Sorry, Leopard: Bambi Nails Are Fall’s Cutest Animal Print

What are Bambi nails?

Animal print for fall? Groundbreaking, I know. But this fall, it’s going in a new direction: Bambi nails. Don’t get me wrong—leopard print, tortoise shell, and zebra print aren’t going far fashion- or beauty-wise (I’m wearing a leopard-print skirt as I write this). But lately, these cute deer-inspired nails have been popping up all over my Instagram feed and on my friends’ nails IRL. Even celebrity manicurists have told Cosmo they’re loving it as a fall nail trend, and beauty and wellness booking platform Fresha found that worldwide Google searches for the style have increased by more than 950 percent(!!!) over the past year.

So what are Bambi nails? The definition of cute, for starters. Fall beauty tends to come with a very familiar color palette: chocolate brown, caramel, camel, cream... This trend wraps up all those perfect neutral autumn shades into one cozy, soft girl manicure that looks just like the delicate tan and white coat of everyone’s favorite animated orphan deer.

For more insight on how to get the look, I talked to Sandra Wei, the founder of New York City’s Peach Bling nail salon. Ahead, everything to know about the whimsical, Snow White-esque fall nail trend you’re going to fall in love with.

If you love other animal print nails, I’d wager that you’ll love Bambi nails too. And if you aren’t a fan of the other animal print options out there, Bambi might just steal your heart. Wei thinks they’ll be popular this fall because those other animal prints “can sometimes feel a little bold or graphic, while Bambi nails have a much softer, sweeter feel,” she says.

Since this nail art references the natural markings of a fawn’s coat, “the look typically features warm toned bases, paired with organic white or cream colored spots,” says Wei. But that doesn’t mean there’s only one way to wear your deer-inspired mani: “One of the biggest advantages of this style is its versatility,” she adds. “Depending on the finish and color palette, it can be kept understated and minimalist or made more dimensional and playful.” Personally, I’ve seen the design layered atop French manicures, featured on just one or two nails in a mix-and-match look, and finished with chrome powder. In Wei’s eyes, these are the perfect way to get “that warm, cozy fall feeling” for anyone who wants “something fun and a little different without going too bold.”

How to wear Bambi nails

Creating Bambi nails may seem challenging, but they’re surprisingly easy. If you’re DIY-ing your manicure, “start with a warm brown, caramel, or sheer nude base,” says Wei. “These colors work really well with the Bambi pattern and are also pretty easy to work with.” From there, it’s up to you if you want to incorporate negative space, French details, or different shades of brown, all of which help “give the manicure more depth and dimension,” she notes.

Next, add the spots, which is where things may start to feel a little daunting (but they’re not, I promise). “You can use a small dotting tool, a fine nail art brush, or even the tip of a bobby pin if you don’t have nail art tools,” Wei says. “Try using a lighter cream or beige for the spots and make them different sizes, leaving a little space between them instead of placing them too close together.” Just like the coat of a fawn doesn’t have perfectly round spots, the spots on your mani are meant to look organic. “Start by placing a small dot where you’d like the spot to be, then move the tip in small, subtle motions in different directions, depending on the shape you want to create,” recommends Wei. “If you’re not completely happy with the shape, you can use a very fine nail art brush to lightly outline or adjust the edges of the spot until you achieve the desired shape.” It might look more complicated than regular polka dots, but in fact, it’s “quite forgiving since the spots on the fawn-inspired design are intentionally irregular and somewhat random,” she says.

Wei’s biggest tip: Make sure the spots are varied in both size and placement, rather than following an exact pattern. “That little bit of irregularity helps the design feel more natural and gives it a look that’s closer to the markings of a real fawn,” she says. Start slow, keeping the dots simple at first by painting on just a few and adding more spots and details as you go.

When it comes to nail shape, there are no surprises here. “Almond and rounded shapes are probably the most popular choices for Bambi nails right now,” Wei says. “The softer, elongated shape works really well with the delicate feel of the spots and gives the overall manicure a more polished look. The shape also gives enough space to show off the pattern without making it feel too busy.”

Bambi nails inspo pics

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Meet the expert

• Sandra Wei is the founder of Peach Bling NYC, a Japanese gel nail salon that features structured gel manicures, silken cat eye designs, and more, with locations in Tribeca and Long Island City.

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmo. She’s covered and tested all things nails, from the coolest new polish colors to cuticle care and nail art trends.

Catharine MalzahnContributing beauty writer

Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmopolitan and was previously the beauty assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention.