The "Dated" Nail Trend That Beauty Editors and Celebrities Secretly Love

When it comes to nail trends, the French manicure was once thought of as "dated". You see, this nail design has been around for years, with the likes of Jennifer Lopez sporting the trend back in the early 2000s. However, it's impossible not to have noticed that French-tip nails are having a huge revival lately, and I'm totally here for it.

Thanks to the minimal design and neutral colour palette, I happen to think that this nail trend looks super chic, and is perfect for wearing all year round. I always describe it as "your nails but better", and it seems I'm not the only one who's a fan. Celebrities such as Hailey Bieber and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley have been seen wearing French-tip nails on multiple occasions, and if it's good enough for them, then it's definitely good enough for me. Not only that, but the hashtag #frenchtipnails has 899.1 million views on TikTok and counting. Pretty impressive, right?

In order to find out a little bit more about the trend, including how to re-create it at home, I spoke to Charlotte Knight, nail technician and founder and CEO of Ciaté London and Lottie London. Keep on scrolling for everything you need to know, and prepare to fall in love with French-tip nails all over again…

"A French-tip nail is designed to traditionally resemble a healthy, well-maintained natural nail," explains Knight. "It normally involves a pink or nude base and a neat, white edge along the top to look like the length of the nail. However, we’re seeing more variations of this today, with varying colours that don’t have the goal of looking realistic like the classic French tip." 

According to Knight, a French manicure is very much in style. "Although the trend has really picked up again recently, French-tip nails is a timeless design that has had some new life breathed into it in 2023, securing its classic status." The revival of the manicure might have something to do with the quiet-luxury trend that's had a huge influence on beauty and fashion alike this year, as this understated nail design fits perfectly into that subtle, elevated aesthetic.

"You can try out the style at home in a range of different ways," says Knight. "Use tape to section off your nail tip and paint on your desired colour or get some practice in drawing your tip freehand with a small brush. Alternatively, you can opt for a nail sticker to get the look—simply seal with a clear coat after applying to ensure it lasts. 

"False nails are also a great option for when you’re in a rush. You can have a full set of French nails on in under 10 minutes with press-ons, and [you] don’t have the commitment of wearing them for longer than you want to."

In terms of choosing the right nail-polish shade for the base, Knight says that your own skin tone will be the decider on what colour to go for. "If you have a fairer complexion, the base of your nail tends to be a light pink shade, whereas deeper skin tones have more of a cool, nude shade. The better you match your natural nail, the better fit your French Manicure will be."

Next Up: Sofia Richie and Hailey Bieber Just Revived This Classic Nail Colour For Autumn