25 chic French tip nail art inspo ideas to save for your next mani (2024)

When it comes to manicures, there's nothing quite as classic as an old-school Fench tip. It may have peaked in the 90s and early 2000s, but the nail design has never left our nailspo folders. Over the years the celeb-favourite has evolved; from 3D tips to every colour you can imagine – the French manicure is far from boring.

The Frenchie design is also super versatile. "French nails are versatile and suit all nail shapes and lengths," says Juanita Huber-Millet, Founder and Creative Director at Townhouse. "You can customise your French tip to enhance your preferred style. For shorter nails, consider the trendy micro French finish. For longer nails, feel free to experiment with different tip lengths and widths."

She predicts the 'Chrome French' reigning supreme in the nail trend department this summer. "There’s something irresistible about blending the timeless elegance of a traditional French manicure with the modern twist of a pearly chrome finish. It adds a touch of sophistication and elevates the overall look while still maintaining the purity of the French design," says Huber-Millet. More on that later...

How to do French tip nail art at home

If you're up for trying it out yourself at home, here's Huber-Millet's DIY guide:

1. Begin by prepping your nails. Remove any old polish and file your nails to your desired length and shape.
2. Apply the base coat to your nails and let them dry.
3. Once the base coat is dry, apply your chosen nail polish colour to your nails. Sheer and neutral shades are a popular choice - we’re loving CND Beau and OPI Bubble Bath!
4. Next, pour your chosen tip colour nail polish onto a piece of kitchen foil and dip a thin liner brush into it, working around the edge of the nail. Top tip: If you are struggling to create a straight line try using nail tape as a guide.
5. Use a cotton bud dipped in nail polish remover to clean up any mistakes or polish left on your skin.
6. Once all polish is dry, add a topcoat, this will help seal the design and give your mani a glossy finish.

Not up for DIY-ing it? We don't blame you. If you're looking to zhuzh up your nail game, we've rounded up all the best French tip nail ideas to save for your next salon appointment. From the classic to the more modern approach, here's the best French mani nail inspiration.

Best French nail tip ideas

It's giving "Woods comma Elle"

Will we ever be over Barbiecore? We think not

Ice ice baby

If The Sopranos was a manicure...

This mani + a piña colada = our next holiday inspo

Switch up the classic French and go for this darker version instead

Velvet nails? Don't mind if we do

Take the doughnut glaze trend to the next level with this glossy French

Match your red wine to your nails

Catch some waves

Who said you had to pick just one nail colour?

We can smell the zest from here

Oh-so fresh

Add a twist to a classic French with some fruity nail art

Glitz up your mani with a little gold embellishment

We support the grown-up glitter movement

Who said a French manicure only suited short nails?

Elongate your nails with this Frenchie archway design

50 shades of grey green

This mani *screams* noughties