Pro tip: Drop a dot of polish in the center of your nail where you’d like your French tips to begin, says Gerstein. This simple step helps achieve as much consistency as possible across all nails.
Angled French manicure
Ceirra Carlini-Smith is behind this sunny manicure. “For this half-yellow French, I used my Leafgel Long Liner Brush to create the vertical line where I wanted the design to cover,” says the manicurist. “Then I filled in the space using a short liner brush.”
If you’re attempting this look at home, Carlini-Smith says you can use a piece of tape cut into a diagonal line across the nail to help you get a clean finish. Surprisingly simple, right?
Half-moon French manicure
âFrench nails feature a fresh and clean vibe that aligns really well with the sense of rejuvenation associated with spring,â says Hang Nguyen, a nail artist with Nailing Hollywood. Her half-moon manicure embodies this sentiment for a modern twist on the timeless French.
Statement squiggles
As artistic as this squiggle manicure looks, we’re confident you can paint your own version of it at home. Gerstein’s tools of choice are nail polish liner brushes (like this one from The GelBottle) for the perfectly imperfect design, plus your choice of pastel polishes.
Pastel blooms
Instagram / @thehangedit
Can’t choose between pastels and florals? Combine them the way Hang Nguyen does, above. Her spring nail design features alternating pastel colors with two floral accent nails on each hand (brought to life using the aforementioned dotting tool trick). The pro is a big fan of pastel colors, dubbing them the ânatural palette of springtime, ideal for any spring nail trend from solid colors to French to multicolor manicures.â
Garden of Eden
Tara Haye
Tara Haye, a New York City-based nail artist with the Nailing Hollywood collective, acknowledges that while florals for spring might not be revolutionary, there are so many fresh ways to weave them into your nail designs. Her creation, which she calls âGarden of Eden,â features hand-painted florals on clear acrylics. At first glance, they may look daunting but she offers a reassuring tip: A simple dotter is your best friend when it comes to replicating the blooms by hand. You got this!
Pretty petals
How adorable is this daisy-inspired manicure by Rachel Messick? On top of being super cute, it’s also so easy to do on your own â promise! “To re-create this look, start with a milky beige nude nail, then, once it’s dry, you can add petals with an opaque white polish like OPI’s Alpine Snow,” she says. Finish by adding a tiny gold dot to the center of each flower with a dotting tool or line brush.