Manicures come in every color of the rainbow. While vivid nail looks tend to reign supreme these days, there are plenty of people who prefer more neutral manis. Typically, white, nude, and pale pink make up these nail looks—but what if we told you that brown polish can come into play, too? And it’s Jennifer Aniston-approved, to boot.
Nail artist and Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna and celebrity nail artist Hang Nguyen are big fans of the oft-overlooked brown manicure. To them, Orly’s Don’t Be Suspicious ($11) is one of the best brown polishes money can buy. “Don’t Be Suspicious is the most perfect deep chocolate brown shade that perfectly represents those cozy vibes,” Hanna says. “It’s a deep, rich, dark brown shade,” Nguyen adds. “I love how pigmented this polish is. You really only need two coats.”
Of course, that’s just one of many brown nail polishes on the market. Ahead, find 20 examples of beautiful brown nail looks, plus pro polish and design tips.
Solid Dark Chocolate Nails
@lolo.nailedit / Instagram
Prefer dark chocolate? This darker, cooler brown nail polish is Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel ($57) in the shade 95 Brun Bistre. Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish ($20) in the shade Espresso is a close match.
Tortoiseshell and White Swirl Nails
@disseynails / Instagram
We love the look of this warm, almost glowing brown and white tortoiseshell swirl nail look. If you wish you had long nails to showcase this brown nail art, know that the manicurist, Dayanna I. Sapiens created it using the Aprés Gel-X Natural Almond Long Box of Tips ($30).
Brown Sparkle Emoji Nails
@thehangedit / Instagram
Nguyen created this fun two-tone brown sparkle emoji manicure. To recreate the look at home, use Orly Nail Polish ($11) in the shade Canyon Clay as the base. “It’s a beautiful brown shade with an orange undertone,” Nguyen says. “This is great for people looking for a warmer undertone.”
As for the lighter brown, consider Manucurist Paris Green Natural Nail Polish ($14) in the shade Orme. “If you prefer lighter tones, opt for a beige or taupe such as Manucurist Orme,” Hanna says, noting that the tone works well on its own and with any outfit.
Metallic Brown Milk Chocolate Nails
@melanated.mani / Instagram
Remember: Brown nail looks aren’t boring—they can be sparkly, too. You can DIY this metallic brown nail look at home with Emily Heather Nail Artist Polish ($30) in the shade Liquid Assets.
Amber Velvet Nails
@disseynails / Instagram
Speaking of sparkle, how stunning are these amber velvet nails? Sapiens created them using Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish ($20) in the shades Gold Velvet, Argan Oil, and Jelly Brown—the latter of which is one of Hanna’s faves.
“Jelly shades are really fun to experiment with, and Gelcare’s Jelly Brown is the perfect chocolate jelly shade,” she says. “It’s a great option for nail art like tortoiseshell nails or as a slightly translucent shade on its own.”
Almond-Shaped Chocolate Nails
@melanted.mani / Instagram
These glossy chocolate nails look downright delicious. They were created using the Orly Flawless Collection ($11 each). Other shades you can work into this kind of multi-tone brown nail look include OPI Nail Lacquer ($12) in the shade Cliffside Karaoke. “It’s a classic chocolate brown polish with a beautiful formula,” Nguyen says.
Short Brown Daisy Nails
@nails_and_beauty_by_daisy / Instagram
Looking for some simple DIY nail art? This short brown daisy mani is it. To recreate the look, pick out five brown shades of your choosing (or four and one white). Paint a different brown shade on each nail as the base. Then, use a dotting tool to create five little dots on each nail, with a sixth dot in a separate color to serve as the center of the daisy.
Brown Half Moon Manicure
@lolo.nailedit / Instagram
Tired of French tips? Consider a half-moon mani instead. To recreate this one, use Orly Half Moon Guides ($6) to block off the base of each nail, then paint above them using Ella Mila Nail Polish ($11) in the shade Night In. Remove the stickers once dry.
Short Brown Floral Yin-Yang Nails
@thehangedit / Instagram
Here’s another way to add daisy nail art to your brown mani. We love the yin-yang design.
Brown Retro Sparkle Nails
@melanated.mani / Instagram
Love a metallic brown nail look but craving something a bit more decadent? Check out this bronze mani. It was created using Cirque Colors Nail Polish ($11) in the shade Zeitgeist.
Simple Brown Gradient Nails
@thehangedit / Instagram
It’s simple, it’s fun, and kind of nostalgic, too. Remember always wanting to paint every nail a different color as a kid? Well, the technique works in adulthood, too.
Dark and Light Brown Micro Angled French Tips
@thehangedit / Instagram
Instead of a plain, single-color French tip, check out this two-tone apex style. Nguyen created it using Essie Nail Polish ($10) in the shade Mink Muffs (it’s been discontinued, but Crochet Away is a similar shade) and J.Hannah Nail Polish ($22) in the shade Carob. You’ll need a nail art brush to perfect the overlap.
Brown Illusion French Manicure
@disseynails / Instagram
We’re swooning over this muddled milk and dark chocolate illusion French manicure. Sapiens created it using Lights Lacquer Nail Polish ($11) in the shades Espresso and The Butler.
Brown Negative Space Star Nails
@thehangedit / Instagram
While these negative space star nails aren’t super intricate, detailing star cutouts at home can be. With that in mind, we suggest bringing this picture as inspo to your next nail appointment.
Dark Chocolate Cherry Nails
@disseynails / Instagram
Reddish brown nail looks are especially rich. Just look at this dark chocolate cherry French mani. Sapiens created it using Lights Lacquer Nail Polish ($11) in the shades Americano and Oui’d, along with the brand’s Gemstone Charms.
Coffee and Cream Swirl Nails
@disseynails / Instagram
We can’t stop staring at this coffee and cream-inspired swirl mani by Sapiens. If you have a steady hand, you can try recreating it by starting with classic white French tips and then using a nail art brush to trace the wavy brown borders.
Dark Chocolate Chrome Nails
@melanated.mani / Instagram
Another metallic brown nail look to round it out—this time, even richer. Anna created this gorgeous, glowing mani using Mooncat Nail Lacquer ($15) in the shades Dark Horse and Bootlegger.
