Growing up in the '90s and 2000s, I was obsessed with French manicures. It was the nail trend of choice for celebrities and It Girls alike. You know the look. The square-shaped nail with a wash of white at the tip and a neutral base had everyone in a chokehold. The only downside for me? As bonafide nail biter, I didn't truly get to participate in the trend.
Although I've grown to love a neutral nail like Rihanna and Khloe Kardashian, this summer I'm making up for lost time with every spin, twist and modern take on the classic French manicure from flaunting pops of pastel and neon to experimenting with polka dots à la Dua Lipa and Kylie Jenner. I've learned that anything can be transformed into a French manicure if you try hard enough.
"Polka dots are having a moment again and combining them with a French mani just makes it feel playful and fresh," says ORLY's celebrity manicurist Queenie Nguyen.
Ahead, the experts share what spins on the French manicure are trending this summer and how to nail each look.
Chrome French
Butter yellow chrome French manicure.
All of the experts unanimously agree that chrome nails are always in, and it's the perfect way to remix a French manicure. There are a few ways to execute this trend. "The glazed look is here to stay, and doing it just on the tips keeps it clean but still gives that cool, reflective vibe with various colored chromes of choice," says Nguyen. "You can also use a white chrome powder as a topper over colored French tips for that fun glazed nail look over the whole nail." For those who don't want an entire chrome nail, Thea Green, founder of Nails.INC, suggests going for chrome tips to add a modern, sleek twist to the classic French.
Ombré French
A shimmery ombré French manicure.
While the colored tip is well-defined on a classic French, an ombré French manicure blurs those lines (pun intended) for more gradient look that can easily become a canvas for more intricate nail art, and celebrity nail artist Elle Gerstein agrees. "You can do this with color, make it a twist of a modern French or do a cat’s eye," she says. "It’s a great playground for nail art to join."
Neon French
A bright yellow neon French manicure.
It wouldn't be summer without a splash of neon on the nails. "This one’s a no-brainer for summer," says Nguyen. "Bright neon tips just scream vacation. It’s such a fun twist on the classic French, and it instantly makes your nails feel fresh and bold." She recommends pairing the neon with a nude to "really let the neon color French tips pop."
Mother of Pearl French
A mother of pearl French manicure.
At its core, a French manicure is a sophisticated, classic design. This summer twist on the trend is for the person who wants a little bit of change but not too much when it come to veering from the classic French manicure aesthetic. A pearl swipe across the tip of the nail is the ideal compromise. "This is very subtle and instead of using such a stark white, it’s mother of pearl," says Gerstein. "It’s an elevated version of the classic French."
Colorful French
A pop of blue on a French manicure.
Adding a pop of color whether it's a bold hue or a soft pastel is totally in for summer French manicure trends. An easy way to master this fun look is with a manicure maker pen. "People love that it feels creative but still polished," says Thea. "It’s the perfect mix of the personal and playful, and because you can do it yourself, it’s super easy to change up depending on your mood or outfit."
Polka Dot French
A polka dot French manicure in blue and green.
Dua Lipa and Kylie Jenner are all about having fun with polka dots this summer. "You can do random dots cascading from the free edge towards the base or keep it uniform around the edge where the French line typically goes—either way, it’s eye-catching without being over the top," says Nguyen. Another plus is that you can go with a classic white and black polka dot combination or switch it up with any base or dot color.
Textured French
A gold textured French manicure.
Adding an extra dimension to nails through texture is making its way to French manicures this summer, but it's also a trend that Gerstein believes will spill over into fall as well. This can be accomplished with a variety of patterns and designs. "Whether it’s tweed or another texture design, the texture gives it an eye catching look that someone would want because it’s unusual," she explains. "It’s a way to make polish not as flat."
Reverse French
A pink and brown reverse French manicure.
Green and Gerstein are both seeing reverse French manicures all over this summer. "It’s subtle but such a cool twist," says Green. "People are looking for ways to keep their nails fun but still pulled together. Colorful and reverse French styles give you that pop without needing a full design—they’re bold, a little unexpected, and easy to pull off at home." Gerstein adds, "embracing an old Hollywood style that’s been modernized by the colors—the design is still the classic."
Floral French
An orange-tipped French manicure with floral embellishments.
Floral designs are fun even after spring has come and gone, and they can even be used as an ode to the French manicure. For this take intricate floral designs painted on can work as well as nail stickers. "Florals on tips are such a cute way to dress up a French mani," says Nguyen. "You can keep it super simple with a few dotted flowers or go full mini garden party. It’s giving throwback Y2K party."
Micro French
A sliver of blue on a micro French manicure.
The thing about French manicures is that they can be changed up based on how thick you choose to create the line across the tip of the nails. Recently micro lines have been trending which create a look that is still distinctly a French manicure, but more updated that the traditional looks that dominated the '90s. Like its pedicure counter part, the micro French manicure features a thin line across the tip of the nail, and work well for those with shorter nails. "To achieve this look it’s a real simple detail that’s not too much," says Gerstein. "You can use neon, pastel or metallic accents and keep it fun and light."
Abstract French
An abstract French manicure with wavy silver and gold tips.
Although French manicures are known for their clean cut lines, this take is for anyone who wants to color outside of the lines when it comes to the traditional French manicure. "This is for when you want to switch it up from the super clean lines of a traditional French," says Nguyen. "Think destructed tips, wavy shapes, or color blocking—it’s basically French with personality. It’s a little artsy, a little chaotic (in a good way), and super fun for summer."
Rainbow French
A rainbow French manicure with pastel colors.
Why settle for one pop of color when it you can taste the rainbow? "This is such a fun, playful twist on the classic," says Green. "Each nail gets a different colored tip, whether it’s bold brights or soft pastels and it instantly lifts your mood. People want nails that feel joyful and a little less serious right now. The Rainbow French is expressive but still really chic, and it’s a simple way to show off your style without needing a full salon visit."
Outlined French
An outlined French manicure created with jeweled embellishments.
An outlined French manicure veers away from the fully filled in thick or thin line that you're used to seeing. Instead, it incorporates an outline of the tip in various ways. Gerstein explains, "a French outline uses the outline of the design." She continues, "you’re not painting the entire nail, you’re using the French manicure [aesthetic] to design the look, whether that’s with flowers or another element [like gems]. It’s a modern twist without it having to be the stark white."
Reverse Negative Space French
A reverse negative space manicure in red.
The reverse negative space French manicure is a blend of two different trends. As its name suggests it incorporates the reverse trend where the base of the nail is the eye-catching element. It also borrows from the above outlined French manicure trend leaving negative space at the base of the nail this time instead of completely filling it in. Try a vivid red shade for a luxurious mani moment.
Split Color French Tip
A split French manicure with red and tan.
Design lovers rejoice. This French manicure trend is what you've been waiting for. The split French manicure trend or the "half and half" is exactly what you're expecting it to be. Instead of having the tip of the nail swiped with one solid color, half of the nail tip is one color while the other half is a different one. "This a fun way to catch the eye. It’s great for graphic design lovers. It’s almost like having two different sets of nails," says Gerstein.
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MEET THE EXPERTS
Thea Green is a world leader in beauty, founder of global beauty brands Nails INC and INC.redible Cosmetics. Thea founded Nails INC in 1999 after recognizing a gap in the market for the US model of walk-in, efficient, great quality and great priced manicure bars. Since launching Nails INC 25 years ago, the brand is renowned for innovative, first-to-market products, rooted in culture, relevancy and stocked the world over. Nails.INC is nimble and reactive to trends and still paving the way with innovative and game-changing product on a daily basis. From raising $300,000 from investors in 1999 to becoming a member of The British Empire in 2011 for services to the beauty industry, Thea remains the driving force behind the brand with global stockists, 13 stand-alone nail bars in the UK, and 7 stand-alone bars in Japan.
A natural born nail artist, Elle Gerstein opened her own business at age 17, with over 80 clients per week. Now one of the industry's top artists, Elle is world renowned for her cutting-edge nail shaping, and her understanding of color, texture and trends. For Elle, nail styling means creating the ultimate glamour. Her celebrity clientele includes Lindsay Lohan, Blake Lively, and Kelly Ripa.
Queenie Nguyen is a celebrity and editorial manicurist based in Los Angeles, California specializing in natural nails and contemporary nail art. She’s known for her trendsetting nail art spotted on the red carpet, top publications, and major beauty and fashion campaigns. Queenie is the artist behind nail looks for A-List actresses Saoirse Ronan, Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Alba, Anna Kendrick, and top models Alessandra Ambrosio, Candice Swanepoel.
