Nail Exam Prep: A Guide to Wear A French Tip Nail

If you're starting to learn nail art, you've probably heard about the French tip manicure method. This classic nail polish method was initially named to refer to nail designs painted with a light pink base with bright white nail tips, but over time has evolved more sophistically to keep up with the trend. Read on to learn more about this unique French nail polish method.

What You Need

Cuticle sticks and cotton balls: keep your nails clean (the French are always very careful about keeping their hands clean when doing nails)

Nail file or polishing pad: helps maintain the shape you want.

Cuticle Oil helps hydrate the nail bed and cuticle for healthy nails.

Base coat and top coat: ensures even coverage and helps prevent remaining products from peeling off.

Nail Tape: helps you get your dream curvy line - a unique feature of French tip nails.

French Tip Nails Designs

If you're looking for a twist on French tip nail polish, there are plenty of ways to do it.

The Classic French manicure: Paint the tips of your nails in pure white.

V-shaped nail polish (Rainbow V): The easiest way to create a French V-tip is to hold the nail perpendicular to you, then paint in long white lines in a "V" shape, with the bottom part of the V. towards the tip of the nail.

French Manicure Upside Down: Use a dark fade for the entire nail and add a small line of lighter color at the base of the nail (instead of on the tip of the nail, like a classic French manicure. ).

French Fade: Apply two types of polish on a makeup sponge and dab it continuously on the nails. Finish with a top coat.

French tip with rhinestones: Adding some tiny glitter rhinestones are crucial to jazz up your classic French manicure.

Double French tip nails: This design sees not one, but two French manicure lines carefully drawn along your nail tips. It combines multiple formats, like the slanted variation or the deep French.

French tip for Christmas nails: Christmas is coming! Pair your simple white lining with plain red and a bubblegum pink base, you are ready for your Christmas night.

Medium tapered square French tip acrylic: Medium pointy square French tip nails are just the same width as your natural nail but are longer and narrower towards the length, and their edges are razor-sharp. They look good with any nail art, from a classic French manicure to psychedelic swirls. 

Figure 01. Several templates for French Nail designs.

You can also find many other French tip nail designs that may inspire you.

French Tips Designs by Colors

Red French tip nails

Red french tip nails capture the sultry, siren effect while incorporating the trendy sophistication of a French manicure. Red French tips feel like the ultimate fall and winter manicure. The color can range from deep oxblood to scarlet, and the tips break up the shade for a sleeker, modern look.

Figure 02. Ideas for French Tips Nails with red-tone designs.

Hot Pink French Tip Nails 

Pink is a symbol of sweet beauty and femininity. Hot pink French tip nails can be combined with different shades at the base of the nail. Commonly a very light pink is used for the base and a cream or off-white color can also be applied in the following steps.

Figure 03. Ideas for French Tips Nails with hot pink designs.

Purple French tip nails 

Figure 04. Ideas for French Tips Nails with purple designs.

Orange French tip nails

Figure 05. Ideas for French Tips Nails with orange designs.

Black French tip acrylic nails 

Figure 06. Ideas for French Tips Nails with black designs.

Sky blue French tip 1.5

Emerging as a TikTok trend these days, ‘Sky blue french tip 1.5’ refers to a specific nail design, with ‘sky blue’ being the color, ‘french tips’ being the style, and ‘1.5’ being the length of the nails.

Figure 07. Ideas for French Tips Nails with sky blue designs.

In addition, you can also unleash your creativity on nails when combining them with different colors to create a beautiful finished product.

How To Do A French Tip Nail?

Here’s a step-by-step tutorial of how to DIY French tips.

Step 1: Clean your nails

Fill a bowl with warm water and soak your hands for about a minute. This will remove all the oil and dry skin and help your nails last longer.

Step 2: Cut and shape your nails

Cut and file your nails into the shape you want. Do not cut close to the fingertips, keep the pins a little long, and cut just enough to have an even length. Take a nail file and smooth them down to have a smooth crescent-shaped edge. Then, exfoliate your hands, apply hand cream and rinse with alcohol or paint remover.

Step 3: Apply base coat

After letting your nails dry, you need a base coat. Choose a suitable base coat and paint it evenly from the base of the nail to the tip of the nail. This step is essential when doing a French manicure because the finished nail will reveal the natural nail color at the base of the nail, so you certainly won't expect the foundation to go wrong. Let your nails dry for 1-2 minutes before you move on to the next step.

Step 4: Paint the tip of the nail

Use white nail polish to paint the tips. The best way to do this is to keep the brush still and move your fingers slightly to the right and left to get a nice, even curve. You also need to ensure your hands don't shake to avoid mistakes.

In this step, you can also use nail tape to make drawing easier if you are a beginner or want to do a variety of manipulations.

Step 5: Apply nail polish

Choose a light pink nail polish and paint it on your nails. This polish will help subtly blend color blocks together and make your nails look much more natural.

Step 6: Apply top coat

In the final step, apply a light and transparent top coat on your nails. When the paint is dry, apply more cuticle oil to hydrate.

Figure 08. Six steps to do a french nail tip design.

FAQ

How Much Does a French Manicure Cost?

The cost of a French manicure will depend on the nail salon. But in New York, a standard set of nails typically ranges from $20-$25 for regular nail polish and $45-$50 for gel polish. Some stores do not charge extra for French tips style, while others do. Also, remember that most salons charge a fee for nail polish remover, which can range from $10 to $15, depending on the type of polish.

How do You Keep French Tip Nails Last Longer?

As with any manicure, you will get the most out of a French manicure using a base coat and a solid top coat. Also, avoid anything that could cause chipping (nail bites, hot water, chemicals, etc.).

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