20 Brown French Tip Nail Designs for a Unique Twist on a Classic Style

A woman with brown French tip nails.
PHOTO: @DISSEYNAILS

This summer, updated takes on the classic French manicure are set to take over. “A French mani is always on trend, and we see different variations on the beloved look throughout the seasons,” says Olive & June VP of Content & Creative and Mani Trend Expert, Olivia Van Iderstine. While classic pink and white French manis are making a return as a result of the current early ’00s craze, there’s something to be said about the brown French tip nails taking over our social feeds. If you’ve yet to see them, you’re in luck!

Ahead, find over a dozen unique brown French manicures fit for summer.

01of 20

Chocolate Brown French Tips

Chocolate Brown French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@RACHELSUENAILS

Not sure brown tips make for a stunning summer nail look? Here’s proof that they do. To perfect this nail look, start with a nude base, then use a chocolate brown polish to create the arched tips. If you struggle with a shaky hand, simplify the process with French manicure stencil stickers. For the best result, wait to peel them off until the tips are fully dry. Then, complete the look with top coat.

02of 20

Silver Accented Brown French Tips

Silver Accented Brown French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@RACHELSUENAILS

Want to jazz it up a bit? “Nailing Hollywood artist Rachel Joseph created this look by painting a sheer nude base over stiletto-shaped Gel-X tips,” says manicurist and Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna. “She used a brown polish with warm undertones for the French tips and added silver accents with a sparkly silver polish and a liner nail art brush.”

03of 20

Brown Geometric French Tips

Brown Geometric French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@THEHANGEDIT

If you have a steady hand, try recreating this geometric brown French mani by Nailing Hollywood artist Hang Nguyen. “Hang created this super simple yet unique look using just the brushes from the bottle and a cleanup brush to sharpen the bottom line,” Hanna reveals, noting that she layered shades on top of each other to perfect the look.

04of 20

Square Brown Skittle French Mani

Square Brown Skittle French Mani - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@MADNAILS

“For this look, Morgan used four different brown shades ranging from light to dark,” Hanna says. “She then painted a half-moon shaped deep French onto coffin-shaped nails, alternating colors for each nail.”

05of 20

Brown Almond Shaped French Tips

Brown Almond Shaped French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@NAILS_AND_BEAUTY_BY_DAISY

These short almond-shaped nails have us craving a nutty chocolate bar. They’re crisp, chic, and glossy as can be. And the gold foil flecks look like a torn wrapper. Fun, no?

06of 20

Chocolate and Cream Mismatch French Mani

Chocolate and Cream Mismatch French Mani - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@DISSEYNAILS

Nail artist Dayanna I. Sapiens is the queen of mix-and-match manicures. For this one, she went with chocolate and cream smiley faces, swirls, daisies, and stars. If you have a steady hand (and are ambidextrous), you can recreate the look with dotting tools and a liner brush. If not, simply drop into your local nail salon to bring the look to life.

07of 20

Chocolate Drip Ice Cream French Tips

Chocolate Drip Ice Cream French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@LOLO.NAILEDIT

Ice cream nails—manicures with drippy nail art—are trending for summer 2024. When done in shades of brown, it makes for an especially rich take on the popular nail art trend.

08of 20

Chocolate Ombre Cuticle Cutouts

Chocolate Ombre Cuticle Cutouts - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@DISSEYNAILS

If you prefer a bit more saturation on your nails, consider extending your French tips down toward your cuticles for more of a cutout mani. This design looks gorgeous in a single shade, as well as in various brown tones.

09of 20

Dark Chocolate French Tips

Dark Chocolate French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@DISSEYNAILS

Nowadays French manicures very rarely solely feature simple arched tips. Here’s one way to put brown polish to work in a more creative French tip design.

10of 20

Glittery Heart Brown French Tips

Glittery Heart Brown French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@NAILS_AND_BEAUTY_BY_DAISY

Just because brown is a neutral color doesn’t mean it can’t be paired with a little bling. For some real sparkle, finish off a few of your nails with a chunky glitter top coat. It makes for a confetti-covered neutral mani we can fully get behind.

11of 20

Glossy Chestnut French Tips

Glossy Chestnut French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@NAILS_AND_BEAUTY_BY_DAISY

For a warmer take on the brown French tip trend, opt for a glossy chestnut polish. It mimics the appearance of suntanned skin, fresh coconuts, and s’mores—some of summer’s very best highlights.

12of 20

Metallic Brown Swirl French Tips

Metallic Brown Swirl French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@DISSEYNAILS

We love a groovy, ’70s-inspired mani and this metallic brown swirl French tip design stopped us in our tracks. While the tips and swirls were created with polish, the shimmering stars are actually little pieces of holographic confetti secured with top coat.

13of 20

Pink and Brown Tort French Mani

Pink and Brown Tort French Mani - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@NAILS_AND_BEAUTY_BY_DAISY

Tortoiseshell designs might be more common for fall but if you think about it, it’s a popular material used in summer accessories (think: claw clips and sunglasses), too. As such, we love the idea of a bubblegum pink and dimensional tort French mani. You can DIY the look by layering chestnut, black, and dark brown polishes.

14of 20

Soft Brown French Mani

Soft Brown French Mani - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@DISSEYNAILS

If you love the summer pastel trend currently circulating on social media but want to hop on the brown bandwagon, consider combining the two with a soft take on the latter. Here, Sapiens used taupe, sand, and cream tones to create the look.

15of 20

Straight Edge Brown French Mani

Straight Edge Brown French Mani - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@DISSEYNAILS

For a more mod brown French manicure, skip the arches and opt for straight lines. You can easily create this look with a lining brush or nail tape.

16of 20

Tonal Brown Illusion French Tips

Tonal Brown Illusion French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@DISSEYNAILS

How chic is this tonal brown illusion French manicure? To get the look, paint a sponge vertically with two shades of brown polish side by side. Dab it onto each nail. Once dry, apply French manicure stencils to section off your tips. Then, paint another sponge with an inverse of the colors and dab it solely on the tips. Touch up the edges with an angled brush and acetone and finish with top coat.

17of 20

Tortoiseshell Tips

Tortoiseshell Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@NAILS_AND_BEAUTY_BY_DAISY

Love the idea of a tortoiseshell French manicure? There’s always the option to let the design stand on its own without any other extra accents.

18of 20

Two-Tone Brown Apex French Tips

Two-Tone Brown Apex French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@THEHANGEDIT

For something a smidge edgier than solid brown French tips, consider pairing the warm hue with jet-black polish in an apex design. “Hang created this look using a nail art brush,” Hanna says.

19of 20

Wavy Brown French Tips

Wavy Brown French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@DISSEYNAILS

If you don’t want to commit to a classic French manicure, consider three brown French tips paired with eye-catching nail art like daisies and swirls. Sapiens created this look with dotting tools and a nail art brush.

20of 20

Bold Tort French Tips

Bold Tort French Tips - InStyle Brown French Tip Nails
@LOLO.NAILEDIT / INSTAGRAM

Meanwhile, if you love crisp white tips but are tired of a sheer, neutral base, you can switch things up with a brown polish or tort design. You’ll want to start with the base, let it dry, then finish with the white tips and top coat.

Related Posts

Inspiring Short Nail Designs with Delicate Floral Touches for an Elegant Look.

Are you looking for quick ideas to decorate your short nails with delicate floral motifs? You’ve come to the right place! In this article, we will present…

22 Nightmare Before Christmas & Jack Skellington Nail Designs for 2024

Then let’s look at the designs! 1. Acrylic nightmare before Christmas nails iluvurnailz I love the use of Jack Skellington nails and bright colors in this cute…

Elegant French Toenail Art: Timeless Beauty in Every Detail

30 Gorgeous Glitter Nail Ideas for Year-Round Sparkle

Get festive with your nails this Christmas! This post contains 37 simple and stylish Christmas nail designs, to add a touch of holiday cheer to your look.

30 Gorgeous Glitter Nail Ideas for Year-Round Sparkle

Who says  glitter nails are just for the holiday season? This gorgeous nail look deserves to shine all year round! Some extra sparkle is the quickest way to vamp…

Intense Peach Nail Ideas

Intense Peach Nail Ideas

Deep peach nails are quickly becoming a favorite in the beauty community and offer a fresh and fun twist on traditional nail colors. This warm shade is…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *