French Manicure Ideas For 2024
Posted on Nov 7, 2023
A classic french manicure is still a very modern and stylish choice, since French tip nails go with any outfit, and this classy look can be personalized by using different colors and nail art styles.
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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 tips have 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 tip 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.
French Tip Nail Designs
Classy French Tip Nails
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.
French Tip Nails With Glitter
If you want your manicure to sparkle, glitter french tip nails are 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.
Pale Pink French Tip Nails
Colored French tips 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.
If you’re interested in French tip nail designs, 2023 was a great year for Instagram trends.
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 tip nails for some fashion inspiration.
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.
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.
Green French Tip Nails
Check out these green French tip nails. Green is a color that you can wear in any season- just select a lighter shade for spring and a darker one for cooler weather. For extra sparkle, why not add a few nail jewels?
Do not miss our post on Christmas Nails Ideas.
Red French Nails
Red French is a beautiful and fashionable nail design trend that suits every occasion and season. It is extremely feminine and subtly elongates the nails. Red French has been very popular on Instagram for several seasons. The most classic is the one made on square or almond nails.
Modern French Tip Nail Ideas
French manicures may be traditional, but they’re never boring. We think these French tip nail ideas are the perfect way to put a modern twist on this trend.
Chrome French Tip Nails
Why not try a colorful french tip nail in a shiny chrome shade? Metallic shades are back in style, including gold foil gilded tips and even sparkling mermaid chrome colors. These are great for a night out.
French Black Nails
Do you remember when painting your entire nail black became trendy? We still see a lot of black nail ideas on Instagram, but black tip nails are just starting to gain some much-needed attention. For an evening look, pair your black French tip with some silver glitter or nail jewels.
Square French Tip Nails
If your nail beds are narrow, you can flatter their natural nail shape with a squared-off manicure. It’s very elegant with French tips, and will make your nail look wider. Plus, it’s practical, understated and modern.
French Wedding Nails
French style wedding nails are a popular choice for a wedding manicure. French wedding nails are a timeless choice that can be adapted to current manicure trends. Even on short wedding nails, this style will look great. Here are some unusual ideas for a classic French manicure for your big day!
Wedding Ombre French Nails With Gold
Gold color is an excellent choice for an elegant manicure for a wedding. If you prefer a delicate decoration, consider a translucent ombre effect. This style looks extremely feminine and makes the hands appear more slender. Subtle bridal nails are the perfect complement to a glamorous wedding dress!
Do not miss our post on Christmas Nails Ideas.
Colorful French Wedding Nails
A great idea is to gently introduce colorful accents to your wedding French manicure. You can choose from classic shades such as red or black, but also experiment with other colors. In summer, shades of yellow or orange will be particularly attractive.
Gold French Manicure for a Wedding
Wedding nails decorated with this color look especially luxurious and impressive. The latest trend is glitter, which looks great on wedding French nails.
Fall French Tip Nails
Instead of getting a white French tip, this autumn, why not take your inspiration from the natural shades of the season? We can’t get enough of these warm and flattering French tip designs for fall.
Brown French Tip Nails
Brown is a very cozy and chic color, and it matches well with darker outfits. You can add some fun nail designs, like autumn leaves, to compliment your colored nail tips.
Red French Tip Nails
Red colored French tip nails are an absolute must this fall. The color is warm, sexy, and flattering to almost any skin tone. You can experiment with the type of manicure you like best- some people prefer burgundy for a more subtle look.
French Tip Nail Designs For Summer
Whether it’s actually summer, or you just miss the warm weather, here are our favorite colored French tips ideas for the season.
Hot Pink French Tip Nails
Thanks to the recent Barbie movie, bright pink is back in fashion. Why not embrace the trend by getting a pink French manicure? Pink French nails are a chic and grownup look, with all the nostalgia of summers at the beach.
French Manicure With Neon Shades
This neon mani is one of our absolute favorite French nail ideas. One of the best things about French manicure nail designs is that they’re so versatile - you can ask your nail artist to do this for you with any bright colors that you love.
Sky Blue French Tip Nails
Try out a fun blue shade for your French tips this summer. For an Instagram-worthy look, add some white swirls to mimic the perfect blue of a sunny sky.
Designs For Short French Tip Nails
Long French tip nails aren’t for everyone. Here are some of the easiest (and prettiest) French tip nail ideas for people with shorter nails.
Reverse French Manicure Designs
If you have short nails French tip manicures might seem impractical, since you usually just paint the upper tips of the nail. A reverse French mani does the opposite: it creates a crescent at the base, making it easy for anyone to enjoy.
Short French Tips With Thin Line
Don’t like long nails? No problem! These short French nails create the illusion of more negative space by relying on a thin line at the tips to make the whole nail look longer. Also known as micro French tips, we love how understated and modern it looks, too.
Two-Tone Baby French Manicure
Although timeless white French tip nails are great, you can update this fashion by changing up the color of your base coat and painting on some ultra-thin tips. Try slim black french tips on a red base, or even neon green or orange on blue for a fun and playful twist.
Ideas For French Tip Acrylics
Some French tip nail ideas work best with acrylics, since you can extend and customize the nail shape easily.
Coffin French Tip Nails
Check out these bold French acrylic nails. French tip coffin nails are awesome because you can extend the nail designs into a deep and dramatic “V” shape, making your hands look ling and elegant.
Almond French Tip Nails
Another great shape for a French tip, almond nails are more modern than a square tip, with a slightly pointed edge. This lets you play with long French tip nail designs like swirls, deep lines, and accent nails.
Long French Manicure With Floral Nail Art
Even with a traditional white tip, nail designs like flowers can help to make a manicure pop. This is also the perfect way to introduce some rainbow colors into your manicure.
Learn more in our post about How Much to Tip Nail Salon.
Recommendations
Although white tips are still the most common, you can do almost anything with a French nails design ideas.
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.
French Tip Nails FAQs
What Is The Best Color For A French Manicure?
A classic white French tip will never go out of style, but we’ve seen a ton of awesome ways that people put a twist on this beauty trend by adding different neon shades or bits of nail art. Some people even get black French tip nails. There are no rules- it’s really up to you to choose what you like best. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out Instagram for more ideas.
How To Do French Tips At Home?
Even if you’re not a nail artist, it’s easy to create French tip nails at home with a bit of preparation. You’ll want to make sure that each cuticle is in good shape, since this mani draws a lot of attention to the negative space on your nails.
To create French tips, nails should first be painted with your base color. Then, use nail tape to mark out the line at the tip. Carefully apply your polish above the tape, then peel it off once everything is dried. Finish with a clear coat for extra protection.Are French Manicures Still In Style?
White and colored French tips will always be in fashion, and Instagram is full of nail ideas that showcase the timeless beauty of this manicure. It’s a style that’s constantly evolving, being recycled and reinterpreted.