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When I saw ‘Baby Boomer Nails’ trending, I had an inkling that French ombré nails were going to be everywhere this year. Now, I’m all for the traditional French manicure, but there’s something about this modern version that has me booking a salon appointment (or at least tempting a DIY right at home). I went on the hunt to find 20 French ombré nail designs to try out, from the classic, subtle look to bold patterns (like leopard print) and striking hues. Plus, I asked a manicurist to share tips and tricks on how to achieve the look, no matter your style—or skill level.
Meet the Expert
First, What Are French Ombré Nails?
Also known as ‘Frombé,” this latest trend has spiked in search for a softer version of the classic French manicure. As Russell explains, “French ombré nails are the love child of the French manicure and gradient nails, which is best described as a seamless fade of blended color.” According to the expert, a manicurist will apply a soft pink or nude base before gradually blending it with another nail polish color, so the second color intensifies as it gets closer to the tip of your nail. While traditionally it was done with white polish, Russell notes the second polish color can be swapped for any shade.
What Is the Difference Between French Ombré Nails and French Manicure?
The difference boils down to the finish. As Russell explains, “In a traditional French manicure, the edge between the white tip and your nail bed color is a defined, crisp line. This is great for those that like a polished (pun intended), professional look. However, the French ombré doesn’t have a defined line between the colors. They blend seamlessly into each other, which gives your manicure a softer, more elegant finish.”
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20 French Ombré Nail Ideas
1. Baby Boomer Nails
These minimalistic nails came on the scene in 2024 and continue to be the most-requested manicure at the salon. As former Beauty Director Jenny Jin explained, “There’s a gradual melding of the pink base color into the white polish, which is concentrated on the tips.”
2. Leopard French Ombré
Leopard print is already huge in the fashion world, so why not complement your next look with this striking, animal-inspired manicure? Here are the steps: Apply a sandy brown polish on a latex makeup sponge before gently pressing it on the top of your base color for the gradient effect. Go over it again with the polish before using a nail pick (or striping brush) to create small crescent shapes that mimic the feline’s spots.
3. Short Yellow Nails
If you’re sporting short nails, look no further than these French ombré nails for inspiration. Butter yellow was the shade of summer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it continues to be a popular color in the next couple of months. Similar to the creator above, opt for rocking a few statement nails.
4. Soft Purple Sunset
Russell recommends this soft purple manicure, which is reminiscent of a late-spring sunset. Her beauty hack: Apply your go-to shades on a beauty sponge and gently dab it directly onto your nails.
5. Bejeweled French Ombré
Alexa, play “Bejeweled” by Taylor Swift. Once you’re sporting a regular French ombré manicure, take it up a notch by adding gems along the tip of your nails. There are no rules to how many or where to apply the gems, just use nail glue and tweezers and you’ll be shining bright in no time.
6. Barbie Pink
Hot pink clothes may be taking a backseat to maple this fall, but Barbiecore nails are still thriving. These pink nails, along with jeweled accents, make for an eye-catching look worth bookmarking for later.
7. Neon
If you heard of Brat summer, then you know this manicure perfectly embodies the cheeky trend. Grab your boldest neon shade and coat your nails in a gradient finish.
8. Purple & Pinks
As Russell mentioned, the French ombré trend doesn’t have to be restricted to neutral shades—and this purple-and-pink combo is proof. Use a hot pink polish for your base before blending in a striking purple hue toward the tip of the nail.
9. Yellow & Grays
Want to make a statement? This edgy combo is sure to turn heads. Use a buttery yellow base and top it off with gray polish for the fade-out effect. For a futuristic spin, complete the look with silver decals a la the creator above.
10. Nail Art
Regular black French ombré nails are fine, but adding bold white designs can truly be a work of art. Grab a striping brush and start free drawing. Create lines, shapes or whatever tickles your fancy. And if your freehand painting skills aren’t so great, stickers would do just fine.
11. Tie-dye Tips
This trendy manicure lets you expand to a wider color palette, while also giving you free reign to mix the shades together like a gnarly tie-dye tee.
12. Red Hearts
Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or not, you’ll fall head over heels for this sweet design. After coating your nails in red polish, use a striping brush to paint large hearts and stars across your tips.
13. Baby Blues
There’s no melancholy involved with these sparkling baby blues exist. Do the ombré technique on two nails—and don’t forget to include small twinkle stars and dots as a bonus.
14. Frenchified
If you want the best of both worlds, you’re going to need to bookmark this chic manicure. These French ombré nails take a page out of the traditional French mani by adding the signature white line above the tip.
15. Fiery Nails
No matter what shade you want on your nails, topping it off with fiery nail art instantly takes your look from cutesy to edgy. Not sure how to recreate those flames? I found a great tutorial to get you started.
16. Red Nails
It’s time to paint the town red, and I have just the manicure. This creator uses two different shades of red that blend seamlessly together for a gradient effect worth sporting on Halloween.
17. Swirls
I’ve mentioned that red is a great option for French ombré nails, but what about featuring some bold lines into the mix? Celebrity manicurist Rose Hackle decorated each nail in white squiggles for a whimsical finish. All you need is a nail art brush (and a steady hand) to draw each swirl.
18. Ocean Waves
You’ll catch some serious waves if you’re rocking these ocean-inspired nails. Play around with various shades of blue and don’t be afraid to let it bleed into your neutral base color.
19. Metallics
Metallic nails are trending right now, so how about combining two trends into one? This two-toned manicure uses purple and peach polish along with a chrome finish for all-around stylish design.
20. Bows
Nothing says coquette quite like bows, and this sweet nail design is key to achieving the trend. Do a statement nail and work on your sketching skills by creating a tiny bow right in the center.
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