The Moody Manicure Celebs Like Hannah Waddingham Are Rocking For Fall & Winter 2026

Winter is coming, and that means putting our pastel nail polishes into hibernation. Instead, take inspo from actor Hannah Waddingham, who stepped out at the Women in Film Honors on November 5, wearing the most luxurious cocoa-red shade on her nails. The vampy polish complemented her emerald green dress perfectly and was just the right color combo for the brisk season. It's clear that this '90s nail trend is making a comeback, and this moody hue is perfect for fall 2026. 

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Anne Hathaway, who's had a major style transformation in her 40s, was also spotted rocking chocolate cherry on her nails this past September while wearing a black gown at the "Verity" premiere. "We always see clients reaching for deep berry red and rich, chocolatey brown tones as we enter autumn; the cherry cocoa trend for 2026 blends both simultaneously," nail expert Megan Caie told Elle. She continued, "Cherry brings that wine-like richness so synonymous with the season, while cocoa adds a soft, earthy brown base." Sound delicious and decadent enough to eat? Grab your nail supplies, put on some cozy music, and give yourself the luxe mani everyone is sporting during these "-ber" months.

A DIY chocolate cherry manicure is a breeze, especially if you know the right way to prep your nails for an at-home manicure. Start with clean nails and gently push back your cuticles, and remove any excess skin with a cuticle clipper. You'll want to make sure the surrounding area around your nails is pristine, as a dark polish will only enhance a messy bed. Next, apply a base coat, and after it dries, brush on your chocolate cherry shade in thin layers starting from the middle near the cuticle and then slowly dragging the brush toward the tip. Try to get the color as close to the edges as possible without transferring the polish onto the skin. A tiny gap near the edges is fine and looks cleaner than bleeding polish. After the first coat dries, apply another thin layer, followed by a clear top coat.

Instagram user thekylagray shared a tip for those with warm undertones and/or deep skin tones, which is to make sure your polish has brown notes, rather than overly red. "The brown warms everything up and plays off the golden/brown tones in the skin instead of creating such a stark contrast. Still dark, still moody, just richer and, [in my opinion], way more flattering on a tan," she explained. So, instead of looking for black cherry, the keyword here is "chocolate cherry." Warm, lush, with a hint of deep red is just the color you'll want on your nails this season.