Your Fall Nail Order? A Chai Latte Manicure, Obviously

Prepping your nails for a chai latte manicure

Minus the occasional oat milk latte (iced, of course), I’m not a big coffee girl. That means my go-to coffee shop drink is almost always an iced chai latte. It’s the right balance between sweet and spicy, which, it turns out, makes it a must-have fall mani color too. I just spotted J.Lo wearing a chai latte manicure to ring in the season, and the second I saw it, I knew I had to try it (I also wondered why I, as a devout fan of the drink, hadn’t thought to try the shade on my nails before). Like a chai latte itself, this color is tan, creamy, and soft: It’s a “perfect creamy soft brown,” says nail artist Erica De Los Santos. “Think cream mixed with a warm brown—not too dark, not too beige.”

If you’re in search of a fun new neutral polish that helps transition you from summer to fall, this one is my pick. De Los Santos especially loves the shade for this time of year because of its cozy vibes. Imagine “sitting by the fireplace, sipping on a nice chai latte,” she says. “It’s the perfect smooth transition into fall.” My next nail appointment is booked, and I already know I’m getting a chai latte manicure to match my favorite drink. If you’re on board too, keep reading for how to wear them, nail prep tips, and plenty of inspo pics.

I’m sure you know this already, but “cuticle prep is essential for any manicure,” De Los Santos reminds us. For a lighter shade like this, prep is especially important since the pale polish won’t hide imperfections. To start, “gently push back the cuticles with an orangewood stick or cuticle pusher, and remove any overhang to give you that clean, finished look,” says De Los Santos.

In terms of nail shape, she likes a round or almond option, but you can play around with any length and shape you’d like.

How to create a chai latte manicure

Once it’s polish time, De Los Santos has a great tip for chai-colored nail polish in particular: “When polishing, use nice, even strokes and avoid applying too much pressure,” she says. “Too much pressure can cause streaking, especially with those creamy colors.”

DIYers might want to opt for a quick-dry polish, De Los Santos recommends. Specifically, she likes Essie Expressie and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri—try shades like Millennium Momentum or Taupe Priority from each brand, respectively. Chai latte nails can range from light taupe to a deep tan—much like the color of the actual drink can range depending on how much milk you add—so you have several shade options to choose from.

Chai latte manicure inspo pics

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Meet the expert

• Erica De Los Santos is a celebrity nail artist and educator based in New Jersey and New York City area. She’s done runway manicures for New York Fashion Week and worked with stars like Maren Morris and Camila Cabello.

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmo. She’s covered and tested all things nails, from the coolest new polish colors to cuticle care and nail art trends.

Catharine MalzahnContributing beauty writer

Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmopolitan and was previously the beauty assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention.