Fresh new ways to wear your French manicure

Characterised by its nude or light pink base and crisp white tip, the French manicure is understated, chic, and flatters every nail shape. But sometimes even a classic can come alive with a refresh. Luckily (and thanks to social media) the last few years have spawned dozens of fresh new iterations of this traditional design. From candy-coloured tips to minimalist patterns, we show you five new ways to put a modern spin on your French mani.

Gilded tips

Looking to add a touch of opulence to your French nails? Then this one's for you. For a low-effort, high-impact take on the classic French, mix it up with metallic gold tips instead of the usual white. Get the look easily with French manicure stickers to section off your tips, then fill them in with your favourite gold polish. When it comes to the base colour, you can keep it simple by sticking to nude tones or make a statement by contrasting your gold tips with a bright hue.

TRY THESE

●   Revolution High Gloss Nail Varnish Bare Buff
●   Smudge French Nails Small Pink 24 Piece
●   Sorbet Long Wear Nail Polish Pretty Little Seahorse
●   Sorbet Pro Gel Effect Nail Polish Desert Storm
●   Essence Hidden Jungle Effect Nail Lacquer 03 Golden Hour

Follow the rainbow

If you love the simplicity of a French manicure but crave a bold pop of colour, you can't go wrong with this rainbow take on the classic. Just grab your favourite bright polishes - think vibrant neons or pretty pastels - and use a different colour for each tip. While this look is easy to achieve at home, getting them done at one of our Sorbet Nailbars will ensure each tip is perfectly on point.

TRY THESE:

●   Smudge Nail Polish Red Alert
●   Smudge French Nails Medium Fade 24 Piece
●   Sorbet Nail Strength Bubblegum Pink
●   Sorbet Pro Gel Effect Nail Polish Day At The Beach
●   Essie Nail Lacquer Fifth Avenue

Double up

The double French manicure (also referred to as the stacked manicure) is a chic and contemporary take on the traditional French nail design. As the name suggests it involves incorporating not only one but two strips of colour along the tips. The result? A playful eye-catching effect which allows for a wide range of colour combinations and artistic interpretations. 

TRY THESE:

●   Smudge Nail Tips Natural
●   Wet n Wild Wild Shine Nail Color French White Creme
●   Essence Gel Nail Colour 53 Power To The Sunflower
●   Catrice Super Brights Nail Polish
●   Revlon Super Lustrous Nail Enamel 290 Optimistic

In reverse

If you want to change up a typical manicure, a reverse French (also known as the inverted French) is the way to go. Spotted at fashion weeks and on celebs like Blake Lively and Megan Thee Stallion, the style sees the smile line (where your nail bed begins) become the new 'nail tip'. Simple yet so visually pleasing, it looks just how you'd imagine: the cuticle is painted a solid colour instead of the tip of the nails. Perfect if your hands are less than steady as the cuticle can be your guide when you apply the colour. 

TRY THESE:

●   Smudge Nail Polish Ticklish
●   Rimmel 60 Second Nail Polish 703 White Hot Love
●   Catrice More Than Nude Nail Polish 16 Hopelessly Romantic
●   Playgirl Nail Polish Munich
●   Yardley Stayfast Nail Vinyl Whisper

Get the skinny

Classic French manicures often feature relatively thick tips. But the bold strip can sometimes be overwhelming and appear too heavy, especially on shorter nails. Enter the micro tip: An elegant ultra-thin French line across the tip of the nail. The best part? It’s something you can do at home quite easily and it’s a great way to introduce a bit of colour to your nails without the commitment of full coverage.

TRY THESE:

●   Smudge Gel Nail Polish Snatched
●   Revolution High Gloss Nail Varnish Dusk Lingerie
●   Essence Nail Art Duo Designer
●   Sally Hansen Good Kind Pure Nail Polish Rose Petal
●   Revolution High Gloss Nail Varnish Storm
●   Mavala Mini Nail Colour Glamour

Nail beauty tip: 

Keep your nails healthy by practising proper nail care, such as keeping them clean, and regularly trimming and moisturising them. This will not only improve the look of your nails and skin, but it can also actually help your manicure last longer too. A lot of common nail conditions are caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and incorporating supplements such as the Clicks Expert Hair, Skin and Nail Capsules or the GNC Women’s Hair, Skin & Nails Soft Chews is key to maintaining healthy nails.