You can never go wrong with a French manicure. It’s a classic design that provides a clean and crisp look. If you want to keep that classic vibe but have a little more fun, you can deviate from the traditional white polish and dip into color. “I’m obsessed with a colored or chrome French manicure,” says celebrity manicurist Brittney Boyce. “This trend has been popular for a long time and it’s definitely not going anywhere anytime soon.”
Expert Mabelyn Alva adds that colored French tip nails help you put a seasonal twist on your look. “Bright pink, Kelly green, and neons are really popular at Paintbox during the summer months,” she says. “Black, metallics, and glitter French tips are also highly requested during the winter holiday season.” In plain terms, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t experiment with colorful tips the next time you’re at the salon.
Meet the expert
- Brittney Boyce is a celebrity manicurist who works with clients like Kim Kardashian and Megan Fox.
- Mabelyn Alva is a manicurist and the creative director at Paintbox.
To inspire your next (or first!) colorful French manicure, scroll through the 23 looks below.
Silver Chrome
@nails_of_la/Instagram
As a reflective and chic color that’s used to embellish lavish vehicles, it was only a matter of time before chrome came for our beauty routines. “Chrome French is definitely one of my favorite designs,” says Boyce. To create this look, the artist used Aprés Nail Natural Almond Long. Note that these are gel-x tips and not acrylics.
Silver Press-On
Cold Spell
Press-on nails have come a long way since the early aughts, mostly in how durable and styleable they are. “I love silver French tips to wear with my gold jewelry,” says Alva. “Our latest press-on launch includes Cold Spell, a silver French tip design that’s perfect for the holiday season.”
Classic Red
@mabelyn__/Instagram
When it comes to classic colors, it doesn’t get better than red. There’s fiery red hair, sultry red lips, and, of course, vibrant red nails. Alva says that adding red French tips is a signature manicure for her.
Blue and Orange
@nailsbymaki.nyc/Instagram
Blue and orange—complementary colors on the color wheel—were used to create this French tip look. Each nail has a traditional tip and then an abstract blob, which adds dimension to the look. Note that the base is clear, so make sure to ask for that if you want to replicate this look.
Red Hearts
@nailsbymaki.nyc/Instagram
These heart tips are perfect for Valentine’s Day or any time you’re feeling romantic. Each nail has a pretty red heart for a simple design that’s sure to catch some eyes. Unlike the look above, the base polish here isn’t clear. You’ll need to find your match in a neutral polish, but your technician should be able to help with that.
Black and White
@nailsbymaki.nyc/Instagram
This look splits each tip in half with one side black and the other side white. It’s like Cruella de Vil’s hair in nail form. As you might be able to tell, the base of this nail is matte instead of shiny. This helps accentuate the tips instead of glossing over them.
Hi-Lite
@julieknailsnyc/Instagram
These neon yellow tips are super pigmented with medium viscosity. Translation? You get full coverage in two coats or less. Although the polish—Aprés Hi-Lite—has been discontinued, we recommend Duri polish in 158N Atomic as a solid replacement.
Blue-Green Swirls
@nailsbymaki.nyc/Instagram
For a fun yet uniform look, this design features a turquoise nail tip accented by a deep green swirl to the side of each nail. While you are free to get the nail shape you wish, this particular look would be best suited with long, rounded nails.
Lemon-Lime
@lolo.nailedit/Instagram
For this look, a bright yellow serves as the base for a deep-green tip, creating a fun lemon-lime effect. Since it’s reminiscent of citrus, we love this look for spring and summer.
Cherries
@disseynails/Instagram
Crystal decals are a great way to spice up any mani. This design features a pink French tip with painted green vines. These vines are adorned with red crystals that are arranged to look like cherries.
Clear Tips
@julieknailsnyc/Instagram
Instead of doing a sheer base with a colorful tip, this design takes advantage of the clear nature of the extensions. The tips are left clear with a baby blue base. The blue extends around the edge of the tip in a really thin line to complete the look.
Bridgerton Hues
@julieknailsnyc/Instagram
Celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec created this Bridgerton-inspired manicure that features yellow, green, and blue pastels along with gold charms. Fans of the show will know that the bee is meant to represent the titular characters.
Ombré French
@klawsbysonia/Instagram
This ombré nail look uses a thin line along the smile line of the nail to create the sharp look of a French tip without a fully opaque design. While the artist used neutrals here, we can see this design working with any color.
Limoncello
Instagram / @mabelyn__
Alva created this neon yellow look using Like Electric form Paintbox. It’s a neon shade with a milky base, allowing you to get an opaque finish with ease.
Brown Gradient
@pinkbunnynailz/Instagram
French tips are a really fun way to do a color gradient. This look uses five shades of brown, ranging from light to dark. In case you’re wondering, the nails featured here are a square shape.
Blue Ombré
@pinkbunnynailz/Instagram
This ombré look fades from a deep blue at the tip of the nail to a light blue at the base. The tails of the tip extend down to the cuticle line, allowing a lot of space for the ombré to fade.
Animal Print
@pinkbunnynailz /Instagram
Take a French tip up a notch and add cow print. This combo yields a really fun and pretty look. And since the colors are black and white, the nail combo is sure to match any outfit.
Baby Pink
@pinkbunnynailz/Instagram
If you want a French tip that’s not too far off from the OG shade, reach for a baby pink. It gives a similarly delicate vibe to the usual white while still adding an innovative twist to a classic look.
Green and White
@lolo.nailedit/Instagram
We can’t get enough of simple yet abstract nails. Here, a rich green was used to create this French tip design. Each nail also features a thin white swirl to add movement to the look.
Barbie Pink With Florals
@disseynails/Instagram
If you love everything girly, try out this look that features tips in varying shades of pink. We love how dainty this is, especially with the white flowers and pink crystals.
Earth Tones
@klawsbysonia/Instagram
Earth tones brown, white, and green come together in this French tip look. It’s a clean and chic look that’ll also go with anything because there aren’t any bold or vibrant colors to clash with other hues.
Green Chrome
@pinkbunnynailz/Instagram
This green chrome gives reptile vibes in the best way possible. It’s vibrant and moody at the same time. Though it could pass as a holiday look because of the cheerful green, we prefer it for a spring look.
