The French manicure is a classic for a reason. It is simple in design, clean, and a solid choice for those who want a little something more than a clear coat on their nails. However, white tips aren’t the only option. People are getting creative and giving the once-dated manicure a fresh twist by incorporating every color of the rainbow into their looks. Rainbow French manicures are completely customizable: follow a classic ROYGBIV color scheme or create an ombré effect with five shades in the same color family — the possibilities are endless.
Sarah Gibson Tuttle, founder of Olive & June agrees. “Looking at a rainbow French mani instantly lifts your spirits,” she says. “Putting a rainbow color palette twist on a classic makes it feel fun.”
When it comes to the design itself, you won’t need any fancy tools, either. Instead, you can use the polish’s built-in brush to paint the tip. “Once you’ve selected your shades, apply a coat of your first color to the tip of your nail using the side of the brush to sketch out the shape,” says Gibson Tuttle. “You’ll be able to clean it up later.”
Repeat this step on all five nails, then go in with a second coat to enhance the colors. Next, it’s time for clean-up. Dip a nail clean-up brush into a bottle of nail polish remover and shape each tip by gently pushing it back before it fully dries. The last step is a high-shine top coat to protect all of your hard work from chips.
Now that you know how to do this nail art, you’ll probably need a little inspiration to create your own design. Keep scrolling for some of our favorite takes on the colorful rainbow French manicure.
