French manicure variations, from classic to reverse
The classic French manicure and its variations: micro, deep smile, coloured tip, reverse and sheer bases, plus how nail length changes which one suits you.
Nail art
French, chrome and the small details that make a set yours — added to any manicure or pedicure, from a single accent nail to all ten.
Book nail artThe appointment
How a design comes together
Good art starts with a sound base. This is the order it happens in.
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Bring a reference
A photo, a colour you love, or just an idea. Simple requests are usually no extra charge; more intricate art is quoted at the chair before anything begins.
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Fit it to your nails
Some designs want length and some suit a short nail; some read from across a room and some only up close. The plan is adjusted to your nails before work starts.
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The base first
Shaping, cuticle care and preparation happen exactly as in any manicure. Art on a poorly prepared nail lifts along with it.
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Colour and detail
Base colour, then the design in layers, each cured before the next so lines stay crisp.
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Sealed in
A top coat over everything and the edges capped, so the detail wears as long as the colour beneath it.
Finishes
Popular finishing touches
Some of the most asked-for details. For anything else, bring a photo. Pricing for each is on Mindbody.
French
The classic white tip, or a modern take in colour, from a fine micro line to a deeper smile. Works on short natural nails as well as long.
Chrome
A mirror or pearl powder buffed over gel for a metallic sheen. Lovely over sheer and nude bases as well as dark ones.
Hand-painted details
Dots, lines, florals and small accents, on one nail or all ten — from minimal to intricate.
Questions
Nail art questions, answered
Does nail art cost extra?
Simple requests are usually no extra charge. More intricate art is quoted at the chair before it begins, so there are no surprises.
Can I add art to a pedicure?
Yes — finishing touches can be added to a manicure or a pedicure.
Will my nails look exactly like the photo?
Close, and adapted to you. Length, shape and the size of the nail bed all change how a design reads, so it is scaled to suit your nails rather than copied line for line.
How long does nail art last?
As long as the finish underneath it. Sealed under gel, that is around two to three weeks on fingers and longer on toes.
From the journal
Further reading
Also at the studio
Manicure
Shaping, cuticle care and a finish chosen for how you use your hands — classic polish, gel, or a structural overlay that strengthens a thin or bendy nail.