Aura nails have become one of the more enduring nail art trends, consistently popping up on celebrities and our feeds. While they're usually crafted in vibrant colors that mimic the hues of aura photography—think red, orange, and green—have you ever wondered what would happen if you toned down the brightness and opted for a deeper, richer palette?
As it turns out, dark aura nails possess a moody, mystical vibe perfect for the cooler months. Don't believe us? Scroll on for 19 dark aura nail ideas, from witchy black-and-silver sets to rich plum manis.
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Dark Wash Denim Nails
First up, we have this stunning dark blue aura mani. With faded French tips, aura splotches, and 3D floral accents in shades of ash and navy blue, this intricate nail look is giving denim (in the chicest way possible).
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Black and Silver Aura Mismatched Nails
Not ready to go full dark? Consider a stark black-and-white aura mani. Top it with silver swirls, stars, and gems for a touch of glamour.
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Berry Aura Nails
Looking for something you can easily DIY? This berry aura nail look is a breeze to recreate. Simply paint a beauty sponge with magenta polish in the center and plum around the edges; dab the sponge onto each nail and finish with a glossy top coat.
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Autumn Aura Mismatched Nails
Not ready to go full-on winter with your manicure? Check out this autumn aura mismatched mani. With aura French tips, metallic accents, animal-inspired dots, gold starbursts, and 3D swirls, it checks all the biggest trend boxes.
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Rich Plum Aura Nails
If jet-black nails aren't your style, try an ultra-dark plum polish instead. We love how it looks in an aura fade topped with clear builder gel accents.
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Autumn Ember Aura Nails
Most dark aura nails are cool-toned. But as this manicure demonstrates, cozy, dark, warm fades are just as lovely. To recreate the look, paint a rectangular beauty sponge with a peachy-amber center bordered by mahogany brown. Dab it onto each nail and finish with a glossy top coat.
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Black and Silver Mismatch (Part II)
Black and silver are a popular color combo for dark aura nails. Here, we love how opaque, jelly, and metallic finishes come together for a modern, multidimensional mani.
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Jelly Pomegranate Aura Nails
Speaking of jelly finishes, how stunning is this juicy jelly pomegranate aura manicure? You can recreate the look using cranberry and burgundy jelly polishes paired with builder gel for the seedy 3D accents.
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Black and White Mismatched Aura Mani
Another black-and-white aura mani that caught our attention? This sheer, cyber-esque beauty. The gem accents give the otherwise futuristic nail look a rather girly touch.
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Moody Blood Red Aura Nails
This moody blood-red aura mani is perfect for November and December. The rich color reminds us of cranberry, cozy sweaters, and the holidays.
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Midnight Aura Nails
Here we have another dark aura mani that's a cinch to DIY. You'll need a rectangular makeup sponge, black or ultra-dark navy blue polish for the edges, and an ashy denim blue polish for the center. Don't forget a glossy or matte top coat to complete the look and extend your wear time.
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Black Stiletto Cyber Aura Nails
Cyber nails are on trend, and this stiletto aura mani provides a fine-line take on the look. You can DIY it by topping off a classic black and white aura base with thin arches of silver polish. Then, for extra sparkle, add a few gemstones to the mix.
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Olive Aura Nails
How pretty is this olive aura mani? It's the perfect fall nail look—especially with the shimmery 3D foliage accents.
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Fun Cyber Aura Nails
Can't decide on a single design? Pick a few for a fun mismatched mani. Here, cyber swirls, stars, abstract bows, and aura accent nails come together in a joyful set.
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Edgy Gray Cyber Aura Nails
This cyber aura mani takes on a tattoo-like appearance with its barbed hearts and spiky swirls. You can recreate the design using a dotting tool and fine-lining nail art brush paired with metallic silver polish.
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Navy Aura Nails
If you loved the denim aura mani from the beginning of this round-up but don't have the patience for such an intricate design, here's how a simpler take on the look can turn out. Gorgeous, no?
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Dewdrop Aura Nails
An easy way to elevate any aura mani? Add a few (or several) clear dewdrop accents on top.
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Plum Shimmer Aura Nails
Dark aura manicures often look super moody. If your preference is more feminine nail looks, add some sparkles to the mix. Take it over the top by incorporating teeny hearts.
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Snowflake Shimmer Aura Nails
Speaking of sparkly aura manicures, check out this pretty snowflake design. It's the perfect winter manicure.