Vanilla Chai Nails Are the Cozy Manicure Trend to Try This Fall

Selena Gomez and Heidi Klum Spoke: Vanilla chai nails are the official minimalist nail trend for fall 2024.

Booze-inspired manicures are all the rage these days (see: Selena’s recent apple cider manicure), and celebrities and beauty lovers are especially obsessed with vanilla chai nails for the season. Almost naked but not quite, vanilla chai proves that neutrals don’t have to be boring.

Celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik, whose clients include Selena, Heidi Klum and Jennifer Lopez, tells GLAMOUR that neutrals are back this season. “People want their nails to look their best: clean, fresh, freshly polished, but subtle and chic,” says Tom. “Neutrals are also very versatile, as they go with every look.”

Another benefit? “When your schedule is busy and you have to wait between nail appointments, you don’t notice growth like you would with darker shades,” he explains. It’s no wonder so many busy A-listers are fans of the low-maintenance style.

THE BLONDE HAPA

And what makes chai vanilla nails look so good? “I would describe chai vanilla nails as a semi-opaque, high-shine nude beige,” says Tom. “The color should be one shade lighter than your skin tone, matching the highlights, as this allows the nails stand out, but remain deliberately discreet.”

It’s “perfectly subtle and chic,” Tom continues, calling it “the perfect nude.” It was also approved by the editorial: “I just wore this look yesterday on my most important client, my daughter!” he says. “She is manually modeling for another campaign.” Cute!

Feeling inspired? See how to do vanilla chai nails yourself. “The key to this look is three things,” he says. “A perfect manicure is number one: I use my favorite Tweezerman tools (…) to create a meticulous manicure and (a) base for enhancements before applying color.”

Then add your color choice. “A semi-opaque beige nude—not pink—is what makes it the right shade for fall,” says Tom. Think: OPI’s Samoan Sand and Essie’s Sand Tropez.

Kristina Bumphrey/Getty Images

Last but certainly not least? High brightness. “A thick, high-shine top coat allows the deliberate subtle shade to shine and really catch your eye,” concludes Tom. For regular polish, try OPI Mirror Shine Top Coat. For gel, consider Gelpolish Vishine Top Coat.

See? I told you it was easy to DIY. Start your chai vanilla nail journey today and shop the essentials below.

Danielle Sinay is associate beauty editor at GLAMOUR US. Follow her on Instagram @daniellesinay.

This feature originally appeared on GLAMOUR US.