Autumn 2026 Nail Trends Feature Brown Cat Eye and Chrome
Celebrity nail artists are defining autumn 2026 with brown cat eye, chrome, and jelly designs. Vanessa Hudgens, Hailey Bieber, and Lily-Rose Depp show seasonal styles from top professionals.
Vanessa Hudgens debuted brown cat eye nails for autumn/winter 2026. Her nail artist, Zola Ganzorigt, described the style as a "moonstone mani" on Instagram. This rich, magnetic look is a key trend for the season, also seen on Hailey Bieber at the 2025 Academy Museum Gala. Ganzorigt created that chocolate brown cat-eye design as well.
Celebrities are turning to leading artists for standout autumn manicures. Singer Rosé opted for a classic black cherry polish on short nails. For the premiere of her film Wicker, Olivia Colman wore jelly amber nails designed by London-based artist Robbie Tomkins to mimic wicker texture.
Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio showed icy blue chrome nails with an iridescent sheen, created by celebrity nail tech Queenie Nguyen. Singer Jorja Smith wore deep burgundy nails, a look crafted by LA-based pro Mel Shengaris using OPI GelColor in Got the Blues for Red.
Short, squoval nails are also in vogue. Celebrity nail artist Stephanie Stone painted Charli XCX’s nails in an elegant, deep red. Actress Lily-Rose Depp wore pink sorbet nails with a sheer chrome glaze, another creation from Zola Ganzorigt who dubbed it 'Pink Sorbet Glaze'.
Other notable autumn styles include marbled mocha nails on TV personality Carrie Ann Inaba by artist Sara Chue. At the Rare Beauty Rare Impact Fund Benefit, Selena Gomez wore ruby red nails. Her manicurist Tom Bachik called them "Sel’s Ruby Red Rare Gala Mani." Singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro, who won Best New Artist at the VMAs, also sported a seasonal look from celebrity artist Emi Kudo.
Expert Predictions and Techniques for Autumn 2026
Leading nail professionals are forecasting key trends and sharing methods behind popular styles. London-based nail pro Ella Vivii predicts silver and gold chrome will be huge. She also foresees warm-toned jelly colours, deep burgundies and browns, and chrome used as French tips or details like polka dots.
Renee Washington says animal prints are the nail trend of the year, channeling Y2K energy with cheetah print and zebra stripes. For a different autumn aesthetic, tortoiseshell nails using warm gold and chocolate brown shades are gaining traction. Beauty assistant Maria Papakleanthous notes this look was created with TGB’s latest hard BIAB innovation.
BIAB nails are a confirmed option for autumn manicures. Other specific inspirations include brown claws, referenced by inspo master Alexandra Teleki, and micro brown frenchi nails linked to Iram Shelton. Celebrity manicurist Harriet Westmoreland is cited for both a shiny green manicure using product from Mylee.co.uk and for cognac nails.
Ella Vivii created chrome nails for Cartia Mallan using products from The GelBottle Inc. Mylee's gel polish, noted for the green manicure, can last up to three weeks and cures under an LED or UV lamp.
