20 Fun French Manicures

Юлия Уфимцева – stock.adobe.com
While French manicures have been around since at least the 1970s, their classic, unique style has made them a consistent and central element of nail art over and over again. Nail trends come and go, but it seems like French nails tend to last. In the 90s, it was most common to see these styles in a very simple way: a neutral base with white polish on the tips.
However, this classic style has taken on a modern twist in more recent years, and today, you’re far more likely to see neon shades, unexpected colors, and the glitter French manicure. Whether you’re looking for the perfect summer nail or you’re just excited for a way to spice up your French manis, there are lots of ways to make this classic nail shine.
Here are 20 of our favorite French tip nail designs
Classic
In a classic French manicure, there are two parts: the nude base and the traditional white tips. This style looks clean, delicate, and simple, perfect for anyone who wants to exude an elegant appearance.
Vampy
“Vampy” is a term often used for sultry, dark colors. This French nail idea offers burgundy nail polish and black French tips, creating a unique dark appearance that’s perfect for fall and winter or for Halloween.
Neon matte
Are you someone who likes to show off an exciting nail color? A neon matte mani is a great way to brighten your nail tips with matte neon colors, like bright pink and neon yellow polish.
Two-sided rainbow
The two-sided rainbow style utilizes both the nail tip and the area above the cuticle. Paint a different color on each tip over your beige base, then add an inverse tip in the same color, creating a matching inverse rainbow manicure.
Dainty black tips
Over a sheer base, paint a thin black line on each tip with a fine brush. Because black is quite a strong, intense color, it will create an unexpected twist on the daintiness of the original style while still offering minimalism.
Gold foil tips
Gold foil tips are just what they sound like. Instead of applying the usual white polish, you’ll apply a thin line of polish to the tip of the nail with a fine-lining nail art brush, then add gold foil leaf. A professional nail artist may be best suited to help you discover this beautiful style.
Pastel French tips
Using pastel shades on your French tips can be an understated, beautiful style. Consider using a full pastel color palette for a sugary, soft mani.
Neon French tips
Sticking to classic smooth and shiny polish shades allows you to spice up your French manicure style with these bright shades, like neon Fuschia.
Squared-off French tip nails
Square-shaped French tips have become more popular in recent years, and with the pop of color from green, blue, pink, or orange, you can really make a statement.
Animal print French tips
Are you an animal print lover? A leopard or jaguar print just on the tips of your nails is a spunky and feisty spin on the classic, understated look.
Atomic French manicure
Atomic green nails can be hard to pull off, but this green-tipped mani, especially with a sparkly gold accent line right underneath the tips, looks great with the light pink polish.
Short, round, classic French manicure
If you prefer short, rounded nails and don’t want to handle maintenance for longer nails, this classic style on shorter nails could be perfect for you.
Electric blue French tips
Instead of bright, warm hues, what about vivid, tranquil-looking electric blue tips?
Ombre French manicure
A French ombre fades slowly from the pure white of the tips to the pink base of the cuticles. Especially when left in the hands of a professional, it looks polished, perfect, and unique.
Heart-shaped French manicure
The heart-shaped tips on this manicure are a unique, creative way to style your nails for Valentine’s Day or any other romantic day. A gold sequin can also give you an extra pop of creativity.
Orange creamsicle
The warmth in the orange creamsicle style makes for a beautiful French tip, especially when paired with a unique neon base.
Glazed French tips
We’ve seen styles like Hailey Bieber’s glazed donut nails trending, and glazed tips are a hazy, soft French manicure variant of that style.
Angled French tips
The angled French tip style is just what it sounds like—rather than the smooth curve of the French manicure, a triangular shape covers the tips, finishing just above the cuticle.
The reverse French manicure
Consider turning the French manicure upside down: contour around the nail, painting the curved strip on the cuticle instead of the tip.
Glitter tips
With this bedazzled, glittery manicure, taking some inspiration from chrome nails, you can add an extra-special glimmer to your style.

OleJohny – istockphoto.com
If you have a passion for nail art, color, and design, consider the nail tech course at Evergreen Beauty College. With our assistance, you can pursue a professional approach to everything from fruit nail art to animal print nails and anything in between.
FAQs: 20 fun French manicures
How do I paint shapes on the nail tip?
To paint shapes for this manicure style, you’ll need a thin nail brush. When your base coat has dried, just apply thin lines of the color to the top of the nail, swiping from the outside in on both sides. By painting half of the shape at once, you’ll be more able to ensure they’re equal.
Do I need a base color, or can I use my natural nails?
One of the benefits of a French manicure is that you don’t necessarily need a base color. However, if you choose to use the natural color of your nails, you should still apply a clear base coat to smooth the look and make it appear shiny and beautiful.
What colors can I use for my manicure?
You can use just about any colors you like. If you’re looking for something out of the box and strange, you can even try a mismatched mani, where you use colors that intentionally don’t seem to go together. Consider lining up your nail polish bottles to see how they’ll look next to each other before you apply them to your nails.