Best Brown Nail Polishes

Photo: Hannah Baxter

Like any true New Yorker, I am hopelessly addicted to caffeine. My morning cup of coffee is my body’s signal that it’s time to get into gear and take on a city that could care less that we might have overextended our weekly schedule yet again. But my love for hot bean water doesn’t just stop when my reusable mug is empty — the lovely hazelnut hue extends much farther, specifically to my nails. Yes, I am a solid devotee of the brown nails trend, and I guarantee that you will be soon, too.

The utilitarian color has seen something of a renaissance over the past few years, with fashion brands like The Row, Stella McCartney, and Proenza Schouler all debuting their sartorial take on brown during the Fall ‘23 season. Even interior designers have embraced tones of chocolate, mocha, coffee, and walnut in their home and commercial creations (see Sarah Ellison’s ubiquitous Muse Sofa). The beauty industry is no exception, with new brown nail polish options popping up at salons across the country — to match your ‘90s brown lip gloss, of course — which is why I am now convinced that a brown manicure is one of the most stylish minimal manis you can find.

Whether you prefer cooler purple undertones or a warm cinnamon base, there are plenty of options for your, arguably seasonless, brown nails. All you need is a solid base coat to hold the highly pigmented color and a glossy top coat (although the matte nail trend has piqued my curiosity lately) to complete your gorgeous new look. Pair them with a monochrome brown-on-brown outfit or with a pop of color — sky blue and electric orange are two of my go-tos lately — for a fashion-forward manicure that will have everyone exclaiming “I never knew brown could look so chic.”