Why is it that fall makes everything seem so suddenly elevated? The coffee is hotter and the sweaters are thicker and our nails, oh, our nails, are starting to tell a different story altogether. French tips are timeless, but this season they are changing up their clean white lines with darker tones, dramatic contrasts, and new shapes. Their picture is more of an apple orchard in upstate New York, and not a Paris cafe. And the answer is, how do you make something so classic and make it feel so new this season?
This is for you, in case you have ever found yourself scrolling through Pinterest and thought, I could totally do that. So, to make the leaves turn a little bit, I have compiled some of the most fashionable, fancy and unexpectedly wearable French tip designs that are striking in a different way. Team almond or small square or all the way to stiletto, I have an Instagram corner of inspiration waiting. Let’s get into it.
Glossy Burgundy and Barely-There Curves
All of this almond-shaped I would have in early fall, soft and elegant, and with a bite. The base is a sheer, warm-toned color, nearly like your own nail, though diffused, though the tips are glowing a velvety, shimmering aubergine with a blue-violet curve stroke right beneath. It is the just right kiss of drama without shrieking to be heard.
In the case of a color such as this, I would choose Zoya Blair or OPI My Italian is a Little Rusty with a fine shimmer top coat. Orly has a great trick to achieve that holographic lining effect with their Royal Navy. Use a nail striping brush and apply another tip of fine paint.
This is how I have observed nail techs to execute this look: first, they apply a rubber base to give the nails structure followed by applying fine gel polish to the tips in a freehand manner. No stickers, no stencils—just steady hands. A glossy topcoat seals it all in. If you’re doing it at home, a silicone nail guide might help if you’re not totally confident with freehand curves yet.
This one surprised me. I was not sure that I would enjoy the glitter overlay, but it looks fantastic in the fall light, particularly on cloudy days? Gorgeous. It has a velvet-scrunchie softness and sparkle that is expensive, a glass of Barolo at dinner. Moody, but not moody-manic.
Deep Cherry Curves with Graphic White Detail
This one’s a bit bolder—definitely for someone who loves a bit of an art moment. You have short almond tips painted in a deep cherry-red color with subtle white accent lines which cross the upper nail like the small ribbons. There’s balance here: it feels crisp, chic, and strangely cozy all at once.
If you’re going the gel route, try Gelish’s “Raisin the Bar” for the tip and Le Mini Macaron’s white liner gel for the accents. When applying dots or bows, use fine dotting tool to be precise to ensure that it does not streak the base.
The technique here is all about layering. Start with a sheer pink base (try Essie’s “Ballet Slippers” if you’re in a pinch), then use striping tape as a guide to create symmetrical curves and lines. Apply the next coat when the first one is dry to make the lines clean.
I actually wore this to a wedding in September last year, with a burgundy slip dress made of silk and a wool blazer, and the compliments did not cease to come. There is something about the white detailing that makes it a little like nail jewelry without the need to add charms or gems.
Hot Pink Classic with a Square Twist
Browns and berries are fall, but this square-tip design turns that script backwards. It introduces that unapologetic hot pink- a color that makes you feel like you are trying to hold on to the last heatwave of summer and at the same time you are still digging out your knit cardigans. The shape is square and new and graphic, especially with this high-gloss finish.
The thing that is so great here is the boldness of the pink. To have somewhat of the same neon but sophisticated look, consider Olive & June (their Hot Strawberry) or Lights Lacquer (Skip It). The additional work at home will be rewarded by a UV-cured gel that will provide you with the salon shine you desire.
Other techs like clear nail forms in order to have crisp French lines with square base. The secret is to tilt the tip down a bit so as not to look bulky. Then declog acetone some with fine brush scrape off.
I understand that hot pink is not the usual fall atmosphere, but there is something in it that breaks the darkness of early October. Even the barista told me that they were funny when I wore something similar. And honestly, that made my whole day.
Golden Linework and Tangerine Tipping
Orange for fall? Groundbreaking. But listen, this design is not just the season color, but it enhances it. The French tips are curved, painted in a warm and tangerine jelly shade, and adorned with thin gold lines that run down the center of each nail. It’s subtle, sculptural, and totally wearable, even for minimalists.
You will need glossy orange gel (I used DND Sunset Blvd) and gold foil striping tape or metallic gel polish. Leafgel has a gorgeous range of metallics that apply like a dream.
Apply by using a rounded base of a nude builder gel. Once cured, the orange tips can be applied using half-moon French brush and the gold stripe using liner brush. Seal everything with a top coat and cure fully.
This is the type of mani I would sport at a cider tasting or even a lazy Sunday brunch. It whispers luxury, without trying too hard. And even if you are a person who wears neutrals all fall, this shot of color is just the right spice.
Classic Red with a White Shadow Line
The collection is akin to red lipstick on the nails-only with a twist. It is an angular almond shape, filled in with oxblood red French tip and a shadow line in light white that runs along the bottom edge. It’s like someone sketched the perfect fall mood in two brushstrokes.
Chanel Rouge Noir or Deborah Lippmann Single Ladies are amazing ways to get that depth of red. Layer on a line of white art gel, the Bio Seaweed Gel, to get that tracing line, really crisp, and easy to work with.
Application tip: paint the tips first, then cure. When that dries, take a nail art brush and a line of white underneath the red-almost like you are doing an outline of the design in reverse. It is a minor thing but it makes the entire look keener.
I wore something like this on a comfy date night last fall–big scarf, wine bar, leather boots–and I felt so pulled together. This one never fails. Red tips are classic, but that white swoop is a little sharp enough to make it 2025.
Mocha Drama with a Graphic Twist
It is a coffee-intensive design, to say the least, and I do mean that in the most positive way. Dark brown French tips are combined with pointed white lines that cut through the almond nail shape diagonally. It is a bit on the edge but is very down-to-earth, like suede boots and leather gloves on a windy October day. It is one of those styles that makes a French tip a statement.
To achieve this dark brown color, I would use Essie in Wicked Chocolate or OPI in Brown to Earth. The white detail can be achieved using a fine art gel such as Beetles Gel Polish Nail Art Liner in White. A precision brush or a double-ended dotting tool will be required to create such clean lines without messing up the base.
The swoops should be applied after the base layer has dried. One thing I heard on one of the pro artist videos with Betina Goldstein? Work one nail at a time when you’re doing graphic lines. It will keep everything sharp and symmetrical, particularly on almond shaped nails where the curve will send your angle off.
I wore this design last fall and had more than one stranger halt me to ask who did my nails. That’s always a moment, right? It is artsy without being too artsy and works perfectly well with chocolate colored knits and a spicy perfume.
Golden Chrome Meets Mustard Gloss
This squoval set is making me think of fall foliage. The underbelly is a deep, full saturated mustard-gold, and there is no French tip, but a beautiful mirror-like chrome foil which runs across the top in a gentle curve. But modern, so fallish-warm cider in metal cup.
The mustard base can be attempted with OPI Marigolden Hour or Sundays No. 24. The chrome tip is all about the powder: Daily Charme Gold Chrome Mirror Powder adds the reflective edge when buffed on a cured no-wipe topcoat.
You are going to put on the yellow color, cure, and burnish the chrome on the edge only with a sponge applicator or a silicone tool. Seal it again with a topcoat. It is no-fuss, no-muss, and has great payoff–and it holds up surprisingly well all week.
I was not sure that I would like yellow in autumn, but this color is a toasty richness that compelled me to find my golden-brown coat. It is nail sunshine on rainy days- something you did not know you would wear but will definitely make you feel good.
Classic Garnet Almond Tips
Now this—this is your signature red for fall. Unwashed, fat, just the trim round almond with skeins of garnets at the ends. It is not trying to reinvent the wheel but it has been done so well that it does not need to. The glossy surface provides it with polish, whereas the saturation of the color makes it seasonal.
You can get CND Shellac in Bordeaux Babe or Olive & June’s Big Apple as your regular polish. Make sure the surface is well preparedbuff, clean, dehydrate and then apply your first layer. This is all about sharp, curved tip symmetrical, so feel free to use nail guides.
Although this one is simple-looking, it is surprisingly effective in real life. I believe that it is the clear form and strong color that talk. It is a fantastic choice to work, a fall wedding, or simply when you feel like being a little powerful.
I have taken variations of this set several times and never regretted it. It is the red lipstick of nails, timeless, bold, and never the wrong decision.
Fresh White Curve on Almond Neutrals
This is your go-to when you are in the mood to have something clean and polished yet eye-catching. The foundation is a creamy nude and the tip is bright white French tip that curves to resemble the natural almond nail shape. It is vintage but a bit less serious and dense early fall.
You can use OPI in Bubble Bath or Bio Seaweed Gel in Be the Light as a base. The white can be done with Apres Gel-X French White particularly when you are doing extensions. Use a round French brush to get that arc.
It is an excellent fall starter nail, a person who is transitioning out of summer neutrals. It is soft, adaptable and looks good with cream sweaters and denim jackets. One nail tech told me that white tips make the fingers look longer and, well, she is right.
Once I had a job interview in something like this, and I got the job. Coincidence? Maybe. However, I felt composed and purposeful, and that is a lot.
Wine-Red Coffin Tips with a Hint of Sparkle
This design is one part moody, one part magic. Deep wine-red coffin-shaped tips are soaked in deep wine-red and complemented with one accent nail that has a sheer base and a touch of silvery glitter. It is the kind of look that says, Yes, I drink red wine and yes, I am aware of what I am doing.
The Black Cherry by ILNP is a great dupe of this red. For the accent glitter, try Cirque Colors’ “Ritz”. Layer it over a clear pink base to make it more light but not too holly-jolly. More texture is also fun with a matte topcoat on the red tips.
Start with builder gel or press-ons for this length. File down to the typical shape of a coffin edge with a 180 grit file and then paint the tips leaving one or two nails as accent. Glitter must be applied in a discreet manner, not in a full-coverage manner, so that it shines in soft lighting.
This is what I would choose to wear to Thanksgiving dinner or even a fall engagement session. It is daring, it is feminine and it has that extra bit of shine that surprises people in a good manner.
Chic Mix of White & Black French on Square Tips
This design plays with contrast in the smartest way. This square-tip manicure is contrasted against a clean neutral base and alternates between the traditional white and the surprise black on the ring finger. It is the sort of detail that makes you take a second glance, discreet, elegant, and just a bit naughty. The square shape gives it that structured, editorial edge.
To achieve this, I would apply Beetles Gel Polish in Snow White and Black Mirror. They’re super pigmented and don’t streak. The foundation color may be any neutral-colored jelly nude, Madam Glam has a favorite, the Bare With Me.
The square shape demands crispness, so shaping is everything. Striping brush ends on your use submitted top . Wipe the nail that is painted to avoid dirty lines. Sticker guides are also good, though, as long as you remember to finish the whole thing with a shiny topcoat, in case you aren t steady with a brush.
This appearance got me in love with square nails once more. I would not touch them before because I found them too severe, but this trick of color switching makes them so balanced and pleasant.
Toffee Swirls with Fine White Outlines
This almond pattern resembles the process of swirling warm cream into coffee, it is soft, layered and has that cozy-sophisticated thing down to a science. The brown tips are rich and curved and accentuated with a thin white outline that gives them the right amount of contrast without disrupting the harmony. One can nearly smell the cinnamon candle burning in the background.
Here, brown shades such as OPI Chocolate Moose or Essie Clothing Optional are fabulous. When it comes to the white outline, it is much easier to use a liner brush dipped in LeChat Perfect White gel.
The rounded tip requires a little patience-first, paint the brown part, leave to dry, and then in one continuous stroke outline the bottom edge. I tend to put my pinky on a flat surface to stabilize my hand, particularly when using gel liners.
This design is soft to the touch and has a certain appeal that draws me to it again and again. I took something similar with me on a weekend upstate and it was amazing with every knit sweater in my suitcase. It is one of those manis where you have your life together.
Red Tips and Dot Accents: Retro Meets Romance
It is among the most fun French tips of this season. It combines deep red swooping tips with small dotted accents close to cuticle line. It makes it easy to wear, but the design is a bit edgy, like a graphic liner, but on your nails, in the style of the 1960s. Think Mad Men with a twist of modern minimalism.
I would suggest Cirque Colors, Red Velvet, as the tip and Nail Reserve, Cherry Pop, as the dots. A dotting tool will save you loads of time–just dip and tap. For the base, any clean blush-toned neutral will work.
This one’s surprisingly easy to DIY. Paint your curved tips with a round brush and cure them. Apply the dotting tool to give the spacing evenly along the cuticle line five dots per nail is normally the sweet spot. Finish with a high-shine topcoat.
I have experimented with this design when I was in need of something sweet yet not too feminine and it worked. It was immaculate and yet somehow a bit frivolous, which, quite frankly, also perfectly captured my autumn mood.
Caramel Almond Tips, Pure & Simple
Other days you don not need the bells and whistles, just a good shape and a perfect fall color. This almond in a light caramel-brown is all simple. No lines, no accents—just rich color and great form. It is that nonchalant manicure that makes all the rest you are having to look good.
It makes me think of Sally Hansen Caramel Crush or OPI Falling for Milan. You will need a medium-brown with warm tints, not too orange, not too red. To enrich and intensify apply to a gel base builder.
At home you could use a buffer to shape and soften the point of the almond, first. Paint the caramel color on in two coats and cure. Finish with a flexible topcoat for longevity.
Frankly, this is my number one when I need to feel polished but not like I tried too much. It matches any outfit and makes my hands look a bit more expensive.
Short and Sweet: Mint-Tipped Squovals
Who says fall can’t have a little pastel pop? These short, squoval nails have a super fresh feel with a soft minty green French tip on a pale pink base. Their form is practical in a daily life but the color combination adds that extra touch to them- a fresh breeze in early September.
See in KMC or Zoya in Neely in the minty shade. The foundation must be sheer and milky- Essie Ballet Slippers is a classic that can never go wrong. That gentle arch is to be maintained with a flat French brush.
The shorter nails are more demanding in terms of accuracy, that is why you have to paint the base and cure it completely. Then, rather than drawing the mint polish on, smear it on with the edge of your brush–so as to get rid of the jagged lines. Top off with a glossy or even semi-matte top coat to give a velvet look.
This look had me at hello. It is sweet without being childish and just right during that in-between weather when you want to move on to all-out neutrals, but it is not quite time yet.
Chic Minimalism with an Almond Twist
Almond-shaped nails have an old-school appeal, and combined with this starkly modern interpretation of the French tip, the effect is one of classic sophistication with the perfect touch of cool. The blush base is soft and extends into a clean diagonal point in sharp white, which gives the impression of longer fingers and a sophisticated femininity. It’s polished. It’s powerful. It is that I did not do too much but wow manicure, which is essentially the fall vibe I want to bring into every pumpkin-flavored meeting.
To recreate this look, I usually reach for OPI’s Bubble Bath as the base — it gives that sheer, almost milky tone without going full nude. On the tip, it must be Essie Blanc to give that sharp contrast. The almond design is key here: it lengthens and slimming the hand, particularly in sweater weather when your sleeves are overlong and your rings are piled high.
Prime base, fortifying, and bare oval fingers. Wait till the sheer pink base is dry, then using a thin striping brush and carefully painting the tip white at an angle, without worrying too much about making it symmetrical; these imperfections will appear more natural. Top it off with a glossy top coat and you will have that salon finish. Pro tip: nail artist to the stars Betina Goldstein once told Allure in an interview that a top coat with a high shine is non-negotiable when you want your mani to reflect like a piece of jewelry.
I sported a version to meet a friend at brunch in early October cinnamon chai, crisp air, chunky scarves and she actually asked me where I had them done. The truth? My kitchen table and a good podcast. It is my default when I need to look presentable yet not too fancy. Fall perfection in 10 fingers.
Forest Green French for a Cozy Edge
The deep green of this season is just spot on, it is luxurious, dark and somehow fashionable. This style is a variation of the traditional French tip but instead it was done with deep forest green, instead of white, layered over a natural pink base. The rounded square shape adds structure without feeling sharp, making it super wearable whether you’re typing away at work or holding your fifth pumpkin cold brew.
The closest to this shade would be Olive & June Besties or Essie Off Tropic. On the bottom I like a jelly nude such as Zoya Bela to give that healthy almost glassy finish. The combination is fashionable, yet not flamboyant, i.e. you are in control, but you are not shouting about it.
To pull it off at home, file your nails into a soft square (aka “squoval” for the trend nerds among us), apply your base, and then freehand the green tips with a smile curve. Use French tip stickers to help you out, no shame. According to Refinery29, it is better to apply two thin layers instead of one thick layer which will create a smoother and longer-lasting effect.
I began using darker tips last year, but this green color was different: it looks so bold that it looks styled, yet so dull that it will match all my camel coats and plaid scarves. It is the kind of nail that goes with boots and a scarf you did not absolutely need, the kind of nail you wear on a fall walk in the city.
Clean Whites and Turquoise Whispers
This design is a breath of fresh fall air – the foundation is pale and sheer, with crisp white tips that give way to airy, flowing turquoise lines that have the feel of wind-carved leaves or perhaps falling feathers. This design has the long square shape which gives it structure, however the fluid blue gives it a soft touch. It’s peaceful, poetic, and oh-so-on-trend for early fall.
To recreate this you will require a soft neutral like OPI Funny Bunny as base, Essie Blanc as tip and a fine nail art brush filled with something like China Glaze Too Yacht To Handle or Lights Lacquer Aquarius to swirl. A matte top coat would be beautiful here in case you want something more editorial.
This one is a bit more patience, I won t lie. Start with good square as out of the 180- grit file. After your base and tip is dry, follow your abstract turquoise linework with a fine art brush. Not two nails are to be the same — think fluid and organic. I have witnessed the same trick once on the Instagram of @nailartbyqueenie and was fascinated. She calls them “airy botanicals.”
It is my artsy side speaking but it is surprisingly wearable and a conversation starter, it is. I wore this to a gallery opening last fall and three people I did not know told me I looked good before I even reached the wine table.
Highlighter French: Yellow Hits Different in Fall
Bright neon in fall? Yes, and I stand by it. And this bright yellow French tip is the rebel among them, bright, happy, and shamelessly, fun. This design is on a sheer nude background and in a rounded square format that screams confidence but does not lack in elegance. This is what sunshine would look like, had it an older sister who was cooler.
Here, you will want something electric- Orly Glowstick or Lights Lacquer Banana Split. Base coat can remain neutral – I use Essie Mademoiselle because it never clashes with an aggressive tip.
The design is simple-looking: when you have your nails filed in a kind of soft square, use a base and dry. Then paint the yellow tips with a fine detail brush to be precise. Occasionally I use a nail art eraser pen to fix the smile line -yes they exist and yes they are lifesavers.
I put this same combination on a gray October Monday and it was my own little serotonin shot. Even if you’re not usually into neons, this one feels grown-up — like the perfect blend of cozy knitwear and bold accessories. Would you try it?
Golden Honey and Soft Cream Elegance
Soft yellows of fall are the sweetest of all, however, when they are faded into creamy French tips and the here and there full-coverage accent nail. This manicure plays with contrast — but gently. The flair is balanced with a mixture of a couple of yellow tips and a full gold nail. The oval shape makes things smooth and wearable, something that can be used on a workday and during the weekend when one goes apple-picking.
Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow and Essie Cream of the Crop is a sure thing. As far as the accent nail is concerned, I adore Zoya Darcy on my accent nail it is bright, but not blinding and it is… warm.
To tell the truth this is one of those designs I continually come back to. I adore the fact that it is playful with color and still soft and warm. It makes me think of the sunlight through the leaves in early fall, golden, transient, and well worth stopping to look at.
Two-Tone Crimson Contrast
This manicure is a mood board to the brash girls who drink espresso and red lipstick and live to see that pop of color. Its square shape is crisp and combined with a bright cherry red with white accents, this classic French becomes a graphic and editorial worthy look. It is organized but not silent and it is ideal for fall days when you wish your nails to be the accessory.
This set is the best with OPI Big Apple Red and Essie Blanc to get that crisp white edge. To make it all work you will require a striping brush to apply those red curves as well as a creamy nude base such as Zoya Avery. Don not forget the top coat, this mani depends on the gloss.
I would suggest that a crystal file be used to shape and to preserve the edges. Once the base colors are applied, take a precision brush to line the red curve beneath the tip on some of the fingers. There is a slight twist in the French tip here, you do not have to do the same thing on all nails. Nails Magazine says that asymmetry is a very subtle approach to nail art to make it seem more contemporary and personal.
I was out on a chilly Saturday walk around town, and people even commented on my nails in the farmers market. That never happens. It is not too bold or shrieking to be noticed. Just how I like it.
Blazing Pumpkin Orange Tips
This is the official color of fall, assuming it had one besides pumpkin spice. These square nails are long, and have a full-spectrum orange that comes out like a harvest moon. It is old French but on steroids – colorful, shiny and can not be overlooked. If you live in oversized scarves and know all the quotes in When Harry Met Sally, this one is your jam.
To color, I would always use OPI A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find or DND Bright Orange. Apply a nude base that does not compete with the brightness – Butter London Mum s the Word is a good one.
Start by squaring your nails long, and paint two coats of your nude base. The key is in the tip — use French tip guides if you’re shaky, or freehand with a flat brush. Finish with a glossy top coat. One time, beauty pro Julie Kandalec told Byrdie that she caps the tip edge of her nails with top coat to avoid chips, and I never miss that step now.
I felt surprisingly polished in this look and it made me feel like I was ready for early fall when I was living in cardigans and I felt like the nails were a little bit of extra polish. Bright colors don’t have to wait for summer. There are times when you want your nails to warm you up all the way to the fingertips.
Rose Gold Whisper for Short Nails
And here is the evidence that short nails do not necessarily mean dull. It is a simple glitter: sheer blush backdrop, grown up rose gold French tip, according to the natural nail line. It is trendy, subtle, and just right for the minimalists that want to have some glimmer.
To achieve this effect, Essie Ballet Slippers is a favorite base coat, and the rose gold can be achieved with Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Terra-Coppa or ILNP Juliette to give it that opulent shimmer. A fine French brush will assist you in making the tip light and precise.
These are the nails that you can wear to a corporate meeting, a fall wedding or a cozy dinner party and never feel out of place. I wore something like this to a job interview once, and the woman interviewing me said, I love your nails they are classy but fun. Exactly what I was going for.
Short nails deserve just as much attention, and this design proves it — it’s soft-spoken, but not invisible. Like a cashmere turtleneck that goes with literally everything.
Coral Punch Square Tips
There’s something so joyful about coral — it’s bright, juicy, and brings summer energy into fall in the best possible way. These are dramatic square tips but completely wearable because of the shiny, smooth finish. This is to the girl who needs some sunshine with her cinnamon latte.
I would suggest Lights Lacquer in Cherry Jelly or the OPI My Chihuahua Doesn t Bite Anymore as the alternatives to this poppy coral shade. A neutral such as Essie Bare With Me will tone down the contrast.
There is no need to over complicate this design, it is all about precision and pigment. Shape in a sharp square, base-paint, and put two coats of the coral on the tip with a rounded flat brush. If you’re new to DIY French, stick with square tips — they’re the easiest to tape off.
These nails were my fallback when I did not have the time to think but needed something loud and cheerful. I wore them on a random warm day in October and they made my oversized blazer a bit less serious. Because honestly, not every fall mani needs to whisper. Some should shout.
Mocha & Powder Blue Layers
This manicure is a whole mood. It combines mocha brown tips and light, curvy powder blue accents a warm-cool match that reflects the sky on early fall meeting the bare branches. The coffin shape in long length makes it be elevated and the design is luxurious yet completely wearable.
I would use OPI Cliffside Karaoke to get the deep brown then Zoya Blu or Essie Saltwater Happy to the cool overlay. To obtain the dual-arc effect, you would need striping brush or French curve tool.
Start by shaping the nail so that they are sharp at the corners like a coffin. After your base coat is dry, paint the brown tip and then paint the curved blue arch on top of it. Seal it all with a high-gloss top coat. Celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik says that applying cool tones on warm bases makes an unexpected depth, and he is so right.
This one is when I want to feel like the protagonist in an indie film – wool coat on, latte in hand, and headphones on to blare Phoebe Bridgers. It’s unexpected, artistic, and full of cozy-cool vibes.
Modern Tortoiseshell & Classic Contrast
This manicure has fall in a bottle, it is moody, rich tortoiseshell on long almond nails, and it is unexpectedly matched with a single very clean French accent. The amber-and-brown tones are mixed up like your favorite cafe latte, but the pale-pink ground and frozen white tip on the ring finger give a smooth and modern contrast. It is textural and not busy, a touch rogue, a touch good.
Creating the tortoiseshell effect requires some layering magic. I usually start with a sheer amber gel base (like Orly’s GelFX in Canyon Clay), then dab in a mix of chocolate and black using a small sponge or nail art brush. Each layer should have a sheer top gel added to give that glassy look. In the case of the French accent, Bubble Bath by OPI and Blanc by Essie are the right combination of creamy and crispy.
This design isn’t for when you’re in a rush. Just a question of putting the dimension on in layers – wait till one coat of tortoiseshell is thoroughly dry before putting on another. Celebrity manicurist Miss Pop suggests flash-curing every layer under LED to provide maximum control and color layering – and that trick really transformed the way I do my nails.
I wore this set last fall on a weekend upstate and, I must say, they fit the mood better than any sweater I brought. Leaves, lattes, chunky rings, this mani basically did my entire appearance. One of my all-time favorites.
Fuchsia Meets Tangerine in Almond Fusion
Bold. Confident. Effortlessly stylish. These are almond nails with a deep fuchsia- orange-tangerine at the ends. The French accent is arched and elegant, and the color combination shouts about cool-girl attitude. It’s the kind of mani that doesn’t need accessories — it is the accessory.
The base will need to be something rich and saturated such as Olive & June Wild Orchid or Essie Bahama Mama. DND Bright Melon or Sundays LA No.13 is ideal on the tangerine tip. This isn’t a pastel look — go full pigment.
File your nails into a medium almond and use fuchsia base color. When dry, outline the tangerine at the tip with a curve stencil or French tip brush it is to be on your natural nail line. I read a tip once by editorial nail artist Gina Edwards that you should flip your brush upside down when doing curved tips (game changer in terms of control).
This combination leaves me with the idea that I am strolling during the fall wearing my headphones and my favorite lipstick in my pocket – bright, joyful and never overly serious. It’s not traditional fall, but it’s so now. You will not be surprised when people stop you and ask, okay where did you get those done?
