A classic French manicure involves covering the surface of the nail with a pink tint and a neatly drawn smile line at the tip. If you don't use a camouflage tone, then be prepared that after three or four days the nail will begin to grow back and the crescent moon will move.
Although this simple masterpiece was called French, its origins, oddly enough, have American roots. Nail design with a smile appeared in 1976 in Hollywood. And it’s not surprising, because actors change their images in one day, and manicure rarely harmonizes with the overall appearance. That's why we decided to create a universal design called French.
How to do a French manicure at home
With the help of simple manipulations, a fashionable manicure can be easily done at home. Let's talk about each method in more detail.
To ensure an even smile even on your left hand, cut the bristles on your brush into a crescent shape; similar tools have already appeared in stores. When drawing a French jacket, don't worry about straight lines. With a brush and nail polish remover, imperfections can be easily erased.
Tools:
- Base coat (matte pastel varnish);
- Nail tip color (white);
- Topcoat - final fixing colorless varnish;
- Special stripes - stickers.
Step-by-step instruction:
Step 1: First of all, prepare your nails. This stage includes light procedures that are familiar to every girl. Using a file or homemade equipment, work out the shape of your nails, steam your hands in a 20-minute warm bath to gently remove the cuticle.
Step 2: Now is the time to apply the base coat, wait until it dries completely. Now we paste special strips of stickers to create a uniform French manicure. Paint the tip of the nail; if necessary, apply the polish a second time.
Step 3: Wait until completely dry, remove the strips. French manicure at home is ready.
Types of French manicure
If you are not afraid of bold decisions, we recommend trying a red jacket, the fiery shades of which can accentuate your fatal beauty. By the way, it wouldn’t hurt to combine such a chic trend with a formal suit and red lipstick. But remember, red art must be done very carefully. Pay attention to the samples shown in the photographs.
French manicure ideas with patterns
Have you decided to make an unusual drawing of a house? Keep in mind that no additional skills are required; the presence of auxiliary tools is a prerequisite. After all, you can get a beautiful manicure even with a minimum of effort. For example, stick a sticker and draw a smile, and use a stencil to add a picture.
Even the classic home manicure looks irresistible. Therefore, be sure to pamper yourself and complement your look with a fashionable nail design in a French style. Fortunately, new ideas are replenished from season to season on an ongoing basis.
If you think the classics are too boring, learn how to do a colored French manicure with a pattern. But keep in mind that you will have to carefully draw the desired images, although it is not forbidden to use ready-made stencils, stickers and other auxiliary equipment (for example, Konad will make this task easier).
Every girl simply must master French manicure at home; at first it is better to use ready-made stickers or decor. And then move on to difficult options, painting with acrylic paints.
Decoration on a French coat using acrylic-based paint is done after positioning the smile on the camouflage coating. You will need preliminary preparation of the palette and water for washing brushes. You need to start with painting, peas, butterflies or simple patterns.
See the photo gallery where the latest fashion designs are presented. By the same principle, use varnishes instead of paint.
Another trend is to apply black or dark camouflage, a smile in color. And then crystals, stones or sparkles are glued into the roots, which changes the final look.
An unusual French manicure with rhinestones, boutonnieres and sequins is easy to implement using an already drawn French manicure. First, apply a matte shade plus a stripe at the tip, but in addition decorate the smile area with sequin decor. Don't forget to pin the design. To make the process easier, use varnishes with massive glitter.
We suggest trying a multi-colored French manicure for short nails. 
Step-by-step photo of French manicure for short nails: 
Every year the French jacket is updated with new design ideas. In addition to the usual option, there is also the opposite, for example, a white hole, not a smile. In this case, the nail can be either long or short. It is as popular as the classic one. This design can be worn in winter, spring and summer, when playing with contrasts is most appropriate. To make a colored French manicure for yourself at home, you will need the same amount of time as you would spend on creating a classic one.
The execution options are very different, it all depends on your own preferences. You can use the color only for a smile, and leave the rest of the surface in a transparent matte tone, but you can also choose brighter varnish colors. A step-by-step master class will greatly facilitate the assimilation of information for beginners.
Looking for something new? Meet sideway French - a stylish manicure. It is very easy to make at home, even for beginners, you just need to choose the most compatible colors. This design differs from the classic version only in the location of the strip. The so-called smile is located on the side of the nail plate.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Start by applying the base. You can skip this step.
- Then draw a thin line from the side from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. Wait for it to dry.
- Fill the remaining space with another shade.
- Finish the trendy French manicure with a top coat.
Step by step video
French manicure without stripes
Of course, if you think you can do without auxiliary equipment, try doing a manicure without stripes. But this path requires certain skills and the ability to execute clear lines. We will need the same set as in the previous paragraph (or any colors of your choice), but we will exclude the stickers.
- After the nails are covered with the base coat, wait until everything dries thoroughly.
- Using a thin brush, carefully draw a smile on the tip of the nail. Or first, place a line along the edge, and cover the border, for example, with gold decor.
- You can go the other way and apply a crescent moon and then touch it up with a brush dipped in nail polish remover. These manipulations are also easy to do with gel, which means the design will last up to two weeks.
- Secure your beautiful manicure with a top coat.
French manicure is suitable for girls of different age categories, as it is considered universal. In addition, it will suit any style and will be appropriate in different looks. It will be much more convenient if such a manicure is long-lasting and does not require daily adjustments. The ideal option would be a gel polish coating, which will retain shine and durability for a long time.
French manicure lessons with gel polish will help you learn how to do the entire procedure yourself. Moreover, it is not necessary to attend them in person. Today we invite you to use our theoretical material. We hope it will help you bring your idea to life.
Step by step guide
How to do a French manicure with gel polish? The entire quality of the work done will depend on the nail and its preparedness. The first thing to do is to go over the plate with a soft nail file to make it less smooth. This will help the coating adhere better to the nail. You should carefully work with the cuticle and remove part from the nail plate so that the gel polish in that place does not break off after a few days. Before application, remove all dirt and grease using nail polish remover.
The first layer will be the base layer; it must be kept under the lamp for no more than 3 minutes. The next step is to draw a white line at the end of the nail. To create an even border, you need to use a stencil. We take a soft brush and try to draw a clear line without gaps. After the white line, the nail is covered with top varnish and dried for 2 minutes. It is better to apply the varnish in the middle, and then distribute it over the entire plate. This way you can do everything evenly.
French manicure at home
How to do a French manicure with gel polish yourself? Need to purchase:
- gel polish;
- top coating;
- base coat;
- brush;
- nail polish remover;
- ultraviolet lamp.
Before doing a French manicure with gel polish at home, you need to practice using regular polish. The sloppiness will be very noticeable when using gel polish. Therefore, it is important to practice and draw lines with confidence. Before you start painting, you need to prepare your nails as much as possible so that they keep the polish on for a long time. To do this, prepare a warm bath with liquid hand soap. You cannot use regular soap, as it contains fat, which will also stick to the nail plates. You need to hold your hands in this bath for no more than five minutes, then dry them with a towel. Next, wipe the nails again with nail polish remover. The last step is to go over the entire plate with a nail file to level the surface. It is important not to file the surface of the nail, but only to walk lightly.
Benefits of gel polish coating
The first and most important benefit of such a coating is its resistance and durability. When you decorate your manicure with sparkles and rhinestones, they will stay on until the polish is removed. After drying in the lamp, the coating will not leave marks everywhere, as it will finally become hard. After coating with gel polish, nails become stronger and more resistant to environmental factors.
It is important that thanks to this coating, the nails will stop suffering from the effects of harmful varnish substances, become healthy and get rid of various problems.
Manicure ideas
Adding variety to your French manicure will not be difficult. One of the popular ones is to highlight one finger against the background of the rest. The nail can be completely covered with white varnish or painted in the shape of lace.
There is an equally popular type of French manicure called “lunar”. Its peculiarity is that it is not the end of the nail that is drawn, but its base, the so-called hole.
A French jacket with dots will look beautiful and unusual. Its peculiarity is that you need to draw small circles from the white line, which will seem to merge with the line and make a smooth transition.
You can use the following manicure: first, a standard French manicure is made, after which it is covered with a lace pattern. This type of manicure would be especially appropriate for a wedding; it looks natural and beautiful.
Colored French manicure with gel polish
It is not necessary to perform a French manicure using only white and pink colors. Depending on the wardrobe, its color scheme can be changed. This manicure is most suitable for the summer, when you can safely experiment with shades.
Using two colors in a manicure can be used for everyday life, while using more than three colors will be appropriate on vacation. The disadvantage of such a fashionable French manicure is that any imperfections, scratches and dirt will be very visible on it.
You need to know the features of color combinations. Yellow will look beautiful with orange and red, blue with green and emerald, pastel colors are best combined with bright ones so that they do not merge with each other. You can experiment and combine tones, while changing the structure of the varnish. You can use matte varnish as the base, and glossy varnish for the line. This combination is ideal for any style.
French manicure with gel polish with stripes
Stripes remain trendy for many seasons in a row. But don’t think that such a manicure will completely replace the French one. You can combine horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines.
It is very beneficial to do such a fashionable French manicure due to the fact that when the nail plate grows, it can be hidden by adding another stripe. You can combine matte colors with glossy ones to add depth to your manicure.
French manicure on short nails
Do not be mistaken that it is impossible to create a beautiful manicure on short nails. Actually this is not true. The most important thing is to give your nails an even and beautiful shape so that they are uniform and well-groomed.
How to do a French manicure with gel polish on short nails? Exactly the same as on long ones. But you don’t need to make too large a white stripe, as such a manicure will look unnatural. It is better to do everything in accordance with the proportions of the nail. It is better not to decorate small nails with large patterns or bright colors, since the main task is not to visually shorten them even more.
How to make your manicure last longer
We already know how to do a French manicure with gel polish. But how can you make it last longer? Even though the gel polish coating is durable, it can still get dirty, scratched, or chip easily. The main rule of long-lasting manicure is healthy nails. They should not be too soft or brittle, as then the varnish will quickly crumble. To prevent this from happening, it is important to take strengthening baths with herbal decoctions. Before applying varnish, you should not keep your hands in warm water for a long time, as then your nails will become very soft and the varnish will not adhere well.
Before applying the coating, be sure to do a hygienic manicure. You should get rid of the cuticle at the base of the nail, because if this is not done, then the varnish at this place will quickly fall off. You need to know that manicure lasts longest on short plates. It is better to protect your nails from the influence of chemicals: washing powder, detergents, because they have a detrimental effect not only on the nails, but also on the skin around them.
Removing gel polish
This action will require enough time and patience. For the first method, you need to prepare a special container and pour acetone into it. It is important to cover the skin around the nail with a rich cream so as not to spoil it. Each plate should be immersed in acetone and kept for ten minutes. It is important not to forget to replace the liquid in a timely manner, since its properties are significantly reduced when it evaporates. After the nail has been in acetone, use a manicure stick to carefully peel away the layers of varnish, trying not to damage the nail plate.
The next method is considered less harmful, since the concentration of acetone will not be significant. You need to moisten ten cotton pads with acetone and apply them to your nails, wrapping them tightly with foil. You need to keep this compress for at least ten minutes, after which you also remove the soft gel polish. After any cleansing, nails need polishing and treatment with a moisturizer. It is advisable to take breaks and let your nails rest for a week between coats of gel polish.
French manicure with gel polish is a modern way to make your nails flawless for a long time. But to make your manicure special, it is important to choose the right design and prepare well for application.
Some girls believe that gel nail extensions harm their own nails. I myself once thought so, until I decided to study this issue more carefully. It turned out that your own nail is nothing more than dead cells of the nail plate. The nail cannot breathe, which means that covering the plate with a gel coating will not in any way affect the so-called “breathing”.
The second misconception is that only natural nails are in fashion. Of course, if your master does not do gel nails well enough, then it is better to leave them natural. But when comparing a beautiful manicure on natural and artificial nails, the vast majority of respondents will prefer the second. Therefore, if you want to wear gel artificial nails, wear them for your health.
Well, this lesson with step-by-step photographs will be devoted to how to make a laid-out French gel at home.
To make a laid out French gel at home, you will need the following materials and tools:
- primer;
- gel base;
- glossy top with a sticky layer;
- dehydrator (removes the sticky layer, degreases the nail plate);
- camouflage gel;
- white gel;
- universal gel (with a purple tint, which when dried in a lamp does not give a yellowish tint);
- flat brush for applying gel;
- a flat brush for removing excess gel from the free edge;
- file for filing artificial nails (100/100 grit);
- buff for polishing the nail plate;
- ultraviolet lamp (36 W) for drying.
Step-by-step lesson “How to make a laid-out French gel at home”
1) If you already had extended gel nails, then you need to prepare them for correction: remove the colored gel polish, remove detachments, treat the nail plate in the hole area, file the sinuses and give the nail the desired shape. If you are extending nails for the first time, then first the nail plate of the natural nail is filed, prepared for extension, then the nails are extended into forms, dried, and given the desired shape. At the beginning of laying out the jacket with gel, the hand looks something like this.
2) To ensure good adhesion of the artificial material to the natural nail, treat the nail with a primer. I use an acid-free primer, it is convenient and safe if the liquid gets on the cuticle.
3) Then apply a gel base to the nail plates. This will ensure a good fit of the gel to the nail plate and protect against detachments and chips. When applying, try not to flood the cuticles, otherwise the manicure will look untidy.
4) The base needs to be dried in a lamp for 2 minutes.
5) Now take a flat brush and apply camouflage gel to the nail 2/3 of its length from the cuticle. The free edge area should remain uncovered. If the gel has flowed onto this area, apply the excess gel with a second flat brush, forming a smile area.
6) It is better to lay out each nail separately and bake it in a lamp for 2 minutes so that the gel does not have time to spread and does not flow onto the cuticle and side ridges.
7) Now wipe the brush with a dehydrator and take the white gel.
8) We place it only on the area of the regrown edge. Bake in a lamp for 2-3 minutes.
9) When all the nails are ready and well dried, close the jars of gel. The next step is filing the nails, and if nail dust gets into the gels, they will lose their quality properties. We treat the nail plates with a dehydrator (moistening a cotton sponge in it), removing the sticky layer.
10) File your nails in the following sequence. First, we go through the side areas, removing possible sagging and giving the nails direction. Then we use a file over the entire surface, file well the sinuses (areas around the cuticle), and then the free edge.
11) After work, remove dust from the nails with a dehydrator and cover them with a thin layer of universal gel to make the manicure more scratch-resistant. Dry your nails in the lamp for 2 minutes.
French manicure was originally created for the catwalk. Its author wanted to save models, who often change outfits during a show, from endlessly repainting their nails. The goal was achieved, and the successful idea was subsequently appreciated by women all over the world, because it fits with different clothes, looks great on nails of any length, and harmonizes with all skin colors. And another advantage that has led to the popularity of French is that you can do it yourself, even with a standard set of tools at hand.
Tools and materials for DIY French manicure
No exclusive or prohibitively expensive means are required, with the exception, perhaps, of stencils - this is the only device that is intended exclusively for creating a neat French jacket. Everything else is probably in your home cosmetics bag, and if not, you can easily find it in a specialized store. There are even separate sets for French manicure, which already include several shades of varnish and stencils. The price range for them is very different, so you can choose any one to suit your taste and budget.
Before work you need to prepare the following:
- for a caring bath: warm water with the addition of sea salt, lemon juice, essential oils or herbal decoction. Any manicure draws attention to the hands, so the skin on them cannot be dry and rough. The procedure will give your palms a more well-groomed appearance and also soften the cuticle. However, if your hands are in good condition, you can do without a bath, but girls for whom creating a manicure is akin to a spa ritual do not refuse the extra opportunity to take care of themselves;
- to soften and remove the cuticle: remover, wax or special oil, orange stick or manicure hoof. You can use wire cutters, a trimmer and a pusher, but these tools require appropriate experience, and if handled improperly they can be traumatic;
- for nail treatment: manicure scissors, a file (preferably glass), polishing buff;
- tools for more convenient painting of the tip of the nail: a thin brush, stencil strips or a special felt-tip pen;
- coloring agents: base varnish and color. The main one is applied to the entire nail. It can be completely transparent or translucent in a pastel shade. Colored varnish is usually white or milky. With white manicure it turns out bright and contrasting, and with milky it turns out muted and more natural. If desired, you can add a protective base for nails to the varnishes, as well as a topcoat;
- auxiliary tools: cotton swabs, thin brush with short bristles, toothpick, nail polish remover.
Reference! In the classic version of the French manicure, the nail is painted with clear varnish and its tip is white. This gives the manicure elegance and naturalness, thanks to which it is considered universal. However, modern fashion has expanded the range of colors, so the base polish can be translucent pink, beige, peach, or lavender. The choice depends on the color of your hands: in winter, cool shades are preferable, and in summer, when the skin tans, warm shades look better.
French manicure can also be done with gel polishes. This will take a little more time, but will allow you to enjoy all the benefits of gel coating: durability, safety and color that does not lose intensity.
Those who prefer gel polishes will need a special lamp, a primer, a base product, colored coatings for the nail and its tip, a finishing gel and a liquid that removes the sticky layer. The rest of the tools are the same as in the list above.
How to do a French manicure at home: step-by-step instructions
First you need to remove the old manicure, if any, make your favorite hand bath or simply wash them with soap. Then you should treat the nails: remove excess length and flaking tips, give the intended shape, carefully cut off the burrs, push back the cuticle, sand with a soft buff. Gel polish will require more thorough sanding to remove the top glossy layer. After this, wipe the nail plate with nail polish remover to degrease it and remove sawdust. Then the creative process begins.
- Apply a protective base. This step is not mandatory, but desirable, since such products strengthen the nails, smooth their surface, and make it easier to apply varnish. In addition, they protect against harmful substances that are found even in expensive products from luxury brands.
- Cover the nail with two layers of base polish and wait for them to dry.
- The most difficult stage of the entire process is to draw the so-called smile line, that is, paint over the tip of the nail. He must be extremely careful, since he plays a key role in the entire manicure. By the way, the smile line allows you to visually correct the shape of your fingertips: if the pattern is moved a little higher and made more rounded, then the nail bed will acquire exquisite oval shapes. Some girls find it easy to draw a straight line using a regular brush from a bottle of nail polish, but most still cannot do without additional devices, which will be discussed below.
- Decorate the manicure with a pattern, if it was planned.
- Apply a topcoat that will add gloss, speed up drying and increase the durability of the manicure.
Important! The topcoat should be clear or translucent, but may have a pastel tint. In this case, it slightly tints the smile line, dimming the brightness of the white color.
When using gel polishes, the procedure looks similar:
- Treat prepared nails with primer and let it dry.
- Apply a thin layer of base gel and cure it in a lamp. The drying time must be specified in the instructions, since it may differ from company to company, and failure to follow these rules can lead to nail breakage or peeling of the gel.
- Paint each nail in the main color and also dry it in a lamp. If necessary, add another layer of base varnish.
- Draw a smile and dry again. If a stencil is used for this purpose, then first remove the sticky dispersion film using a special tool - a clinser. At this stage, gel polishes have an undeniable advantage over regular ones: they retain their consistency and do not set in the air, so you can correct blemishes at any time with a toothpick or other suitable tool.
- Apply top, trying to level the surface and smooth out the thickening above the smile line. This may require two layers, each of which must be polymerized in turn in a lamp.
- Remove the sticky dispersion, then moisten the skin around the nails.
Various options for drawing a straight smile line
There are many ways to make this job easier for yourself, but each of them will still require skill, patience and special tools. The most reliable and popular way to make French is to use stripes.
French using stripes
Ready-made stencils are included with French manicure kits and are also sold separately. They are thin (about 5 mm) strips of self-adhesive paper. They come in different shapes, but more often they are arched, since it is this that allows you to get everyone’s favorite original version of the famous French jacket.
It is very convenient to use such stencils: they are separated from the base and pressed with the adhesive side to the nail so that the tip remains free. Then you can safely draw a smile without worrying about accuracy.
Important! Many white varnishes are capricious, so it is recommended to apply them in several thin layers. The first one will have bald spots, but you need to let it dry a little and add a second one, which will hide the shortcomings of the previous one.
When the varnish has hardened, the stencil can be removed by simply pulling it by the free edge. If the lower layers of the coating have not dried and have shifted slightly when removing the strip, then carefully adjust the plastic mass with the tip of a toothpick.
This method allows you to quickly get an even smile line and is equally suitable for both regular and gel polishes. Ready-made strips are affordable and sold in almost any cosmetic store, so they are considered the leaders among all auxiliary products for French manicure.
They have, perhaps, only one drawback: you cannot control the degree of curvature, and everyone’s nails are different! In addition, some people want to draw a smile that is more convex than the one obtained using a stencil. There is a way out - make the strips yourself.
DIY French manicure strips
The ideal option for making stencils with your own hands is regular self-adhesive paper from an office supply store. It has a backing so that the strips will not stick to your fingers and scissors, making the cutting process difficult.
Self-adhesive is sold in the form of A4 sheets, which are suitable for a regular office printer, so the easiest way is to find a ready-made layout on the Internet and print it out. The products will turn out like store-bought ones, but you will have to cut them yourself.
For those who know how to work in graphic editors, you can create stencils according to individual parameters, focusing on the width of the nails and the required radius of curvature.
There is a third way to make French stripes from self-adhesive tape with your own hands. To do this, you will first have to make a pattern from thick cardboard, as in the diagram below, and then attach it to a sheet of paper, trace it with a pencil and cut it out. This option is simple, although not very convenient, so to save time it is better to buy ready-made stencils.
Other means suitable for home creativity:
- narrow tape;
- insulating tape;
- masking tape;
- adhesive plaster.
Similar materials are available in any household, but it’s inconvenient to draw patterns on them, so you’ll have to cut out the strips by eye. It is best to make them from adhesive tape: it bends at any angle, fixes well, peels off easily, and besides, the thin film does not pull the varnish along with it when removed.
French without stripes
An impeccable French manicure can be created without stencils. If your hand is full, then a regular brush made from a bottle of varnish will do, but nail design masters prefer other tools, many of which are suitable for home experiments.
How to use tips
Tips are artificial tips that are used for... They come in different shapes, colors and sizes, but for a French jacket it is advisable to choose simple, unpainted ones. Manicure is done as follows:
- prepare nails for gel extensions: remove the cuticle, treat with a buff, file, degrease;
- choose the right size tips for each;
- glue the false ends with special glue, mark the desired length on them with a marker or gel pen and carefully remove them with wire cutters or a special tip cutter;
- give each nail the desired shape, sand it with a file for better adhesion to the gel. Carefully treat the junction of the real nail and the tip so that it becomes invisible;
- once again degrease the entire structure, and additionally wipe the natural nail with a primer;
- spread a thin layer of base gel over the entire length, dry in a lamp;
- fill the middle of the nail with transparent or camouflage (flesh-colored) gel, reducing the thickness of the layer at the edges, polymerize in a lamp;
- remove the adhesive dispersion and give the nail its final shape, removing all irregularities and excess thickness with a file;
- Apply white gel to the free tip, drawing a smile line. Dry each nail in a lamp;
- add a finishing layer, polymerize, wipe off the dispersion and apply moisturizing oil to the cuticle.
Advice! The extension procedure looks simple, but its implementation requires certain skills and knowledge of important nuances, for example, when and what files to use, how to process nails, etc. To better understand the process, it is advisable to go to the salon at least once and look at the work of the master and ask questions.
Tips for French express manicure
Not long ago, special tips appeared for quick French nails on short and medium nails. The new product is a design made of a plastic holder and a ready-made white or colored tip.
Express tips can significantly save time. Firstly, there is no need to draw the smile line, since it is already ready. Secondly, you don’t have to cut off the excess length and file the remaining length until the desired shape is achieved. In addition, since false nails are short, when creating a French manicure, you can do without gel and limit yourself to gel polishes, which are easier to work with.
The technology is simple: prepare your hands in the same way as for regular gel polish, select the tips according to size, apply glue to the white strip and press it to the nail. Break the transparent holder so that it is removed entirely, leaving only its contents in place. File the edge of the false smile that protrudes above the nail plate, then degrease everything and treat the keratin area with a primer.
How to use a brush
There are quite a few brushes that can be used to paint a French manicure, since girls find it convenient to work with different tools. The following are most often used for French:
- A flat brush with short bristles and a thin, rounded tip. Suitable for both drawing a smile and correcting it, you just need to moisten the brush in nail polish remover;
- a flat, elastic brush with short bristles and a beveled edge;
- a flat brush with a notch in the form of a semicircle in the middle. Very convenient for beginners, as it allows you to paint the tip of the nail with just one stroke;
- hair brush. This brush has a long, thin and soft tip, allowing you to draw the finest smile line on very short nails, however, to successfully use this truly jewelry tool, a certain level of skill is required.
Working with brushes is carried out as follows. A drop of white varnish (or gel polish) is applied to an improvised palette, which can be anything: a piece of cardboard, a board, a saucer. From here, a portion of the product is applied to the tool and the tip of the nail is painted. When working with gel polishes, correction can be done with the same brush, simply wiping it on a napkin.
When a manicure is performed with regular varnish, you need to prepare a small bowl with remover in advance. The brush is washed in it so that it does not dry out, and also moistened if the smile line is uneven and needs to be corrected.
To clean brushes use:
- from gel - special products that remove acrylic, gel and gel polish;
- for gel polish - alcohol or cleanser;
- from regular nail polish - remover.
Reference! To correct French manicure, you can use not only brushes, but also a special tool. It looks like a felt-tip pen filled with nail polish remover. It is refillable and some even have a set of removable tips.
How to use a whitening pencil
This cosmetic product is a pencil with a snow-white lead. It is used to paint over the regrown tip of the nail on the reverse side to make it appear whiter. Of course, this effect is short-lived and lasts until the first hand washing, although pencils with a more stable formula have now appeared. However, such a tool still cannot be considered a full-fledged tool for French manicure. You won’t be able to draw a smile line with it, and applying it under a finished French coat with varnish is pointless, since no one will see it anyway.
Some girls do manicures only with a pencil. The nails don't turn out as smooth and white as with polish, but they like the look. Unfortunately, the paint fades during the day and may partially get onto your fingers, making your hands look untidy. The problem can be easily solved if you have wet wipes and a pencil for touching up, but is it worth monitoring the condition of the French coat all day if it is much easier to draw a smile line with a thin layer of milky varnish?
A whitening pencil should be in your makeup bag for only one reason: it will disguise the overgrown tip of the nail and help to urgently “refresh” a manicure that is already several days old.
Reference! The idea of a whitening pencil has been developed. Nowadays you can find special markers on sale that are convenient for painting over a smile from the outside. They are not durable even under a top coat, but they can mask chips on a finished manicure.
How to do a reverse French manicure
This type of nail design is also known as anti-french. It gets its name because the smile is positioned along the cuticle, a mirror image of the traditional version. Thanks to this feature, a manicure can be done even on very short nails without resorting to extensions.
Reverse French is performed both in the classic version (the nail is flesh-colored and the design is white) and with any combination of shades. For this work, it is better to use special stickers, since there is no natural stencil in the form of a growing nail and without experience it will not be possible to draw an ideal line.
Templates for anti-french, having an arched shape, can also be purchased at a cosmetic store or printed on self-adhesive tape. The stencil is fixed on the nail, 2-3 mm away from the cuticle, and the sequence of actions is similar to those given earlier: preparation, application of the base varnish, drawing a smile and fixing with a top coat.
A popular type of anti-french manicure is the so-called moon manicure. The smile line in this case looks like a semicircle hiding the nail hole. To create this pattern, a special donut-shaped stencil is used, but otherwise the technology is the same.
Design ideas
An elegant and laconic French manicure is good in itself, but thanks to lovers of variety, the idea has received comprehensive development. Based on the classic version, fashionistas create new designs, experimenting with color, shape, texture, and decorations. Of course, it was not without criticism, but many girls like the idea. Even Hollywood actresses do not deny themselves the pleasure of decorating their nails with an unusual pattern.
Art French is not distinguished by the versatility of the original and does not suit all outfits, but it allows you to choose a harmonious manicure for each specific look. There are so many variations that it is impossible to list them all, but they can be conditionally divided into several groups.
Colored French
This idea turned out to be the easiest to implement; you just need to draw a smile line using any other varnish, not white. The central part of the nail can also be coated with a contrasting color. The result will be an unusual manicure, which, depending on the chosen range, can complement both a strict business image and a bright youth look.
Twist
You can paint the tip of your nail with several colored varnishes. They are used to draw parallel stripes, waves, zigzags and swirls.
Millennium
You can decorate the smile line with sparkles: paint over the entire tip of the nail, draw a thin strip along its edge, or create a sparkling gradient. The French jacket turns out to be very bright and festive, making it great for parties.
Fan French
The tip of the nail can be decorated not only with colored or shiny varnishes. Granules for caviar manicure, velor fibers for velvet, mica, foil, rhinestones, beads, lace and even fragments of dried plants are used. The variety of materials will allow you to fully enjoy the creative process and create a unique design for any event.
French with a non-standard smile line
The smile can be of any shape: beveled, triangular, wavy, V-shaped, double. Additionally, it is decorated with dots, thin lines, and patterns. It’s not difficult to make such a manicure, but the result of your efforts will not go unnoticed.
Wedding jacket
To create this variety, traditional colors are usually used, but the nails are additionally decorated so that the manicure matches the dress and hairstyle.
Video: moon manicure, colored French manicure and version with rhinestones
French is simple and complex at the same time. Its flawlessness and naturalness are the result of painstaking work. To master the technique, you will have to try, but the game is worth the candle, because the famous manicure will always help out, including situations when it is difficult to decide on an “outfit” for your nails. Even those who prefer variety in everything will be able to find dozens of original ideas for themselves or come up with an individual one, taking as a basis a classic design that is unlikely to go out of fashion.
The smooth lines of a French manicure (that’s what stylists call this type of nail art) look amazing on women’s hands. To keep it on your nails for as long as possible, it is better to use special compounds. You can do a French manicure with gel polish (see photo) yourself. In this article we will describe in detail all its types and methods of creating it at home. So let's get started.
Tools and materials for French manicure
It is very difficult to draw smooth, perfect, even lines with a regular brush. If you want your French manicure with gel polish to look perfect, it is better to purchase a ready-made set or buy everything you need separately.
We will need:
- nail files with different abrasives for processing and polishing nails;
- degreaser: alcohol, weak vinegar solution or nail polish remover;
- a set of self-adhesive stencils for a French jacket or tape for making them;
- a soft brush made of sable fur or a brush with a beveled edge; There are also special French brushes with a smile shape on sale;
- if you plan to further decorate your French manicure with gel polish (see photo) with designs, you must also purchase special brushes;
- a transparent base varnish to protect nails from the harmful effects of dyes, it allows the gel polish to adhere better; it can also be used as a top finish;
- two or three colored varnishes;
- UV or ice lamp for drying the gel; in the latter case, the nails dry faster.
If you are not afraid of experiments, it is perhaps better to arm yourself not with stencils, but with strips of tape. After all, with the help of them you can create not only standard semicircular, but also any asymmetrical or geometric smile shapes. With some skill, you can draw any lines with a thin brush.
Advice! If the gel polish begins to thicken, keep the bottle in hot water for 5 minutes. He will immediately soften.
Types of gel polishes. Which to choose?
The composition of gel varnishes includes esters of acrylic acid, which allow them to ideally adhere to the nail plate, and film formers, which form a durable coating under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. The introduction of special additives makes the composition more viscous and plastic, and also gives it shine.
There is simply no point in purchasing cheap varnishes. They only spoil your nails and peel off after just a couple of days. A high-quality gel composition stays on the nails for 2-3 weeks. It should be quite dense and not spread.
The favorites among such varnishes are products of American companies Gelish, Jessica Geleration, Pnb And Kodi, German O.P.I. and Japanese Masura. A special place among them is occupied by the company's shellac CND with a more gentle formula. To remove it, cutting is not required - it can be removed quite easily even with acetone.
Chinese factory brands are also popular Canni, Cristina, Bluesky. True, they have a sharper smell, but they are inexpensive (about 250 rubles), and in terms of durability they can compete even with American varnishes. Russian ones also received good reviews. Aurelia And RuNail with a wide range of colors.
The latest innovations in this area include:
- Multilac companies ruNail, does not require either a preliminary base coat or a top coat;
New on the market - Multilac. Requires neither a preliminary base coat nor a top coat - Striplac companies Alessandro International: can be removed from nails without using any products, just with your hands, but its cost is still prohibitive.
Advice! The polymerization time of the gel depends on the power of the ultraviolet lamp. To dry ordinary gels, 4–6 watts are enough. Some compounds require more power up to 9 watts. It is more convenient to use a lamp with a timer - it will give a signal at the right time.
Preparing the marigolds
Any manicure should look perfect, and French manicure even more so. Unevenly processed cuticles or poorly filed nails will immediately catch your eye. It is advisable to treat wavy nail plates with a special leveling agent.
To remove cuticles, we advise you to use a new product in the field of manicure: remover (cuticle softener). In this case, you will be completely protected from cuts, and you will be able to easily and easily remove excess skin without tweezers. This method of treatment is called unedged French manicure.
Let's tell you how to work with this composition:
- In order for the remover to be absorbed into the skin faster, it is better to first hold your hands in water for 4–5 minutes;
- the cuticle moves back, for this you can use an orange stick or pusher;
- Remover is applied to this area and left for about 3 minutes;
- Without wiping the nail, we begin to carefully move the cuticle with an orange stick;
- wipe the nail;
- lift the cuticle and scrape it with a metal or orange stick.
Advice! An excess of remover can negatively affect the health of the nail plate. Try to purchase only mineral or oil based formulations. But even they need to be applied only to the cuticle line, without affecting the nails.
What do you need to know about working with gel formulations?
Gel polish is able to spread on its own over the surface, so it is much easier to work with than regular polish. However, it’s still not possible to give them a manicure in half an hour. So, let's look at this process step by step:
- apply the base varnish in the thinnest layer; the brush only needs to be slightly moistened and “rub” it into the surface; In order for the gel polish to adhere firmly, such a base must be carefully painted over the entire surface, including the corners of the nail;
- place the handles in a UV lamp for 1–2 minutes to polymerize the nails;
- since the top sticky layer, called dispersion, remains on the gel after drying, it must be carefully removed with a brush, otherwise subsequent layers will lie unevenly and flow into the corners of the nail;
- It is better to apply bright colored varnish not in 2, but in 3 very thin layers, in which case it will stick better; each of them is also dried in a lamp for a couple of minutes;
- dark colors are usually painted unevenly the first time, this is normal, because the next layer will cover it;
- It is advisable to remove the dispersion layer with a brush or napkin after each drying, in this case the layers will be even and thin;
- white varnishes for French are usually denser, so it is enough to apply them in 1–2 layers; To prevent the coating from turning yellow, it needs to be dried a little less - from 20 seconds to 1.5 minutes;
- The layer of fixing varnish should be slightly thicker than the color one.
Advice! The main condition for a high-quality gel polish coating is to alternately apply the layers and dry them thoroughly. Otherwise, bubbles will form on the surface. The first layer should be the thinnest. If there are only two layers, the second one can be applied a little thicker.
Simple French manicure with gel polish
To create a smooth smile line with a French brush, you will have to practice. It is better to do this first with regular varnish. It is distributed along the edge of the nail from the center to the corners. That is, first we apply the composition to the tip of the nail, and then distribute it in two directions. There should be a minimum amount of varnish on the brush. After several such trainings, you will get the hang of it and can easily do not only a French manicure, but also any nail design with gel polish (photo).
It's much easier to work with stencils or tape. They are glued onto the nails, the desired part of the nail is painted over, and then, without waiting for it to dry, they are removed. French can be applied either to a colored base or to an unpainted nail plate.
Advice! The intensity of the nail color depends on the number of layers of gel polish. When coated in one layer, they will be translucent. Dense, rich colors of varnishes in bright shades are obtained with two or three layers of coating.
Unusual French ideas
With the help of gel polishes you can easily create any type of French manicure:
- The simple classic French style does not lose its relevance, in which the nails are covered with transparent varnish to emphasize their natural beauty and shine, and the tips are painted over with white; can be used as an everyday option;
- colored French: a combination of any types of contrasting varnishes;
- inverted French: the smile line does not run along the line of the nail plate, but at the cuticle in the area of the hole; such a manicure can be combined with a classic one;
- asymmetrical: the smile line moves in any direction;
- geometric: the tip of the nail is designed in the form of one or more triangles, squares, polygons, stripes or diagonals of different thicknesses;
- deep French: with a shift of the smile line to the main nail plate;
- gradient: the smile line is formed using color transitions, this method is called ombre;
- marble: the tip of the nail or the nail plate itself is painted with the finest patterns imitating the texture of stone;
- vintage: using special “cracking” craquelure varnishes;
- Twist French: a combination of several colors at the tip of the nail;
- using drawings: the tip of the nail or the plate itself is painted over with thematic patterns, flowers or funny figures;
- combined: French nail art is combined with other types of manicure.
Advice! It turns out that in 10% of women, the nail plate can simply reject the gel, so after a couple of days the coating peels off. If you fall into this category, you will have to switch to regular polish.
French design finishing
French manicure with gel polish (photo) 2017 can be additionally decorated with all sorts of details. It is allowed and even encouraged to be supplemented with patterns made using stencils or by hand, sliders, pieces of foil, drawings, broths, kamifubuki, bows or rhinestones. In order for them to stay firmly on the nails, they must be applied to undried varnish.
If these details are applied only to the edge of the smile line or completely replace the contrasting varnish, this type of design is called the millennium French. You can also decorate and decorate your nails with varnishes with a metallic, matte, “sugar” effect or halogen compositions.
Advice! Small parts are very difficult to handle. Use a regular toothpick or orange stick to stick them on.
French manicure with a pattern
For drawing on nails, you need to purchase special acrylic compounds. They differ from ordinary gel polishes in their lower viscosity, so they can be used to paint even the finest openwork patterns. It is very convenient to work with such compositions: they do not dry out before placing them in a UV lamp and are easy to mix. To create color transitions, you can use ordinary watercolor paints - the finishing varnish will securely fix them.
For work, it is advisable to purchase at least 3-4 brushes of different thicknesses:
- liner brush: thin with long bristles to create long lines;
- a brush with medium bristles, it will be convenient to draw curves;
- with a wide pile for applying glitter or “sand”; it can also be used to create color transitions and large details;
- small brush with short bristles: for drawing the finest patterns.
A palette is used to mix paints. You can replace it with a small piece of foil. Simple patterns can be easily made even with an ordinary toothpick or a needle of a suitable size. It is more convenient to apply various types of dots, commas or stripes with a dot - a tool with small metal balls at the ends.
It is better to start learning how to draw on nails with the simplest geometric patterns. Of course, this will require a lot of patience and perseverance. But, of course, the result is worth it. Once you feel confident, you can begin to do more complex work.
Advice! If you need to combine several shades without mixing them, purchase a special fan brush. With it you can pick up different types of polishes and carefully transfer them to your nails. You can also draw abstract patterns with it.
So, we tried to describe in detail and step by step the process of creating a French coat with gel polish.
