Q&A for How to Do a French Manicure

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  • Question
    Can you still do a French manicure if you have short nails?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. Doing it might be a little more difficult as there is less nail to paint, but once it's done it will still look fabulous.
  • Question
    Does the polish need to be perfectly clear, or can it be a clear cream or clear pink color?
    Community Answer
    It can be whatever color you want it to be. Some nail designs even have neon colors with French tips; the tips themselves are often a different color too. For a classic French tip, you typically would use a light color, such as cream, pink, or even clear.
  • Question
    What do I do if I'm really bad at doing my right hand?
    Community Answer
    Put a little piece of tape on your nail that covers what you don't want white on. Then, paint the tip and peel back the tape while the paint is still wet.
  • Question
    What if you're bad at doing the nails neatly? Do you have any suggestions?
    Community Answer
    You can use a Band-Aid if you don't have moleskin pads. Stick it to your nail so that only the white part of your nail is exposed. After the polish is completely dry, peel off the Band-Aid.
  • Question
    How long should my nails be to do a French manicure?
    Community Answer
    Your nails can be long, short, or mid-length. Try to keep the tips of your nails straight or slightly rounded, however, as opposed to pointed or oval; it will look better.
  • Question
    What if I don't have any scotch tape?
    Community Answer
    You can use a Bandaid or plain sticky tape or you can do a different manicure and when you get scotch tape, do the French manicure.
  • Question
    How do I do a French manicure if my tips are stickers?
    Community Answer
    Maybe try to either apply the base coat, then the sticker (to the right size), then the top coat. You could also try to just paint over it.
  • Question
    Is it better to use a tiny brush?
    Community Answer
    A tiny brush is better for the tips, unless you have long nails and want to make the tip thick.
  • Question
    Can I do the manicure without tape or any other coverings?
    Community Answer
    Yes, by just painting a straight line across your tips, if you can do so accurately. But be careful not to apply the base coat until the tip is dry.
  • Question
    Can I use a white nail art pen to do the tips?
    Community Answer
    Yes, a white nail art pen is good for the tips. If you have long nails, it might be best to use the pen for touch-ups, or to outline the tip. It's definitely easier, but still requires a somewhat steady hand.
  • Question
    How are they removed?
    Community Answer
    With nail polish remover. Get a square of toilet paper or two, fold it a couple times, then apply the remover to it. Now all you need to do is rub your nails with the paper.
  • Question
    My nails are breaking along the line where the white tips is! Any suggestions?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    If you're using a hardener in any form, stop using it, as it can make your nails too hard and brittle. Use nail oil or cuticle cream every day to help you nail have some flex, because right now they seem too brittle.
  • Question
    What if I bite my nails and they're too short? Can I still do a french mani?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    You can still do a french mani, but you'll have to paint below the smile line (the line that starts the white part that extends past the finger tip) and paint on the nail plate (the part that's attached to the skin). This'll make your nail look even shorter than it already is because you probably don't have any length if you bite your nails.
  • Question
    My nails are super short! Will the french tips still look good?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    If your nails are nubs, they'll look a little odd, but if they have a bit of length, it'll look fine.
  • Question
    Do i still need to use a base coat underneath the pink one?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    Yes! If you want your manicure to last, you'll need to use a good base coat and top coat.
  • Question
    I want to do a french mani, but i don't have white nail polish. What should I do?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    French manicures aren't only done in white polish; a French manicure is when just the white part of the nail is painted. You can do it in any color you'd like, though white is the traditional color. I personally prefer doing it in black or blue.
  • Question
    Can I use a different color than white?
    Community Answer
    Ivory Is also a nice color. It looks more natural than white and so it seems to last a little longer, as it doesn't show when it wears away at the tips. Other than that, it's really up to you, but these are the only options that will look natural (which is generally the point).
  • Question
    Can I get the same look without nail polish?
    Community Answer
    No, it is a polished look and you need tools and polish to get it.
  • Question
    What color can I use instead of white on my nail tips?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    You can use any color you want! Classic French tips are white, but some find that boring.
  • Question
    Can I still do it if I have small fingers?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but it may be a little more difficult.
  • Question
    How do I cut my nails straight?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    Nail cutters aren't the best method of shaping nails; when you clip your nails, you're putting a lot of pressure on your nails, causing them to split and crack below the point where you want to cut. If you're too impatient to file them down with an emery board, get a glass/crystal file! It's a lot faster and more gentile on your nails, and some only cost a couple dollars.
  • Question
    What Is the best thing to use if I don't have white nail polish?
    Natidirection
    Community Answer
    If you're looking for a color close to white, try to use a nude color but overall any color will work fine.
  • Question
    What color works best for the tips if you don't have white?
    Community Answer
    Ivory or peach could work if you don't have white.
  • Question
    How long does the French nail stay on?
    Community Answer
    It really just depends on how careful you are with it. It could last weeks or only days.
  • Question
    How long is it supposed to take to do french nails?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    French tips take time and lots of practice if you're going to do it yourself. It's the "perfect" style and if your mess up, it's pretty obvious.
  • Question
    What if there's no white polish available?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    You can use any color for this, but white is the classic. Have fun and play around with colors and see what you like best.
  • Question
    Can I do French tips with a nail art pen?
    Community Answer
    Yes. There are products on the market for doing exactly this.
  • Question
    If I have very short nails, can I still do this?
    Holdencaulfield
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can still achieve this look. French manicures make nails of all lengths look attractive. Just keep in mind it might not look the same as on someone else who has the same manicure, but with longer nails.
  • Question
    Can I use two coats of base color?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. Sometimes nail polish colors are not as vibrant as they seem to be in the bottle, so you can add as many layers as you wish to get to the desired shade.
  • Question
    How can I do a French manicure?
    Community Answer
    Follow the instructions listed in the article above.
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