A different profile colour makes it easier to tell work browsing from personal browsing. It does not necessarily stop another person using the same unlocked computer from opening that profile.
Google’s Chrome profile guidance explicitly warns that someone with access to the device can switch to other Chrome profiles and view information such as browsing history. Treat the profile selector as an organisation feature, not a password-protected boundary between people.
Use the separation for the problem it solves
Profiles can help keep bookmarks, settings and signed-in browsing contexts organised. A clear name and distinct colour can reduce the chance of opening a work document in the wrong account or sharing a personal bookmark during a demonstration.
Before a sensitive task, still check the account displayed by the website. A profile called “Work” is a label you chose; it does not prove that every tab inside it is signed into the intended service account.
Think about who can unlock the device
If several people need to use one computer, consider the operating system’s separate user accounts and appropriate access controls. Lock your session when stepping away and follow organisational requirements for shared devices.
Chrome also offers Guest browsing, with its own limits and intended uses. It should not be treated as a way to make an untrusted computer safe for sensitive accounts. Choose the arrangement according to who controls the device and what information is involved.
For a household example, making one browser profile per person may organise favourites neatly while leaving all of them reachable from the same unlocked desktop. That is a convenience arrangement. Discuss it honestly instead of promising each person that their browsing is inaccessible to everyone else.
Before removing a profile, check what information is stored only there and what is synchronised. Deletion can remove local browsing information, but it is not a substitute for signing out of other devices or reviewing account access.
A useful setup has a clear answer to two questions: “Which account am I using?” and “Who else can access this session?” Browser profiles help with the first; the second needs a broader device-access decision.