Right now, the name of the game is gourmand. From dessert-inspired hair colors to rich dolcé fragrances, his fall has been all about warm, inviting scents and tones. And that includes our manicures! Burnt sugar nails are the latest gorgeous look to take some sweet inspiration. This blend of decadent hues is your ticket to a sensory twist on neutrals.
What Are Burnt Sugar Nails?
Burnt sugar nails are a gorgeous take on black and brown, a foray into a neutral that’s marked by the marbled, stone-like veins. You can get the look by combining shades of caramel and deeper espresso tones—and you can take them to the next level with marbling. This salon-favorite technique swirls colors into patterns that mimic the veins of natural stones. And yes, this look is doable at home. For the novice, nail artist Samantha Rose says simple household items are an easy way to help you bring the design to life. “Toothpicks and bobby pins can be used to swirl blobs of color and create the effect,” she says.
What makes burnt sugar nails different than traditional marbeling is the color choice. Caramelized sugar takes on gorgeous golden and orange tones. Creamy and rich, this color grows darker with additional heat. And when that heat gets too much, burnt sugar takes on a charred, dark brown color that is right in line with recent trendy espresso nail colors.
On your nails, this look is a combo of orange-brown and brown-black, swirled expertly together. These colors might ring a bell for you, as they’re the hallmarks of a tortoiseshell mani. By changing the effect to an ink-in-water look, we’re putting a twist on a classic tortoiseshell that looks insanely luxe.