The French manicure’s allure lies in its timeless nature. Subtle twists continue to keep the French manicure atop the trend lists, whether it be glass tips or a fresh take on the shape. Generally, the French manicure features a curved line at the top that slopes with the nail’s shape. However, with square nails seeing a resurgence, we’ve noticed straight French manicures getting their moment in the spotlight with stars like Demi Lovato sporting the look.
“The straight French manicure is a twist on the traditional French manicure where the tip is a straight line across rather than curving up into the sides,” explains nail artist and Global Education Manager at ORLY, Julie Ventura. She notes that a straight French manicure looks best with square or coffin-shaped nails.
Luckily, this chic modern update on the classic manicure is fairly simple to achieve. “Start by filing your nail to a sharp square or a coffin shape for longer nails. Then polish the nail with one to two coats of a sheer white or nude lacquer like Pink Nude ($11),” instructs Ventura.
Then “grab a bright white, like White Tips ($11), or switch it up with a fun pop of color or metallic polish," advises Venture. “Hold the brush sideways and gently swipe the very tip of the free-edge in a straight line across.” Pro-tip: “For your non-dominant hand, it helps to hold the brush steady and gently move your nail instead.”
