We’re Calling It: This Romantic Nail Color Is Going To Be Fall's New Neutral

Come September, when the air turns slightly crisper (I'm talking below 80 degrees Fahrenheit), the city instantly exudes sweater weather energy. Sunsets arrive earlier, boots emerge from the back of the closet, and practically every coffee shop smells faintly of pumpkin spice. Fall is upon us, folks—in the beauty space, this means an autumnal-inspired color palette for hair color, makeup looks, and, of course, new nail lacquer. 

Desert rose sounds like a very specific hue, but it's actually quite versatile—it can complement pretty much any fall color scheme. It's a chameleon color, so much so that clean nail care brand MiniLuxe included the rosy shade among their lineup of charcoals, taupes, and chocolates, a fall collection aptly titled "New Neutrals."

"People will gravitate toward this color because it pairs so well with gray, brown, and navy, which are staples for fall '22," says Donna Charloff, director of service operations at MiniLuxe. Just like a flower blooming in a vast, dry desert, a dusty shade of pink can pop against a neutral silhouette. "It is timeless and elegant without being too edgy," she adds. 

Technically, desert rose comes from the red color family: "It is a combination of pink and red, with some strong brown undertones," Charloff notes. However, shades can lean slightly more pink, purple, or brown, and they can be soft and light or deep and moody.