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    1. Beauty
    2. Nails

    Vanessa Hudgens's Tiger Stripe French Manicure Has a Pretty Wild Twist

    It's always animal print season.

    Danielle Jackson's avatar
    By Danielle Jackson
    Published 7 January 2026 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Vanessa Hudgens on set of the Today Show
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
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    Animal print may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you're picturing the perfect winter nail design, but the wild, animal-inspired look is becoming a go-to for Vanessa Hudgens, who's pretty used to thinking outside the box when it comes to her manicures. Back in December, for example, she opted out of wearing typical holiday nails and instead ended the year wearing a leopard print French manicure, but now she's back with a nail look that's equally wild.

    On Jan. 6, Hudgens's go-to manicurist, Zola Ganzorigt, shared an Instagram video of the actor's new nails. In it, Hudgens is seen wearing medium length almond nails with a French tip design, but instead of classic white tips, she got a little more creative and added a black and white tiger stripe design with a holographic cat eye effect. A cat eye manicure is created by painting the nails with a magnetic nail polish before using a magnet to spread out the particles and give the nails a super-shiny, almost reflective finish that's meant to mimic a cat's eye.

    A post shared by Zola Ganzorigt (@nailsbyzola)

    A photo posted by on

    This is pretty on theme with a handful of the manicures Hudgens has been wearing lately. She popped out wearing the aforementioned leopard print French manicure a few days after giving birth to her second child with husband Cole Tucker in late November, and before that, she was seen wearing metallic silver nails. She also wore pink and yellow guava nails with a reflective 3D finish over the summer, so it's clear she's not even close to being done with the cat eye trend—if anything, she's proving just how versatile the nail design actually is.

    Animal print nail designs have also been making a pretty big splash this season, with celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Kourtney Kardashian, and Dua Lipa whipping out their wildest looks, from leopard print to snakeskin to tortoise shell. It's an unconventional design for this time of year, but maybe that explains why it works so well.

    Choosing an animal-inspired design is one of the best ways to spice up an otherwise simple manicure, not to mention that it gives you something fun to look at in the midst of the winter gloominess. To get the animal print look at home, read ahead to shop some essentials.

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    Amber Hoops Almond Nails - Soft Gel Press on

    BTArtbox
    Amber Hoops Almond Nails
    $22
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    The easiest way to achieve an animal print design? Grab a set of pre-painted press-on nails.

    Animal House

    Chillhouse
    Animal House
    $16
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    Sometimes all-over print can feel a little busy. These press-ons mix and match different colors and designs to add a little more edge.

    Dotting Tool

    Manucurist
    Dotting Tool
    $16
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    If you're attempting to paint a design on your own, make sure you have a dotting tool or thin brush on hand to help with precision.

    300pcs Half Matte Clear Acrylic Full Cover Nail Tips - Extra Short Almond

    Melody Susie
    Half Matte Clear Acrylic Nail Tips
    $10
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    Add nail tips if you want to give the illusion of length or ensure your polish lasts longer.

    Gel Setter Top Coat - Gel Like High Gloss Finish Nail Polish

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    $11
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    Once you're done painting, add a top coat to give yourself a shiny, longer-lasting finish.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Danielle Jackson
    Danielle Jackson
    Social Links Navigation
    Former Senior Beauty Writer

    Danielle Jackson is the former senior beauty writer at Marie Claire. She has nearly a decade of experience covering beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment and was previously the senior beauty editor at Women's Health, where she thoughtfully covered topics related to skincare, haircare, aesthetics, and wellness. Before that, she spent three years as an assistant beauty editor at PS, and in the years since, her work has appeared in titles like Vogue, InStyle, Glamour, and more. Danielle graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in English, and has lived in Brooklyn for almost ten years. When she's not writing, you can find her reading romance novels and talking about sunscreen. You can find her on Instagram @danielleknecole.

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