I never thought I'd see the day that the colour brown would make the ultimate comeback. You see, I fall about midway on the millennial age spectrum, meaning I grew up in the heyday of teen sensations Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, and Destiny's Child, who all regularly sported brown everything—from then-fashionable culottes and page boy caps to beauty staples like nail polish and lipstick. But once the 2010s hit, it's like brown got publicly shunned and relegated as the ugly stepsister to all the other colours. (Even pea-soup green has been prioritised above it.)
But as the years have passed and trends have shifted, brown seems to be making a resurgence. On the fashion side, the once "ugly" colour has taken over the runways, and now, in the beauty realm, brown nail colours are all over the place.
Recent polish launches from my favourite brands like CND, Orly, and Essie have driven this point home by featuring rich brown hues in their autumn collections. There's really nothing left to say, except that brown is back, baby! In celebration, I've scoped out the best brown nail colours—from true chocolate to rust-tinged to light neutrals—to practise your throwback manicure with. Check out the 13 selects ahead.
Apply three coats for a gorgeous colour payoff.
This rich neutral is so dreamy and lasts for up to seven days without chipping.
This affordable polish is one of our favourite brown shades.
This thoughtfully crafted colour was inspired by natural elements.
The slightest tinge of maroon makes this shiny lacquer the cherry coke of nail polishes.
Take all the effort out of curating the gradient nail manicure.
And this one can look brown, purple, or taupe depending on how the light catches it.
This chocolate colour is sublime.
This warm shade is on the lighter side, but it totally delivers on the brown promise.
This polish is inspired by the hue of Peru's coffee beans.
And this long-lasting formula from CND is the perfect dark brown.
Looking for a beautiful metallic brown? Found it!
More Picks to Keep Your Manicure Fresh Longer
Ready for more nail inspiration? Check out the 7 autumn nail colours we've already worn this season.
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This Is, Hands Down, the Most Elegant Pedicure Colour to Wear This SummerNo, it's not a nude.
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Calling It: Butter-Yellow Manicures Walked So "Sol Nails" Could RunIt's the only yellow mani to know.
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No Need for a Second Opinion—These Are the 6 Pedicure Trends to Wear on Your Toes This SummerExpect the unexpected.
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I'm Calling It: "Blurred French" Will Be the Stylish Person's Manicure of Choice This SummerA subtle update.
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According to Celebrity Manicurists (and Hailey Bieber), "Soft Serve" Nails Are Taking Over Summer 2025So yummy.
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Some Nail Trends Just Don’t Age Well—5 We’re Pausing This SummerPlus the five we're requesting instead.
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It's True, These OPI Nail Colour Layering Combos Are The Secret to Making Your Manicure Look LuxeI'm talking bespoke manis.
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Hailey Bieber Used This OPI Nail Colour for Her Milky French Manicure, and I'm Copying It ImmediatelyThis is what to ask for in the salon.
