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The French manicure is back for springtime—that’s if it ever really went away in the first place. But while the craze last year was for colorful, finely-painted tips and lots of nail art, in 2024 we’re playing with proportion, using the technique’s original white and sheer pink shades.
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Selena Gomez experimented with an old-school chunky white tip atop a clean, fresh pink base in the music video for her new single, “Love On.” Created by her longtime manicurist, Tom Bachik, the “exaggerated French” was set on squoval nails and came courtesy of Essie’s Mademoiselle and Blanc shades, topped off with the brand’s Gel Couture Top Coat for a high-shine finish.
Thick tips like these are incredibly ’90s—and predominantly remained there, even during the classic manicure’s renaissance—but Gomez makes them look great. She’s not the only A-lister to experiment with different French looks in recent weeks, either. Margot Robbie also debuted a micro French manicure at an Oscar nominees’ celebration lunch.
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If Gomez’s French tips were centimeters thick, Robbie’s featured just a minuscule line of white on otherwise rosy, natural nails. Requiring a very steady hand and precision application, her fresh, spring-ready look was created by celebrity manicurist Betina Goldstein, who is known for creating mini works of art upon nails.
Whether you go XXL or minimal on your tips, the beauty of the French is that it can be adapted to your nail shape and aesthetic, plus it goes with everything. Easy spring nails? Sorted.