French Tip Nail Art

How to do French tip nails

• Shape and prep: file the nails to the same length and shape, push back the cuticles and apply a base coat.
• Paint the base: one or two thin coats of sheer pink, nude or milky white. Let it dry.
• Draw the tip: start at one side of the free edge and sweep across in a curve that follows your nail's natural smile line. A thin striper or the edge of the polish brush both work.
• Clean up: dip a small flat brush in polish remover and run it along the inside of the line to sharpen it.
• Seal: apply top coat over the whole nail and across the tip.

Easier ways to get a straight line

If freehand feels shaky, place French tip guide stickers just below the tip, or press the nail into a soft silicone stamper loaded with polish. A strip of thin striping tape can also mark a crisp edge to paint up to.

French tip designs in these tutorials

• Glitter tips: brush or dab glitter along the tip, or place glitter pieces one at a time.
• Neon and colored tips: swap white for a bright or a black French tip. A white layer under neon helps the color show true.
• Diagonal tips: angle the line from one corner toward the opposite side for a modern twist.
• Reverse French: move the color to the base of the nail, in a curve or a square.
• Shellac French: the same steps in gel polish, with each layer cured. See the Shellac tutorials.

Questions people ask

Do French tips work on short nails?

Yes. On short French tip nails, keep the white tip thin and follow your natural smile line so the nail bed looks longer.

What color base goes with a white French tip?

Sheer pink is classic. Milky white gives a soft, blended look, and a nude close to your skin tone looks natural. For finished examples, browse French nails, or have a nail salon paint a gel French for you.