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I have only recently started to get used to having my nails done after about a decade of no nails and no salon (back-to-back career chaos then mommy era). I’m having fun following trends, figuring out what my style is, and getting seasonal (um hello Halloween nails!).
So it’s come to my attention that this neutral or milky trend is what it’s hot right now. Jennifer Lopez has given us our latest obsession with her chai latte nails, created by Jlo’s own team.
What Are Chai Latte Nails, Exactly?
The trend traces back to J.Lo’s longtime manicurist, Tom Bachik, who first coined “chai latte” — and posed her with an actual chai latte for the visual — while prepping her for a Coach fashion show back in 2023. The original version was a taupe-y lavender, made by mixing two Aprés Nail gel shades together. It’s evolved since: she’s worn a shimmery “iced chai” cat-eye version at the Grammys, and most recently, ahead of Labor Day, a warmer, spice-kissed take with more of a cinnamon undertone — which is the one that’s actually blowing up right now.
The through-line across all three: a milky, warm, taupe-brown neutral that’s a few shades deeper than your standard “your nails but better” nude. Think the color of, well, a chai latte with a little extra foam — not too pink, not too gray, not fully brown. It reads sophisticated instead of boring, which is exactly why it’s become the “your nails but better” upgrade of the season.
Shape-wise, she’s kept it simple — a short-to-medium almond or squoval shape, high-shine gel finish, no nail art required. That’s part of the appeal: this is a manicure that looks pulled-together without looking like you tried too hard, which, in your 40s, is basically the dream for every part of your appearance, nails included.
How to Get Chai Latte Nails at the Salon
What to ask for: Don’t just say “a nude.” Nudes run the gamut from pink-beige to stark white, and you will not get this color by accident. Bring a photo (search “Tom Bachik chai latte nails” and pull up the Instagram post — technicians respond well to visual references) and ask specifically for a “warm taupe-brown neutral, like a milky chai latte” — that phrasing helps them reach for the right family of polish instead of guessing.
What to know before you go:
- If your salon carries Aprés Nail (a lot of higher-end salons do), ask if they have Gel Couleur “Chai Latte” #317 — that’s the literal shade this trend is named after, so if they have it, you can skip the description entirely and just point at the bottle.
- Ask for a squoval or soft almond shape if you want the exact J.Lo effect — square edges make the color look flatter and less “warm.”
- If you want the shimmer version she wore at the Grammys, ask if they have a “cat-eye” or magnetic gel topcoat in a similar tone — it’s a different technique (a magnet is dragged over wet gel to create a subtle diagonal shimmer) and not every salon offers it, so call ahead if that’s the look you’re after.
- Gel over regular polish if you want this to last — chai latte is subtle enough that any chipping or wear shows almost immediately, more so than a bold color would.
What it costs: A standard gel manicure runs anywhere from $25–$45 at a solid neighborhood salon, up toward $50–$70+ if you’re in a big city or a higher-end spot. If you want the cat-eye/shimmer effect, expect to pay a bit more — it’s a specialty technique, not a base service, so ask about pricing before they start.
How to Get Chai Latte Nails at Home
Genuinely one of the easier celebrity trends to DIY, because the actual named shade is available to buy.
- The exact polish: Aprés Nail Gel Couleur in “Chai Latte” #317 — this is literally the shade Tom Bachik used as his base. It’s a gel formula, HEMA-free, so you’ll need a UV/LED lamp to cure it (or take the bottle to your salon and hand it over — see above).
- If you don’t want to deal with gel/a lamp: Barry M’s “Gelly Hi Shine” polish in Chai Latte is a regular polish with a gel-like finish and similarly warm, light-brown tone — good if you want the color without the equipment investment.
- For the shimmer version: look for a warm, mocha-toned holographic or shimmer topcoat to layer over a taupe-brown base — apply it in thin, even strokes in one direction to get that subtle diagonal glint instead of an all-over sparkle.
Steps for the at-home version:
- Push back cuticles and lightly buff the nail surface so polish adheres evenly (skipping this is the #1 reason DIY gel chips early).
- Apply a base coat — don’t skip it, especially with gel, or you’ll fight staining later.
- Two thin coats of your chai latte shade, curing under the lamp between coats if using gel (30–60 seconds per coat is typical, but check your specific lamp).
- Seal with a glossy top coat for shine, or a matte one if you want the quieter, “your-nails-but-better” version.
- Wipe down with rubbing alcohol to remove the tacky layer if you’re using gel.
If you’re new to at-home gel, budget an hour the first time you try this — it goes faster once you’ve got a rhythm.
Not Feeling Chai Latte? Try These Other Elegant September Nail Colors
If chai latte isn’t quite your shade, September’s nail trends are giving you a few other elegant, easy ways in. Chocolate brown is having a huge moment as this year’s answer to the classic nude — deep, rich, and glossy enough to look expensive without trying too hard (it works on literally every nail length and shape, which is rare). If you want a little more pop, nail artists are calling out “transitional tomato” — a warm, fiery red that’s softer than a classic cherry and pairs beautifully with the camel, cream, and gold you’re probably already reaching for this month. And if you’re feeling adventurous, “dirty martini” — a muted, almost muddy olive-green — is quietly having its moment too; it reads as fall in a way that feels a little more unexpected than another brown. My take: pick whichever one matches your mood that week, because the real trend this September isn’t one color — it’s warm, glossy, and a little grown-up, across the board.
The real appeal of this one isn’t even the color, if I’m honest — it’s that it’s proof you don’t need a bold statement nail to look put-together. Sometimes the quietest option is the one that actually reads as expensive. Chai latte nails are basically the millennial-beige of manicures, except somehow warmer, cozier, and a lot more fun to say out loud.