Jennifer Lopez Revives 'Chai Latte' Nails for Fall
Jennifer Lopez brought back Tom Bachik's 'chai latte' nails—first debuted at NYFW 2023—with a warmer cinnamon-spice twist for fall's most flattering minimalist manicure.
Updated
The takeaway
- Tom Bachik first debuted chai latte nails on Jennifer Lopez at New York Fashion Week in 2023, calling the shade a 'taupe-y lavender'.
- Daisy Kalnina, founder and CEO of The GelBottle Inc., says the new version 'takes the milky nude everyone loves and warms it up with a cinnamon-spice undertone.'
- The trend includes five variations: short almond, milky gloss, cloudy French, chrome finish and micro polka dots.
Jennifer Lopez wore "chai latte" nails last weekend, and the shade is now the strongest contender for fall's most universally flattering manicure color.
Celebrity nail tech Tom Bachik, Lopez's longtime go-to manicurist, created the look. This is not the shade's first appearance: Bachik first debuted the chai latte hue on Lopez at New York Fashion Week in 2023, calling it a "taupe-y lavender" color at the time.
The 2026 version shifts the formula. "It takes the milky nude everyone loves and warms it up with a cinnamon-spice undertone," says Daisy Kalnina, founder and CEO of The GelBottle Inc. "It's the same clean concept—a minimal base but with a fall depth and twist that transitions into the new season."
The color sits at the intersection of two currents in the nail market. Interest in minimalist manicures is at an all-time high, with variations of sheer, natural finishes and intentionally understated manicures dominating trends. Chai latte answers that demand while leaning into the cozy, coffee-inspired theme of the season. Kalnina describes it as an elevated creamy nude beige that reflects the current appetite for nails that look expensive, considered, and quietly luxurious.
The shade is versatile across nail shapes, finishes, designs and occasions—office or event alike. "I love these when worn short and almond-shaped with a chic shine rather than an ultra-high gloss," Kalnina suggests. "They work beautifully on their own [take JLo for proof] or with one accent nail in a deeper cocoa for contrast."
Five ways to wear chai latte nails
Short 'n' Sweet. Simple, short, immaculately groomed nails rarely fail to flatter. A rich, creamy chai latte coat makes the result as classic as it is contemporary.
Milky Gloss. To lean into the "latte" element, apply a milky, cashmere-tinted top coat or nail illuminator over the base. According to Hailey Bieber, "milk nails" are making a comeback this season as well.
Cloudy French. Swap traditional crisp white tips for a cloudy, near-translucent finish. The chai latte color instantly reads dreamier and more subtle.
Chrome Finish. For those bypassing subtlety, a glazed chrome finish attracts compliments. This variation adopts a distinct ivory undertone rather than cinnamon.
Micro Polkas. Minuscule reflective polka dots add a modern edge without tipping into maximalism. Keep nails as short, rounded ovals or almonds to preserve the low-key overall effect.
With a celebrity-endorsed debut, an established 2023 track record and a formula that bridges minimalism and seasonal warmth, chai latte positions itself as the nude that carries fall 2026 manicures from the office to the event calendar.
Source: Elle Beauty
Grace Kim
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Correspondent covering media and advertising at Eurasian Beauty Journal.
