There’s very little element of surprise when it comes to my fortnightly manicure. Every two weeks, my nail artist knows exactly who – and what – I’ll be pointing to as inspiration: a picture of Hailey Bieber’s latest set.

We’ve done glazed doughnut using chrome powder, syrup nails with jelly polish and even tiny fruit accents, but this autumn, we’re going mocha – inspired, of course, by Bieber’s newest manicure.

PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 29: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY - For Non-Editorial use please seek approval from Fashion House) Hailey Bieber attends the Saint Laurent Womenswear Spring/Summer 2027 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 29, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

While merlot nails were trending with celebrities like Uma Thurman and Naomi Watts at Paris Fashion Week, Bieber stepped out at the Saint Laurent SS27 show wearing something a little darker on her signature almond-shaped nails: a rich, glossy brown occupying a cosy space between hot chocolate and espresso. Mocha nails, if you will.

The manicure felt all the more intentional following Bieber’s latest hair colour switch-up, which saw her trade “cookie butter” bronde for a lustrous dark chocolate brown as she leans into the season’s moodier colour palette.

Bieber’s longtime nail artist, Zola Ganzorigt, is usually the mastermind behind her high-shine sets, and her Instagram is currently a smorgasbord of autumnal brown hues. Think “moonstone mocha”, a shimmering cat-eye set she created for Vanessa Hudgens and a “mismatched” medley of seasonal browns on Tracee Ellis Ross.

If Bieber’s trendsetting record is anything to go by, mocha nails are set to be everywhere this autumn. Professional gel polish, like Bio Sculpture, The GelBottle’s BIAB or CND Shellac, is your best bet for achieving a similarly glossy look, but if you’re attempting your nails at home there are a few rules to note first.

If you’re going dark, invest in a protective base coat to prevent stains and finish with a high-shine top coat to lock in the colour and lend your nails a mirror-like shine. Essie’s Gel Couture Nail Polish in All Checked Out, OPI’s Nail Lacquer in You Don’t Know Jacques and Manucurist’s Nail Polish in Clove are all a close match to Bieber’s hot chocolate manicure.

Below, even more mocha manicure inspiration for your perusal.

@nailsbyheather.errington