So long neutrals - our beauty team's November nails are dark, cosy and seriously expensive-looking

From luxe purple-reds to at-home alternatives to gels, our beauty team's November nails promise more than just shade inspiration, but even if that's all you take away, you're in for a very chic manicure this month.

In our experience, November can be a bit of a tricky month nail-wise. Like September, it feels quite in-betweeny; it's technically still autumn and yet the weather, dark evenings and overall closeness to the festive period feel very wintery. Thus, both autumn and winter's nail trends are available to us and sometimes, the sheer amount of options can be overwhelming. Thankfully, though, our team have already locked in their November nails, opting for three very chic shades and designs between them, two of which were also created at home.

So, if you're looking to whittle down the options to just three tried-and-tested manicures (which you can see modelled on both long and short nails), here's what we picked.

The 3 chic and cosy nail looks our team are wearing this November

Naomi's navy nails

"While burgundy nails are usually my go-to when the nights draw in, I've found myself really drawn to dark blues this year - both in my wardrobe and for my nails," explains Digital Beauty Writer Naomi Jamieson. "There's something so timeless and elevated about the colour, a bit like a pair of dark blue jeans, it goes with everything but adds a touch of sophistication to the outfit.

"I've recently started doing my nails at home, in a bid to save a bit of money and to give myself a break from having to book consistent appointments in order to get the gel removed and redone. So, I found Mylee's shade Moonlight Shadow, which is this lovely dark navy blue colour, and dusted off my old Mylee LED gel kit. I opted for a short, squoval nail shape and applied a gel base coat, followed by two layers of the blue and a clear top coat, and was actually delighted with the end result.

"I think these gel polishes give a much plumper, more professional look than ordinary air-drying ones can, though, in my case, it doesn't last as long as a professional, in-salon set. Of course, that could be all down to my technique. Still, I think they look great, and I just love how the deep blue colour looks with my coats and chunky knits. Alternatively, I also really like Barry M's Navy Nightshade, if you were wanting an air-drying option."

Fiona's brown polka dot nails

"Hello, are you appalling at painting your nails? I am. My DIY jobs are so messy I no longer bother - it's professional salon gels or a lick of sheer Chanel La Base Camelia for me. Both are good options, but it isn’t very empowering to feel you can't do anything to jazz your nails up if the occasion demands," says Digital Beauty Channel Editor, Fiona McKim. "And this November I have several occasions (2 x friends’ 40ths and 1 x my 41st), so I've given a growing category of nail jazzer-uppers a go - wraps.

"These are by Glaize of Dragon’s Den fame, and are cleverly made to measure. I sent photos of my fingers and my kit popped through the letterbox shortly after, I wiped down my nails, stuck them on, filed them down, and that was that. Ridiculously easy and fast. I did it in front of the TV, and the Real Housewives were having the same argument when I finished as when I started. The effect is glossy, neat, convincingly professional-looking (I think) and should last two weeks if I’m careful. This design, Merry Merlot, feels like a nice precursor to full-blown Christmas nails - jolly enough for all those parties but pared-back enough for late autumn afternoons doing not much at all."

Sennen's Plum nails

"October's dip in temperature has given me full permission to start opting for the richer, opulent autumnal hues during my manicures," says Digital Beauty Writer Sennen Prickett. "For November, I've chosen a seasonally apt plum shade – a burgundy with a purple undertone to it. I paired this with my classic almond nail shape and an ultra-glossy finish.

"The result? A chic, timeless and sophisticated manicure that has gained me tonnes of compliments."