Much like red nail polish, a French manicure is a classic nail look. Nail polish trends come and go, but the French manicure has remained. And while we’re all for the soft pink base with white tips, we also love experimenting with alternative French manicure designs.
When you stop thinking about a French manicure as a pink and white look and start thinking of it as a two-tone nail, you realize how creative you can get with any number of color combinations. You could go bright, understated or monochromatic. You can also bring out some of your glitter and metallic nail polishes. And who says that you have to leave all of your nails the same? You’ve got 10 different digits, so take advantage of them.
Color isn’t your only way to switch up your French manicure designs. Nail art fans can get creative with style. A straight line at the tips is pretty, but why not give diagonal a go? Or you can ignore all of the rules and try a double tip. Give your tried-and-true pink and white French manicure a rest and try one of these fresh options.
[ Next: 16 Easy DIY Nail Art Ideas for Beginners ]
21 Unique Ways to Change Up Your Classic French Manicure
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Golden Touch
You only need the slightest bit of gold nail polish to create a glamorous manicure. Who needs rings when you're rocking golden nails like these?
Image: Imaxtree
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Pick a Color, Any Color
Forget about trying to find a natural-looking base color. Apply a couple coats of your favorite bold nail polish and complete the look with black tips.
Image: Imaxtree
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Full Spectrum
Are you having trouble deciding what colors to paint your nails? Instead of sticking with two, why don't you try the entire rainbow? Choose pastel shades for your base and brights for your tips. Make the tips extra thick, so the two-tone effect is really apparent.
Image: Imaxtree
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Thin Red Line
Red nail polish and French manicures are iconic, so why not combine them together? An ivory base with a red tip could become a modern classic.
Image: Imaxtree
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Make It Messy
Is it a constant struggle for you to get a crisp line on your tips and no amount of nail tape will help? Embrace your shaky hand by creating a messy textured finish on your tips. There are no mistakes here.
Image: Imaxtree
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Seeing Stripes
Put down that nail tape and get out your fine brush. This French manicure is about creating little strokes on your tips as opposed to one solid line. Don't stress if the lines are not all the same, they're not meant to be.
Image: Imaxtree
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Straight Across
A classic French manicure looks lovely thanks to the soft colors, so why not try adding more pastel shades into the mix? Experiment with the design by painting your tips straight across. Don't worry if your nails aren't square-shaped. It works on any shape.
Image: Imaxtree
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Spotted
If you can do a French manicure pretty well, you can create a polka dot pattern. All you need is a dotting tool or a cotton bud. Don't forget to choose three pretty pastel polishes.
Image: @beauty_informer
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Rose Gold
Everything from hair to makeup to even food has gotten a rose gold makeover — and your nails shouldn't be an exception. Choose a shimmering rose gold shade for your next French manicure.
Image: @jinniip
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Triangle Trifecta
Different colored tips against a neutral base is already a fun look, but what if you want something more? Use that bare space on your nails to your advantage and add some gold decals near the moons.
Image: Imaxtree
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Ombre Away
It can be hard to break away from your oh-so-flattering pink and white French manicure, especially if you spent ages finding the right shades. This manicure allows you to keep the colors, but it softens the line between them. If you have a shaky hand, you may just like this version more than the original.
Image: @thenailtrail
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Full Moon
Our moons simply don't get as much attention as our tips. This ivory base with silver tips and black moons has a cool futuristic vibe.
Image: Imaxtree
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Split Splat
Are you a fan of splatter print nails? You can scale the look down and focus it just on the tips of your nails. Don't worry, it's just as easy to do as your full nail.
Image: @middleclasswhitetrash
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Bling Bling
Glossy black tips add more edge than pale pink ones ever could. Take things to the next level by adorning accent nails with crystals. If you made a mistake on one of your nails, the gems are the perfect way to conceal it.
Image: @kristinanails07
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Going Darker
You can't get more opposite on the color spectrum from a classic French manicure design than black and white.
Image: Imaxtree
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Claws Not Paws
These nails are fierce with a capital "F". Apply the longest set of stiletto nails that you can find. Then paint an inky black tip on each one beginning at the end of your finger. A few coordinating crystals on the moons of your nails completes the badass look.
Image: @povoljni_noktici
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Snowcapped
Design rules remind us that texture is as important as color. Take inspiration from the Fenty x Puma Fall 2016 show by adding chunks of glitter under your white tips. It will give your nails a cool snowcapped mountain effect when you pair it with a black base.
Image: Imaxtree
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Dot, Dot, Heart
Can you feel the love with this manicure? The white scalloped tips with hearts would have been sweet enough, but they've gone one better and added some rainbow polka dots into the mix.
Image: @crisderella
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Gimme Glitter
You can never really go wrong with glitter. Start off with your typical neutral base, then add a swipe of black on the tips. Don't worry if it's not perfect because the gold glitter will cover it up. Clever, eh?
Image: @goldyloxe
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Black on Black
You don't even need two different color nail polishes for this look. You just need a glossy black and a matte top coat. The mix of finishes creates a subtle yet very chic mani.
Image: @t_dish719
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Round It Out
It's amazing what switching up the shape of your tips will do. These semicircle black tips create an entirely new effect.
Image: @ddbluek
