French women are continually our go-tos when it comes to seeking style and beauty inspiration. If you’re looking for chic, timeless, and sophisticated outfits or makeup looks, the French girl aesthetic is impossible to beat—and exactly the same can be said when it comes to nail trends and manicure inspo.
When you think of French girl beauty, natural-looking skin, a bold red lip, groomed brows, and a simple slick of cat-eye liner, probably spring to mind. It’s simple and minimal but the result is seriously elegant—and when it comes nail trends, the aesthetic is the same. Think: perfectly shaped nails, immaculate cuticles, minimal nail art, and a sophisticated colour palette. Long nails, grown-out gels, chipped polish, and stand-out nail art designs are nowhere to be seen, because French girl nail trends are all about perfection and minimalism.
Scroll down for your guide on the nail trends that French girls are wearing this season—complete with product recommendations that will make your DIY mani a whole lot easier.
It might seem obvious, but there really is a reason why the French manicure is held up as one of the most iconic nail trends of all time. It’s elegant, flattering, and makes nails appear healthy and well-groomed, which is exactly what French girl beauty is all about. What’s more, the classic French mani is certainly not going anywhere and has seen a resurgence in recent years—if you’re looking to modernise this go-to style, consider replacing the classic white tip with a pastel or neon shade.
Proving just how easy it is to achieve this trend, this two-step set contains everything you need to DIY a French manicure at home.
Not confident that you can master a super skinny tip? This set contains a nail stamp which makes the process a whole lot easier.
You’ll rarely see a French woman wearing a bold or bright colour on her nails other than a classic red. Whether you opt for a true crimson, a vivid scarlet, or a deeper, darker take on red, ensure that the polish is applied flawlessly and has a high-shine finish. Bonus points if you match it to your lipstick.
Chanel’s nail polishes are staples within French women’s beauty kits—this shade is a true red. neither too cold nor too warm, it flatters all skin tones.
Rouge Noir is Chanel’s most iconic and popular nail polish shade. It’s about as dark as red can be—très chic.
Another thing you’ll notice about French girls’ nails? They keep the length short and the shape rounded. Avoid long nails or squared off edges and instead keep your nails as natural looking as possible. Remember that a manicure is about far more than just applying nail polish—French women put the time in when it comes to shaping, filing, and prepping their nails.
Messy cuticles and hang nails don’t stand a chance when you’re armed with this comprehensive kit. It contains everything you need to keep your nails in check.
Applying a nail and cuticle oil on a daily basis will make things a whole lot more manageable when it comes to your next salon appointment.
While red is the exception to the rule, you’ll notice that most French girls keep their nails neutral, matching them as close to their natural nail colour as possible. Far from boring, this sleek and sophisticated colour choice works with literally any and every outfit, looks good on every skin tone, and also helps to conceal any obvious nail growth.
Available in a wide range of shades to suit all skin tones, this at-home gel polish gives nails a high-shine finish.
For a barely-there hint of pink, try this iconic Essie shade.
Nail art is a huge trend right now, but French girls steer clear of garish and graphic designs in favour of minimal styles which subtly enhance a neutral nail. The reverse French tip, as shown above, is one such style—note that the shades used are delicate and muted pastels. Tiny heart or star motifs, a single dot near the bail base, and ultra-thin wavy line designs are also popular choices.
This fine-tipped pens make dots or wavy designs effortless, even for nail art newbies.
Investing in a good (read: incredibly thin-tipped) nail brush is essential if you want to experiment with some French girl-inspired nail art.
