french manicure
The french manicure is the only nail look that never had to come back, because it never left. A sheer pink or nude base, a white tip along the free edge, gloss over everything: it reads polished in a boardroom and effortless at a beach wedding, which is why every generation reinvents it and none replaces it. In gel polish it's also more forgiving than its reputation, for one simple reason: nothing sets until you say so.
the classic that outlives every trend
The recipe hasn't changed since it got its name: a base that looks like your nail on a good day, a tip that looks like the cleanest free edge ever grown. That restraint is the whole appeal, a french says groomed without saying anything else. It flatters every length, every skin tone, every dress code, and it quietly shows off the two things money can't fake: healthy nails and a steady routine.
french at home, in gel polish
Start where every crisp line starts, with prep and a clean cuticle frame. Two thin coats of a sheer pink or nude from the colour range, sheer by design, your nail glows through. Then the tip, ideally with a thin nail art brush, it draws a cleaner line than any bottle brush: the white along the free edge in one calm stroke. And here's the gel polish advantage, nothing cures until the lamp, so a wobbly line wipes away and gets a second try. Happy with it? Cure, seal with the no-wipe top coat, free edge included, done. The classic, with an undo button.
beyond the white tip
The white french is the original, not the limit. The same method carries a micro french (the thinnest possible line), a coloured french (any shade in the range on tip duty), or a deeper smile line for drama. One base, one technique, and suddenly the most classic look in the building is also the most customisable one you own.
frequently asked questions
What is a french manicure?
A sheer pink or nude base with a white tip painted along the free edge, finished in gloss. Designed to look like a naturally perfect nail rather than a painted one, which is why it goes with everything and dates with nothing.
How do you do a french manicure with gel polish?
Prep and clean cuticles first. Two thin coats of a sheer pink or nude, then draw the white tip along the free edge, a thin nail art brush gives the cleanest line. Not happy? It wipes away and you try again, gel polish only sets under the lamp. Then cure, top coat, free edge sealed.
Is a french manicure hard to do at home?
The tip takes practice, and gel polish removes the pressure: an uncured line can be corrected as often as you like before it ever becomes permanent. Start with a thin line, thicken it if you want to. By the third manicure your hand knows the curve.
What colours do you need for a french manicure?
Two: a sheer pink or nude for the base, a white for the tip. That's the classic. The modern versions swap the white for any colour you love, same base, new personality.