amazon →
19. Maroon Jelly
Sheer and buildable — a tint in one coat, full wine in three. Shop jelly nail polish on Amazon →
20. Maroon and Rust Marble
Wine and burnt orange swirled together with a fine gold vein. Shop marble nail art kit on Amazon →
21. Deep Maroon on Almond
Long almond nails in high-gloss maroon — the most classic vampy shape there is. Shop maroon nail polish on Amazon →
22. Maroon Chrome French
Nude base, maroon-chrome tip. Subtle until the light hits it. Shop chrome nail powder set on Amazon →
23. Maroon with Rhinestones
A few small crystals clustered at the cuticle of one accent nail. Shop nail rhinestones kit on Amazon →
24. Sheer Maroon Micro-French
A whisper of maroon at the very tip of natural-length nails. Shop maroon nail polish on Amazon →
25. Maroon and Gold Half-Moon
A gold half-moon at the base of each maroon nail. Art deco energy. Shop gold nail polish on Amazon →
26. Burgundy Croc Print
A glossy wine base stamped with a tonal scale pattern. Texture, no bumps. Shop animal print nail decals on Amazon →
27. Maroon Minimalist
One coat, no art, high shine. The busy-week version of this whole list. Shop maroon gel polish on Amazon →
28. Maroon Thanksgiving Nails
Maroon with cream and rust accent nails for a harvest palette that skips the orange overload. Shop rust orange nail polish on Amazon →
29. Maroon Glitter Gradient
Clear-to-maroon glitter fade, densest at the tip. Grows out gracefully. Shop burgundy nail glitter on Amazon →
30. Almost-Nude Maroon Gel
A sheer wine gel that’s low-maintenance and nearly invisible as it grows. Shop rose nude gel polish on Amazon →
The bottom line
Maroon is the rare shade that looks costly on short natural nails and hides tip wear for a fortnight. Keep it glossy for classic, go matte or velvet when you want it to feel special.