Selena Gomez has officially entered her vampy manicure era. After spending much of the year in bright tomato reds and pretty, polished pinks, the actor and singer has gone several shades deeper for fall, thanks to longtime nail artist Tom Bachik. Her latest set is a rich merlot red painted across long, almond-shaped nails, but this is no straightforward seasonal color swap. Bachik punctuated the deep wine shade with tiny pieces of gold hardware: delicate hoops piercing several tips, alongside raised gold dots and curved lines that give the manicure an almost jewelry-like finish. “Really enjoying rich, vampy colors for this season and some hardware to bring some edge,” Bachik wrote on Instagram.
It’s a moodier turn from some of Gomez’s recent manicures. She has repeatedly returned to vivid tomato reds—with slightly cooler, blue-toned versions among them—while her softer moments have included a glossy petal-pink set and the so-called “sunset frost” manicure she wore to the 2026 Emmys. This merlot shade feels like their autumnal counterpart, made deeper and more sumptuous, with some added toughness.
Gomez isn’t alone in heading to the darker end of the polish spectrum as temperatures drop. Anne Hathaway has recently worn a rich mulberry manicure, while Penélope Cruz has previously played with darker reds in a more graphic way, including a two-tone, asymmetrical manicure finished with slicks of cherry at the tips during Cannes Film Festival. Naomi Watts and Uma Thurman appeared to coordinate their wine-stained manicures on the front row at Prada, too. Nail adornments have also been enjoying a serious comeback this summer—mostly alongside the Y2K resurgence—but Gomez’s set offers a bit more pared-back polish. If classic burgundy is one of fall’s most reliable beauty signatures, Selena Gomez’s version gives the simple proposition a fun refresh. Pierce accordingly!
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Selena Gomezs Merlot Manicure Twist for Fall
1 What is a merlot manicure
Its a dark red nail polish look inspired by merlot winedeep rich and slightly burgundytoned Its a classic fall nail color
2 How did Selena Gomez give it a bold new twist
Instead of the usual glossy finish she added a modern elementlike a highshine top coat paired with unexpected accents a different nail shape or a slight metallic or chrome effectmaking the classic shade feel fresh
3 Why is merlot such a popular color for fall
It matches the seasons cozy warm aesthetic flatters most skin tones and feels more elegant than bright summer shades without being as harsh as black
4 What nail shape works best with a merlot manicure
Almond oval and short square shapes all work well Selena often wears a mediumlength almond shape which makes the dark color look sleek
5 Do I need a special polish to copy this look
No Any deep burgundy or merlot shade works A glossy top coat is key and a chrome or metallic topper can recreate the twist if thats the version you want
6 How do I keep dark polish from staining my nails
Always use a base coat Two layers of a good base coat under dark red polish will prevent staining
7 How long does a merlot manicure last
With a proper base coat two color coats and a top coat it can last 710 days on natural nails Gel versions can last 23 weeks
8 Can I do this manicure at home
Yes You need a base coat a merlot polish and a glossy top coat For the bold twist add a chrome powder or metallic top coat
9 Does merlot nail polish suit all skin tones
Yes but the undertone matters Cooler skin tones look best with bluebased merlots while warmer skin tones suit redbrown or bricktoned merlots
10 Whats the biggest mistake people make with dark polish
Skipping the base coat and applying thin streaky layers Dark polish needs a base coat and two to three even coats for full coverage