Black and brown may seem like an unlikely nail color combo, but people all over Instagram are proving it’s worth giving a go. Whether you opt for cool color-block accents or a two-tone French design, one thing is certain: Black and brown looks stunning in every nail scenario. Don’t believe us? Ahead, we’ve rounded up 12 black and brown manicures that prove it’s the perfect color combo for fall (and beyond).
Retro Hearts
These black and brown “Powerpuff” nails are so retro and cool. To recreate the look, you’ll need a very steady hand, a fine-lining nail art brush, and several black and brown nail polishes.
Half and Half
This side-by-side manicure is easy to recreate. To DIY, you can paint each side with precision using a fine-lining nail art brush. Or, you could start with a fully solid brown base, then use tape to section off one side and fill it in with black polish. The choice is yours.
Tortoise Details
Tortoiseshell print is one of the best utilizations of black and brown. On its own, it’s a super-fitting design for fall. However, if you want to take it from classic to bold, pair your tortoiseshell details with graphic black and nude accents.
Rich French Tips
Searching for the perfect French mani for fall? You’re looking at it. Start with a rich, chocolatey base and top it off with jet-black tips. The colors used here are Flora 1761’s Nail Lacquer ($18) in Odessa and Chestnut.
Autumn Mashup
Mismatched manis are totally in, and this one incorporates black and brown in unexpected ways. Complete with tortoiseshell accents, sunset aura nails, negative space, and chrome detailing; this manicure is one for the 2023 books.
Autumn Marble
This milky black and brown nail look reminds us of coffee and caramel cream swirls. It’s such a dynamic, abstract manicure.
Art Deco Moment
This black, brown, and gold mani gives art deco vibes. Despite its luxe look, this manicure can easily be recreated by swiping on a brown base, a single black stripe down each nail, and a metallic gold dot at the bottom of the stripe.
Floral Accents
This multicolor manicure features French tips, trendy swirls, and even a few flowers, creating a beautiful mismatched nail look we want to copy stat. The nail colors used in the look are Chanel’s Le Vernis Nail Colour ($32) in the shades Ballerina, Sorcière, Rouge Noir, Passe-Muraille, and Ovni.
Autumn Tort
There are so many ways to incorporate tortoiseshell print into your manicure. With this one, each nail looks a bit different, giving this nail set a truly unique look
Detailed Diagonals
This may very well be our favorite black and brown mani ever. The diagonal tips give each nail a bold, rocker-chic vibe we can’t stop swooning over. Not to mention, the Rellery Checker Rings ($145) adds an extra edgy touch to this manicure.
Tortoise Swirl
Tortoiseshell nails already make a statement, but adding a negative space design to the mix takes the manicure to the next level. Talk about a trendy nail look for fall 2023.
Brown Pop Art
We’ve been spotting pop art nails everywhere. While you can create this design using any colors, we think it looks especially nice with black and brown shades.
Electric Tortoise
Give your French tortoiseshell nails a twist by adding an electric green border. Neon colors create a cool contrast with the black and brown print.
Leopard Print
Leopard print looks good on everything, especially nails. The animal-inspired black and brown design looks especially great against the cream French tip.
