French Nails

French nail designs to try

The classic French tip nails look is a sheer pink or nude base with a white tip. Every French nail design after that changes one of three things: the color of the tip, its shape, or what sits along the smile line.

• Colored tips: black, red or a different bright on each finger for a funky French.
• Shaped tips: a V-shaped chevron, a diagonal sweep or a deep curve instead of a thin line.
• Detailed smile lines: glitter, a thin metallic stripe or tiny dots along the edge of the tip.
• Holiday French: red and green tips with a bow for Christmas, or green and black for Halloween.
• Texture: a matte base with a glossy tip, or a glitter tip over a sheer base.

Short French tip nails and long ones

Short French tip nails look neat with a thin tip that follows the natural curve of the nail. On longer nails or acrylic nails, a deeper tip and an almond or square shape show off the design. Builder gel is another way to wear a glossy French on natural nails; see builder gel nails.

White, black and red French tips

White French tip nails are the timeless version. Black French tips look sharp and graphic, especially on almond shapes, and red French tips suit holidays and evenings. Choose a base that flatters your skin tone: sheer pink, milky white or a warm nude.

Questions people ask

What's the difference between French nails and French tips?

Very little. French nails, a French manicure and French tips all describe the same look: a natural-looking base with a contrasting tip. Designs that add art on top are often called French tip nail designs.

How do you get the French tip line straight?

Use guide stickers, a silicone stamper, or a thin brush dipped in polish remover to clean up the line after painting. The methods are shown step by step in French tip nail art, and you can try tip colors on a drawn hand with Try it on.