20+ Brown Nail Polish Shades Fashion People, Editors, and Celebs Wear on Repeat

Ever since I can remember, I've been partial to neutral nail polish shades I can count on to complement my dark skin tone while working well with the bright whites, blues, and earth tones that make up the bulk of my wardrobe. Despite this, until recently, brown nail polish was never my first pick when faced with an expansive selection of shades at the salon. Here's the thing—I spent over 11 years of my childhood avoiding anything other that OPI's Bubble Bath, Put in Neutral, and Sweet Heart due to my dance studio's strict rule of keeping our nails natural-looking, clean, and clipped at all times.
Little did I know that as a melanin-blessed ballerina, there were about twice as many shades of brown across a number of brands that were my nude. Now, as a beauty editor, I've come to the conclusion, based on expert findings and my own exploration with products, that neutral nail polish shades, particularly brown colors, are perpetually in style. Year after year, shades of brown are spotted on and off the runways, worn by award-winning celebrities on red carpets and all the fashion people populating your Instagram Explore page.
Keep reading to take a look at some of the trendiest brown nail colors that we'll be seeing on only the most stylish people this season, from OPI's cult-classic Espresso Yourself to the ever-luxurious Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Brun Bistre. I've even provided a few of my go-to manicure tools to get the perfect nail look every time. You're welcome!
The Best Brown Nail Colors
I'm no manicurist, but I would say Essie's Generation Zen is a perfect match to the stunning nail polish shade in the shot above by UK-based manicurist Iram Shelton. The tranquil mauve taupe gray nail polish is as stylish as it gets.
Products for the Perfect Manicure
One of the best pieces of advice I ever received from my manicurist is to apply cuticle oil before hitting the sheets to refresh my nails overnight. I'm now on my third tube of this shea nail and cuticle oil by L'Occitane since it's done a marvelous job at keeping my nails and cuticles healthy.

Maya Thomas is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.
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