Key Takeaways
- Similar to an outline nail, a “Curved” French manicure is a style where the French tip extends all the way around the nail bed in a perfect loop.
- Celebrities like Jennie Kim and Dua Lipa have worn the trend recently.
When I assess nail art, I typically grade on a curve. French manicures are so classic and so hard to mess up that they usually end up somewhere in the middle of the bell. But their new counterpart, the “Curved” French manicure, is so good it might end up skewing the system.
This fall, the “Curved” French manicure is trending. You can spot the look by simply following the curve—if a regular French tip doesn’t stop at its normal point on either side of your nail bed and instead extends all the way around, you’ve got a Curved French. To put it another way: Think of a normal French tip, then think of reverse French, then connect them.
This is a look we’ve sort of seen before, when it went by a different name: the outline nail. Keep reading to learn everything there is to know about the trend, including how to get the look yourself.
@nailsbysuman/Instagram
The “Curved French” Trend
The trend first started to ripple again earlier this fall when nail artist Zola Ganzorigt crafted a red and white version for Jennie Kim. OPI, whose polishes she used to make it happen, called it a “C-French” design.
OPI
“Sleek, shiny, and undeniably chic, C-French is the new take on a French twist. This manicure features a barely-there base with a precise colorful curve, creating the perfect balance of timeless and trendy,” the brand shared in a press release. “Subtle enough to wear everyday, yet bold enough to make a statement, the new take is the ultimate proof that minimal nails can still be powerful.”
@natalieminervanails/Instagram
Then came Dua Lipa, who wore her own version in a similar color palette (the base was red this time!) for a trip to New York over the weekend. Her manicure was the work of Mei Kawajiri, who started with an apple red jelly shade before painting the tip on with a classic white polish.
@dualipa/Instagram
How to Get the Look
Ganzorigt was kind enough to post a tutorial for Jennie’s mani on Instagram, so we know *exactly* how the art came to be.
She started with a swipe of OPI Intelli-Gel Super Strong Base Coat, then added one coat of OPI Intelli-Gel in Bubble Bath and OPI Intelli-Gel in Bare My Soul for the ideal nude base. The last step was to grab a thin detailing brush and a bottle of OPI Intelli-Gel in “Big Apple Red” and paint on that all-around tip, leaving a little space near the cuticle for some extra intrigue.
Now, who is going to try the style next? I suggest you, and here are some fun fall color combos to further inspire.
