White nail tip and rose-colored nail – theFrench manicure is a classic of nail design. This type of manicure is particularly popular because of its subtle elegance, which appears particularly feminine. It works equally well as a work or wedding look, and over time it has become an all-time favorite. Versatility is the name of the game here, because the white tip looks great on both short and long nails as well as with square or round nail tips.
This is how it works: The perfect French manicure 🇫🇷
The proportions play a particularly important role in the classic French manicure, says nail designer Stefanie. This means that the white French line must be drawn to match the rest of the nail - lines that are too thick or too thin appear bulky. Furthermore, you should definitely work very carefully, because with this nail design mistakes are immediately noticeable.
The right white for the French line
The French line can be designed in different shades of white, which can be chosen to suit the style and occasion. Nail designer Stefanie divides the different shades into three different shades of white.
1. Natural white:
This shade of white, which can also be found in stores as Soft White, looks particularly natural and is very subtle. It appears gentle and reserved, warm and harmonious, but still remains a clear white. Applied expertly, this French manicure can hardly be distinguished from a natural nail. This color is particularly in demand at work and for everyday life, says nail expert Stefanie.
2. Medium White:
Medium white is usually the most sought-after shade for a French line in the nail salon, explains the nail designer. It is a little more intense than natural white, but not as bright as ultra white - just a shade in between. That's why it's suitable for almost every occasion and every style. This shade of white looks just as good at work as it does on wedding nails.
3. Ultra white:
This striking, bright white, also known as snow white, is particularly suitable for highlighting naturally beautiful nails. A beach vacation is particularly good for tanned skin. This color has a high degree of whiteness and offers an exciting contrast to the natural nude tones of theFrench manicure .
DIY: Make your own French manicure with nail polish
For a long-lastingFrench manicure, gel modeling or acrylic nails are recommended, as both variants of nail design last much longer than conventional nail polish. If they are done by a professional nail designer, you can look forward to a top result in which all nails impress with an even French line. If you would like to try out a French manicure with nail polish at home, we have put together the 4 most important steps for you here.
French manicure instructions in 4 steps:
1. Prepare nails
To prepare the nails for aFrench manicure , they are first filed into shape and to the desired length - you can choose what you like to wear and what suits you best. You should then carefully but gently push back the cuticles using a suitable tool, such as a rosewood stick , and remove them if necessary. If your nails are very uneven, you can carefully work on them with a buffer and then clean them.
2. Apply base coat
The base coat is the polish that will be seen on your nail and will complement your French line. For the classicFrench manicure , choose a delicate, pastel pink tone or a similar transparent variant. Apply the polish and let it dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step.
3. Draw French line
The most difficult thing is to draw a French line that is as uniform as possible. Professionals can do this without a stencil, but you can use adhesive tape or appropriate stencils from the store to save a lot of nerves - they ensure that your French looks the same on all fingers and create a harmonious overall picture. Be sure to let the French line dry thoroughly after drawing.
4. Seal
Once dry, peel off the stencils and apply a clear coat over the entire nail to seal it.
Draw the perfect French line – this is how it works!
You can find various stencils in stores that will help you draw your French line as perfectly as possible. If you don't have a stencil available or would like to work freehand, nail designer Stefanie explains how she creates a flawless French line without a stencil:
“For the perfect French line, I use a dotting tool, also known as a spotting swirl or French ball. With this tool I can work particularly precisely on the nail. For the white line, I always start in the middle of the nail tip, start there and slowly pull the line towards the tip and then to the right and left. I set it a little higher than I ultimately want the line to be (i.e. the line is narrower at the beginning) so that I still have enough room for corrections and can carefully approach the correct shape and depth of the French line.”
• Use dotting tool / spot swirl / French ball
• Start in the middle of the nail tip
• Leave room for corrections
French line without template: Insert French ball
With the French Ball you can not only create a flawless French line, because this instrument is ideal for any type of nail art. Rhinestones or structures can also be easily applied with this tool. The so-called dotting tool has a handle that fits comfortably in the hand and has a ball at its tip that can be used to carve out delicate details.
Modern variants of French manicure
If the French manicure is too classic for you, you can also do the French line in different colors and create a special look. The colored tips can also be complemented with nail moons of the same or different colors - this nail design is guaranteed to attract attention. It is also trendy to draw the French line as a straight or gently curved line, starting low on one side of the nail tip and ending at the top of the corner on the other side. The baby boomer version of the French manicure is modern and elegant at the same time, in which the French line in a milky white flows together with the pastel tone of the nail without any hard demarcation. This variant is also popular in a matt version. To personalize the French manicure for a wedding, you can apply a rhinestone or a white floral pattern to the nail of the ring finger.
• French line in different colors
• Also paint nail moons
• Draw an oblique French line
• Baby boomers with a smooth transition
• Nail art on one finger
French manicure on the toenails 🦶
In the past, theFrench manicure was mainly applied to the fingernails, but today it is also very popular on the toenails in summer. It ensures that feet look well-groomed in sandals and flip flops. A particular advantage is that no color is selected and the toenails always look matching. Furthermore, they can also be worn to festive events and more elegant events when colors are not desired. The French manicure is done on the toenails in the same way as on the hands - gel modeling or acrylic are particularly recommended here as they are long-lasting and extremely insensitive. This is an advantage, for example, if you wear closed shoes that rub your toes and could otherwise lose their polish.
5 questions about French manicure for nail designer Stefanie
TheFrench manicure is the classic among nail designs. Our experienced nail expert Stefanie will tell you, among other things, which mistakes you should definitely avoid when doing a French manicure.
ND24: Why is theFrench manicure so popular?
Nail designer Stefanie: I think the French is so popular because of its subtle elegance. A well-doneFrench manicure actually suits every occasion and is always a good choice that appears feminine and well-groomed. The good thing about a classic French style is that it can be customized according to your personal wishes with nail art or rhinestones.
ND24: The 3 biggest mistakes inFrench manicure ?
Nail designer Stefanie: For me personally, it is an absolute no-go when doing a French manicure if the line at the corners is unevenly high or runs unintentionally crooked. The difficulty is to equip the nails of each hand with a French line that matches each other, but also takes into account the individual characteristics of each individual nail - otherwise it can quickly result in a disproportionate appearance.
ND24: Which shade of white do you recommend for the French line on short nails?
Nail designer Stefanie: The shorter and wider the nail is, the more subtle I would choose the white tone, otherwise the nail will quickly look compressed and very artificial. If you have a longer, beautiful nail bed, you can also opt for radiant nuances.
ND24: Which shade of white for the French Pedicure ?
Nail designer Stefanie: Bright ultra white is often chosen for toenails because it skilfully highlights the foot and simply looks great. If you have very small toenails, it's better to choose a medium white so that the small nails don't look overloaded.
ND24: How do you prefer to wear yourFrench manicure ?
Nail designer Stefanie: Personally, I think theFrench manicure looks best on medium-length nails that protrude a little over the tip. For me, a straight tip with slightly rounded corners and a straight French line is the absolute classic that always looks well-groomed and attractive.