Ready to get your salon-perfect manicure? The French mani is a staple design that you can replicate from the comfort of your very own home.
The delicate white tip of the French manicure may seem difficult to achieve. However, as a design perfect for any occasion, we show you how to do it without going to a salon.
There are a few tips and tricks to help engineer a professional-looking French mani. Here are our top recommendations.
What is a French manicure?
Despite its name, the French manicure does not originate from France. Instead, it is reported that this chic and classic nail design was influenced by Jeff Pink, the founder of ORLY.
The look became more popular in the ‘70s due to the wishes of Hollywood filmmakers who wanted movie stars to have natural nails that could be seen during filming. With this in mind, the French manicure came to life.
Following its new-found fame in America, Pink took this look over to Paris, where models wore it during fashion shows.
With a subtle pink perfectly complemented by a bright white tip, there’s no wonder so many women loved the French manicure.
What products do I need to create a French manicure?
If you’re applying colour to your natural nail, you can create a French manicure with regular polish or gel. All you need to complete the look is:
- Cuticle pusher
- Nail file
- Base coat
- Pink polish
- White polish
- Top coat
- Cuticle oil
How to do a French manicure at home
The French manicure is known for its feminine finish. Although the design looks simple to the eye, perfecting the delicate detail takes practice.
With it being such a sought-after nail design, we’ve fashioned a simple 7-step guide that will help you to create the perfect DIY French manicure.
- Prepare the nail
Like any professional manicure, preparing the nail is essential. To ensure your French manicure lasts longer, push back your cuticles so the nail polish won’t lift from the base of your nail. Remember, healthy cuticles result in healthy nails!
- Shape to perfection
Shape your nails with a file. The French-inspired design suits all nail shapes, though it’s common to see it on slightly rounded, almond or square nails. The thing to remember is to get the shape symmetrical on all nails.
- Apply a base coat
Once your nail is prepped and shaped, apply a base coat to extend the life of your manicure. Not only does a base coat help the coloured polish cling to the nail, but it also acts as a protective barrier, leaving you with an even-textured nail plate that will help you achieve a smooth, flawless finish.
- Pretty in pink
A sheer pink polish or a builder gel will achieve the most natural French manicured nails. Your skin tone should be the main focus when choosing a base shade; for example, rose-based shades are great for fair/light skin, whilst a deeper nude colour is better for dark skin.
- The fine detail
Use opaque white nail polish to accomplish your desired look. Once the pink layer is completely dry, carefully paint the tip.
- Use a top coat
When you’re happy with the finished look, seal it in place with a top coat to give your manicure a salon-worthy finish whilst ensuring it lasts longer.
Apply cuticle oil to each finger and rub it in. One drop revitalizes cuticles for beautiful, healthier-looking hands and nails.
What colours should I use for a French manicure?
As we’ve already covered, you can apply a French manicure in regular or gel polish. For the classic look, sheer pink is the go-to.
Here are five regular and five gel polish shades that we love for the French mani!
Regular polish colours
- ORLY Rose Coloured Glasses
- Essie Ballet Slippers
- ORLY Pink Nude
- Morgan Taylor Call My Blush
- NailBerry Elegance
Gel polish colours
- Gelish Simple Sheer
- Cally Cosmetics Touch of Rose
- Kiara Sky Sugar Coated
- Glitterbels Perfect French
- Halo Gel Nails French Pink
How to do the perfect French manicure line?
Although you can use tape as a guide to help with your French tip, most professional nail technicians execute their finished look by hand.
With a fine detail brush and a steady hand, meticulously create the tip’s curve and fill in the gap. You can also use a flat or angled brush to produce a curved line across your nail’s smile area.
Top tip for beginners: start with the sides, then round the edge where it meets in the middle.
Some French manicures are designed with a deep tip. Following the white part of your existing nail is recommended for the most natural look.
What is an ombre French manicure?
An ombre french manicure is a modern take on a traditional style.
With a classic French manicure, you’ll see a perfectly formed and distinct line that separates the tip from the rest of the nail plate, resulting in two complementary yet contrasting colours.
When you apply a French ombre manicure, the colours are blended. One colour at the cuticle end of your nail will seamlessly mix into another at the tip.
Are French manicures in style?
Nail trends come and go, with seasonality playing a huge role in deciding what colour to paint your nails.
Although the French manicure has been around since the 1970s, we believe it is a staple design that will never go out of fashion.
This natural-looking nail polish design complements an array of outfit choices and transitions effortlessly between summer and winter.
These days, however, the timeless classic is often applied with a modern twist. Influenced by celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez and Kourtney Kardashian, the French manicure has been transformed.
Over time, we have witnessed people experiment with different colours and styles. Some people even introduce patterns into their French manicures.
A French manicure will always remain in style, thanks to the versatility of the design.
How long should my nails be for a French manicure?
What helps the French manicure be so popular is that it is a design that looks good on any nail length.
You don’t have to have elongated nails to accomplish a perfect French mani. Shorter nails can also be sleek and elegant once dressed in a French manicure.
The shorter your nail, the thinner the line should be at the free edge of your nail.
