The Best Chocolate Nail Shades, According To The Experts
The Best Chocolate Nail Shades, According To The Experts

The Best Chocolate Nail Shades, According To The Experts

Forget black and burgundy – this season, it’s chocolate brown and latte nail shades that are trending. Here, we asked 11 manicurists and nail experts to reveal their favourite, and most flattering, shades for all skin tones.
By Rebecca Hull
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Images: @MATEJANOVA; @MEGANMARGOTEVANS; @SASKIAFENWICK

All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.

Oxygenated Nail Lacquer in Hot Coco, £16 | Nailberry

Rated By: Megan Evans, @MeganMargotEvans

“Glossy and rich in pigment, this colour has so much depth to it, which makes it easy to wear all autumn and winter without looking too heavy. The polish itself is long wearing and has impressive shine.”

Available at NailBerry.co.uk


Nail Polish in Cliffside Karaoke, £5.99 (was £11.83) | O.P.I

Rated By: Saskia Fenwick, @SaskiaFenwick

“I often turn to OPI polishes as they’re easy to use and tend to last longer than other non-gel alternatives. The shade itself is a glossy, rich brown that has a nice depth to it – especially if you apply a few layers for a richer feel. It looks so luxe and expensive.”

Available at FabFinds.co.uk

Nail Polish in Sunset Boulevard, £12 | Bio Sculpture

Rated By: Emma Jackson, @EmmaJacksonNailArtist & Julia Diogo, @PaintedByJools

Emma: “This is a rich, creamy chocolate brown that flatters everyone. That’s thanks to its warm undertones which add depth, and the texture which is rich and glossy. It’s the perfect autumnal shade – especially if you want something a bit different.”


Julia: “I’ve had so many people ask me for chocolate brown recently. It works on all skin tones and is really versatile. You can layer it up for better intensity or stick to a single coat for something lighter.”

Available at BioSculpture.co.uk

Gel Couture in All Checked Out, £9.99 | Essie

Rated By: Sarah Falshaw, @SarahFalshaw

“As a burgundy brown, Essie’s ‘All Checked Out’ is a chic way to try this new trend. It has a gel effect finish, which gives it this super glossy, plumped-up effect I love.”

Available at Boots.com


Nail Lacquer in Brown To Earth, £14.90 | O.P.I

Rated By: Iram Shelton, @IramShelton

“A gorgeous deep, brown shade, this suits most people – particularly those with a medium to dark skin tone. It sets the tone for autumn and gives nails a really sophisticated look. Plus, it works on both long and short nails – it’s such a versatile colour.”

Available at OPIUK.com

Nail Polish in Chocolate Fudge, £12 | Bio Sculpture

Rated By: Georgia Rae, @RaeLondonNails

“I love the chocolate shades that are coming out this autumn. A favourite of mine is ‘chocolate fudge’ by Bio Sculpture. As if the name isn’t tempting enough, it’s a beautifully muted creamy brown shade which suits multiple skin tones. If you’re like me and mostly wear nudes, wearing colour can be a shock to the system, but this is an easy transitional shade to try.”

Available at BioSculpture.co.uk  

Nail Polish in Clove, £14 | Manucurist

Rated By: Mateja Novakovic, @MatejaNova

“With a slight touch of burgundy, this rich, cocoa shade has lovely depth and glossiness to it. It’s very dark – almost black – and is flattering on all skin tones. Just a couple of coats is all you need for an expensive-looking finish.”

Available at UK.Manucurist.com


ExprEssie Nail Polish in Cold Brew Crew, £7.99 | Essie

Rated By: Michelle Humphrey, @NailsByMH

“If you want to try the latte nails trend, try this colour from Essie. It’s a warm – not too light, not too dark – flattering shade of brown and a single coat will give you a nice depth of colour. I love how fast it dries down, too.”

Available at Boots.com

Nail Polish in Mocha, £10 | Peacci

Rated By: Daisy Kalnina, @DaisyKalnina

“There are so many great latte and coffee nail shades around at the moment. Peacci’s Mocha shade is a bestseller, and it’s easy to see why. Classic and luxurious looking, it immediately gives nails a glossy, polished look. Peacci’s Caramel and Chocolate tones are flattering too, as is the newly launched Matcha Latte tone – a milky, muted green that’s perfect for those who want something a bit different.”

Available at Peacci.com

Nail Polish in Rosewood Stardust, £12 | Bio Sculpture

Rated By: Faye Louise Dennis, @FayeLouiseDennis

“My favourite chocolate shade is Rosewood Stardust. It’s so opulent in tone and texture with just a hint of metallic shimmer. You’ll find streaks of subtle, copper undertones which add another dimension and boost the high-shine finish. Perfect for autumn and those who like chocolate tones with a reddish base.”

Available at BioSculpture.co.uk

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