French Manicure Ideas for 2024: Chic and Timeless Looks

A classic French manicure is a great choice if you are looking for modern and stylish nail ideas, since French tip nails go with any outfit, and this classy look can be personalized by using different colors and nail art styles. Explore more fabulous French manicure ideas for inspiration.

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• What Is A French Manicure?
• How Much Do French Tip Nails Cost?
• French Tip Nail Designs
• Recommendations

What Is A French Manicure?

A traditional French manicure involves painting the nail tip white and the rest of the nail a classic, neutral shade like pale pink, nude, beige or clear.

The French manicure trend began in the 1970’s with classic white tips, but French nail designs have evolved a lot since then. Many nail artists give the classic French tip nail a modern twist by swapping out the white tips for another color combination, changing the base polish, or adding some fun nail art.

French manicure has also inspired a newer trend: the reverse French mani. This style keeps the classic look of a French mani, but instead uses polish to highlight the half moons near the cuticle at the base of the nail bed. It’s great for people with shorter nails, but anyone can pull it off.

How Much Do French Tip Nails Cost?

Considering French manicure nails, but don’t know how much to budget?

French tips aren’t usually too expensive by themselves. Classic French manicures can cost as little as $30, depending on your nail artist and location.

If you’re getting something more complex, like French manicure acrylic nails, or you want to add nail art, a complete manicure might cost upwards of $40. If you go to a nail salon that specializes in the latest Instagram nail trends, expect to pay more for your French tips. For more tips on the cost of manicures, check out how much to tip nail salon services or how much to tip for a mani and pedi.

French Tip Nail Designs

Classy French Manicure Ideas

Any beauty editor who’s stayed up to date on Instagram trends will tell you that French manicures have never gone out of style- the trend has just evolved and taken different forms over the years. Here are some of our favorite classic (and classy) French tip nail ideas. For a detailed look at other manicure styles, check out our gel nails ideas.

French Tip Nails With Glitter

If you want your manicure to sparkle, glitter French manicure is a great choice. You can add glitter to create colored french tips, or go with silver instead of the traditional white for a subtle look. Check out more nail care tips on how to remove gel nail polish.

Pale Pink French Tip Nails

Colored French tip nails are a lot of fun, and we love the way that this pale pink shade looks against a clear or nude base. This looks so understated and classy.

Classic White French Tips

White is one of the most traditional colors for French manicure nails. White colored French tips have been on every nail and beauty salon service menu since the 1970’s, when this style of manicure was invented. For more on manicure types, see our post on differnet manicure types.

Colorful French Tip Nails

If you’re interested in French tip nail designs, 2023 was a great year for Instagram trends. Check out these colorful and cute French manicure for some fashion inspiration. For more on the latest nail trends, be sure to explore how to remove acrylic nails.

Different Color French Tip Nails

Everyone loves colorful nail designs, whether it’s adding a bit of blue or orange to a French manicure to match your outfit, or experimenting with rainbow colored French tips. For more nail ideas, visit our green nails collection.

Diagonal Purple French Tip Nails

Every beauty editor will love this unique and Instagram-worthy manicure. Purple doesn’t usually come to mind when we think of French nail colors, but the combination of this elegant shade and the diagonal lines (which help elongate the nails) makes this mani an instant classic. Check out more tips on finding the best nail tech.

Recommendations

Although white tips are still the most common, you can do almost anything with French manicure ideas. Whether you are looking for a long-lasting gel manicure or trying out bold dip nails, see our posts on how to safely remove dip nails dip a), make sure to explore the many variations of French manicure.

If you like some of our ideas, make sure to bring a few photos to your next French manicure. You can work with your nail artist to design a set of French tip nails that are unique to you. And don't forget to check out our guide on how to complain about a nail salon.

Citations

Nail anatomy
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/

Finger nail plate shape and size for personal identification – a possible low technology method for the developing world - Preliminary report
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajhs/article/view/30795

Physics of nail conditions: why do ingrown nails always happen in the big toes?
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/