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How to DIY a Flawless French Manicure at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide
If we had to name the most classic (and versatile!) nail art of all time, it would be a French manicure. From glitter and rainbow skittle tips to dual-finish and chrome Frenches, French tip nail designs offer an eternally in-style look perfect for every occasion—from the office to your wedding day. You may typically rely on the salon to ensure the delicate white line is perfectly curved, but why not try improving your French manicure at home? Armed with a dose of patience, your nail polish colors of choice, and tips straight from expert nail artists Darlene Sritapan and Natalia Bychkova, it's easier to achieve a DIY French tip nail art than you think. Keep reading for a step-by-step tutorial on how to paint your nails in the French tip style like a pro, and explore various French tip nail designs to elevate your manicure game.
1.
Clean and Shape Your Nails
"A classic French mani should look clean, so it’s not only about the white painted line but also a well-prepared nail," Bychkova says. Wash your hands and remove old nail polish with an acetone-free polish remover. If you need to, use an orange wood stick with the end covered in cotton and dipped in nail polish remover for the edges.
Although French manicures can be suitable for every type of nail shape and length, Bychkova suggests that mid-length almonds and short squares are the easiest to paint French tips on. "You just have to be aware they don’t have broken edges, so your line will be symmetrical," she adds.
2.
Buff and Prep the Nail Plate
One little mani-secret is that gently buffed nails help polish to stay better. Sritapan suggests that the key to proper buffing is to use a high-grit buffer with a light touch and focus around the cuticle area. "There is a misconception that buffing is bad because it removes layers of the nails, but that’s only if it’s done incorrectly (low grit) and excessively (over buffing)," she explains.
Make sure to soak your cuticles in oil before pushing them back. Then, exfoliate your hands with a body scrub and apply hand cream. "Before getting ready for the base coat, dehydrate the nail plate with alcohol or nail polish remover to remove any hand cream from the nails," says Bychkova.
3.
Apply Base Color
Now, onto the actual painting of your nails. For a French manicure, you'll need two shades of color: one for the nail, and one for the tip. You can have all sorts of fun with French manicures, but here, we'll keep it classic. Sritapan recommends starting with one thin layer of OPI Natural Nail Base Coat for maximum adhesion. "This one also prevents nails from getting stained or yellow," she adds.
Sritapan emphasizes the importance of this step, saying that professional manicures tend to last longer than home manicures because nail techs never skip the base coat.
4.
Add Tape
If you don't have a steady hand or still need to brush up on your DIY manicure skills, nail tape can help. (And regular old Scotch tape can work in a pinch). After your base coat is fully dry, press the tape firmly to where you want your tip to end. A straight or curved white strip is up to you and your nail shape, but if you want your nails to appear longer, let the polish curve with your natural nail.
5.
Paint the Tip of the Nail
Paint the exposed tip of the nail with your choice of solid white nail polish. To get a nice opaque line with just one layer, opt for a stark and vibrant polar white color like OPI Alpine Snow or Akzent Luxio Polar.
6.
Round Out the Line
If you're going for the crescent shape instead of a straight line, use a cotton swab or fine nail art brush to add touches of white nail polish to the corners of the nail.
7.
Top Your Manicure Off With a Sheer Neutral Shade
This is the manicurist-approved way to make your French nails look much more natural. "A sheer pink shade helps hide any nail imperfections or yellowing," Sritapan explains.
8.
Finish With a Thin Layer of Top Coat
After cleaning up any stray polish with a Q-tip soaked in nail polish remover, you'll need to keep this art lasting as long as possible. Finally, to seal and set your at-home French manicure, finish with a thin layer of a shiny top coat. "My favorite top coat is Akzentz Luxio Shine On because it's not sticky and keeps your nails for so long," says Bychkova.
9.
Final Look
And voilà, you've created a French manicure. As with any manicure, be sure to play it carefully before putting your hands to work. Depending on the formula of your polish and your top coat, it can take several hours for your nails to dry completely.