A slick of jet-black nail polish never goes out of style, and is equal to more than the sum of its parts. It can read grungy, or glam, as a surprisingly versatile shade; and now the inky manicure is enjoying a run as fall’s chicest nail trend. Forget elaborate nail art, milky neutrals, or even the season’s customary burgundy and Bordeaux, because Hailey Bieber, Dua Lipa, Kylie Jenner, and Selena Gomez have all been going back to black.
At the 2026 Academy Museum Gala, Bieber offered a particularly polished take on the trend, pairing her bubblegum-pink Chanel gown with glossy, jet-black nails. Her go-to nail artist, Zola Ganzorigt, used OPI Intelli-Gel in Black Onyx, shaping the nails into elongated almonds and finishing them with a lacquer-like shine. The jewel-black shade was a striking counterpoint to the sweetness of her dress—a glam goth moment—and a marked departure from the glazed, barely-there manicures that have become a Mrs. Hailey Bieber signature.
For others, black nails aren’t just a seasonal trend, but a regular fixture in their nail appointment calendar. Dua Lipa has long favored a midnight manicure, wearing the shade even in the height of summer, when brighter colors and fun decals typically reign supreme. Kylie Jenner, too, is a longtime devotee. At a Kylie Cosmetics holiday party, she paired glossy black almond-shaped nails with a frothy, feather-trimmed pink dress. Rather than adding a pop of color to a neutral outfit, both Jenner and Bieber made the case for doing the inverse, grounding a sugary look with something dark and decidedly cool.
Hailey Bieber’s glam goth manicure at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala.
Zola Ganzorigt
Photo: Getty Images
There are plenty of ways to play with the formula, too. Selena Gomez has previously experimented with a black velvet manicure, courtesy of her longtime nail artist Tom Bachik, lending the otherwise simple shade a soft, light-catching dimension. Bachik used Chanel’s Le Vernis in Le Diable En Chanel; after meticulously shaping and prepping the nails, he applied the house’s La Base Camélia before layering on the deep, almost-black lacquer.
Selena Gomez’s “velvet noir” manicure, courtesy of Tom Bachik.
Photo: Tom Bachik
Photo: Instagram (@kyliejenner)
For the festive season, a dusting of chrome or a magnetic cat-eye finish can bring a little extra drama. Shape makes a difference, too: longer almond nails, as favored by Bieber and Jenner, feel sleek and glamorous, while shorter, squarer silhouettes offer a more understated, slightly punky alternative.
“Winter nude” by Julia Dioto.
Photo: Instagram (@paintedbyjools)
Part of black polish’s enduring appeal is that it works across skin tones, nail lengths, and personal styles—nail artist Julia Diogo even describes them as “winter nude.” It’s equally at home with a slouchy knit and jeans as it is with an outre dress, and has enough presence to make even the simplest outfit feel considered. And while there’s certainly room for embellishment, there’s something quite chic about keeping things so simple. No nail art, no glitter (yet!): just two coats of glossy noir.
Chanel
Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Le Diable en Chanel
OPI