Good things come in small packages. And one of the biggest nail trends so far has been right up that alley. Move over rhinestone nails (with the occasional appearance of a Pokémon character); it’s time for the micro French manicure to shine—literally.
Popularised by celebrity nail artist Harriet Westmoreland, the micro French manicure or skinny French manicure is a minimalist’s dream come true. The original French manicure has been out of the circuit for a few years, and recent times has seen a leaning towards the dramatic, with nail accessories, magnetic 5D effects and chrome nails doing the rounds. While these bold looks may still around, so are minimal trends like micro French nails.
So, what’s the big deal?
The micro French nail trend is a subtle take on the original French manicure. Instead of a thick swipe of white on the tips of your nails, it’s a skinny line of white, or any other colour, or even multiple colours, on your nails. The nails can be any shape, and most importantly, they can be any length. Short nail lovers – this is your moment.
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Bona fide trend or a flash in the pan?
According to a trend report by Pinterest, micro French nails searches are up 235 per cent (as of December 2022)—so it’s safe to say it’s having its moment. We are also in the Renaissance period of minimalist and bespoke ways of living life. Acknowledging and celebrating individual choices is in –
whether that’s through a personalised bottle of shampoo, a perfume that smells like ‘you’, or a nail trend that’s visually so subtle you might miss it. The common factor running through is that there’s space for all of it, and more. ‘You do you’ is fast becoming the way of the world. You want the cheugy perfumes? There’s a new one out every week. Want marbled pebbles on your nails? Your neighbourhood salon has them in rainbow colours. Want a milky white, peach-toned manicure from your favourite influencer’s last reel? Sign up here for the micro French manicure.
Can we nail this at home?
While you may get the best results at a salon, this trend is simple enough to try at home.
Step 1:
Buy yourself a French manicure nail polish set to start with. This will give you all the tools to do a basic French tip.
Step 2:
Kick things off with a manicure. Without the requirement of any complicated nail extensions, all you need to do is follow some basic nail care tips— make sure your nails are filed and buffed, and your cuticles are pushed back.
Step 3:
Start working on the base. You can be traditional and stick to a pink or nude base to go with your white or coloured tips, or go all out with two contrasting yet fun nail colours between the tip and the base.
Step 4:
It’s time for the tips. To keep things neat, paint on an outline of the lower end of your French tip with a striping brush or the one that comes with your set. Then, fill it in up to the tip.
Step 5:
Make sure you seal the deal with a top coat, which you can reapply every few days to maintain the shine.
French manicure nail art need not be old school. As with all beauty trends in 2023, it’s all about making the trend your own and playing with it until it becomes something that’s uniquely you. If that means a black base and red tips—well, you do you.
Cover Image : Instagram/@betina_goldstein
