Colorful French Tip Nails We Love

The French manicure is a classic for a reason. It’s clean, simple, and elegant. In essence, it’s the quintessential well-rounded manicure. Whether you’re rocking French tips in the office, at a wedding, or out with the girls, this versatile nail look can be worn day and night with ease. Given this, it’s unsurprising that the French manicure is ageless, and that it is and always will be a staple in the beauty world. But as the internet is wont to do, it’s now taken the timeless nail look in a new direction in the form of colorful French tip nails. Regardless of what your nail vibe is—whether you’re into old money manicures, vibrant hues, or glitter nails—the colorful French nail trend is the playful and chic manicure you need in your life.

What are colorful French tip nails?

As the name suggests, colorful French nails are a playful take on the classic. With this trend, you swap out the usual thick white tips and opaque base coat you see on a traditional French manicure in favor of all shades, shapes, and designs. There are no rules when it comes to colorful French tip nails; whether you opt for a rainbow French manicure, a thin or thick tip, a colored base coat with colorful tips, or add in delicate details and accents, these nails are completely customizable to your liking. Plus, they’re still versatile and can be worn day and night no matter the occasion.

What’s more, you don’t have to run to your nearest nail salon or invest in press-ons to recreate this look. (Unless you want to, then you do you, girl!). Because this trend allows for so much flexibility and creative freedom, you can DIY colorful French nails all on your own. “Once you’ve selected your shades, apply a coat of your first color to the tip of your nail using the side of the brush to sketch out the shape,” founder of Olive & June Sarah Gibson Tuttle tells InStyle. “You’ll be able to clean it up later.”

From there, Tuttle recommends going in with a second coat, then dipping a clean-up brush into nail polish remover and using it to shape each tip by pushing the color back gently before it dries, and finishing with a high-shine top coat. And once you get the hang of it, you can get creative and experiment with funky French nail designs in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Is this nail look groundbreaking? No, but that’s what makes it so great—it’s the fun, uplifting alternative to the classic French manicure that evokes happiness while still keeping your nails simple and chic.