A question I get asked fairly often is: How do French women maintain their nails? Do they paint their fingernails? What are the French nail polish color trends? What are your French nail care tips?
Today I’m going to share everything I know about French girl nails! Nails are such a small part of our bodies but don’t ignore them as people notice them more than you think! When you eat, when you use your phone, even when you speak, people will subtly notice your fingernails.
French girl nails can help you nail (no pun intended) that effortless French girl look we all want! It’s paying attention to the details of our appearance that French beauty is all about.
French Nail Tips
French women know that uneven nails or chipping nail polish can ruin your look and make you appear like a slob. Keeping a simple, but regular nail care routine will keep you in your best shape! If you’re looking for the French way of caring for your fingernails, French nail styles, and what color nail polish to use, then keep reading for the best French nail tips.
French Nail Shapes
So let’s first talk about the different nail shapes that French women tend to prefer. Nowadays, you can go to a salon and ask your manicurist for dozens of different nail shapes from square to oval to almond-shaped, stiletto, ballerina, and more.
I’ve never seen a French woman with a unique type of nail shape. They are almost always a smooth oval shape, gently rounded, or perhaps more of a ‘squared oval’ shape.
Keep it simple, ladies!
Cut & File
French women keep their nails in good condition. That means regular trims and cuticle maintenance. Nails should be cut so they reach the end of your fingers without going over – not too long and not too short. Personally, I cut and file my nails about once a week. I first cut them all to the edge of my finger, and then I take a nail file and round the outer corners into a gentle oval shape.
French Nail Care
You should moisturize your cuticles and nails every few days if they tend to dry out. A good cuticle and nail cream like this one from Dior will keep your nails in great shape. Keeping the nails moisturized and healthy will polish up your overall French look.
French Nail Polish Colors
I’m sure many of you are wondering what colors French women like to paint their nails!
The truth is that French women aren’t nearly as bold with their nail polish colors as American women are. While in the USA, you can find women wearing nail polish in every color under the sun, in France it’s much less common!
There are only three ways that I’ve seen French women wearing their nails.
- Natural – No color or polish at all. Just neatly trimmed and left natural.
- Clear Coat – A simple clear coat on the nails to give them a bit of shine. Buffed and trimmed, of course.
- Solid Color – One color on the nails at at time. A good manicure that isn’t chipping.
The majority of French women stick with either a nude or beige nail polish color in the spring and summer. In the fall or winter, they go for a bordeaux red or dark red color. I sometimes see a bright cherry red. Often, you can see a brighter shade of red in the summer for a special occasion. Those are the major French girl nail polish colors.
Whatever color you choose, make sure it suits your skin tone! You can always go to a department store and ask the saleswoman for a recommendation if you are not sure. Just say “I’ll think about it, thank you” if you’re not ready to buy what she recommends!
When in doubt, red is always a smart color choice for French girl nails.
If you prefer to leave your nails a natural color, try painting them with the Dior Nail Glow polish to give them a bit of glossy shine.
Ditch the ‘French Manicure’ cliché
If you are like me, you grew up thinking that all women in France had a dainty ‘French manicure,’ which is to say a pinkish-nude colored polish with a white stripe at the ends. I live in Paris and the truth is that this type of manicure is no longer in style in France at all! French women wear only one color on their nails, or they just keep them natural.
French Nail Polish Brands
If you want to paint your nails like a French girl, then you need to know the brands that French girls use. While you can find many international nail polish brands at stores like Monoprix and Sephora, I’m going to share with you the best French nail polish brands to know about in case you want to shop for a truly French product.
Affordable French Nail Polish Brands
- Sephora
- Yves Rocher
- Bourjois
- Nocibé
- L’Oréal
- Rouje
L'Oréal Paris Extraordinaire Gel-Lacque 1-2-3 Nail Color, Red-y to Shine?, 0.39 Fluid Ounce
$7.00 (as of June 9, 2025 13:23 GMT -04:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Mid-Range French Nail Polish Brands
- Dr. Pierre Ricaud
- Louboutin
- Lancôme
Luxury French Nail Polish Brands
Go Clean
The clean beauty wave has hit France and these are the clean French nail polish brands to keep an eye on. Many of these nail polishes are made using organic ingredients using local production facilities. Some are Made in France nail polishes and others are locally sourced.
- Kure Bazaar
- Manucurist
- Nailstation
- Zoya
- Couleur Caramel
Keep it Real
Do French women wear fake nails? Nope! Keep your nails (and the rest of your body, for that matter) as natural as possible! Leave the fake nails to the ‘fake’ women.
French Semi-Permanent Manicures
French women love semi-permanent manicures because they last up to two weeks without chipping. They are a great alternative to painting your nails every 3-4 days as a ‘normal’ manicure would require.
I have used the LED lamp Green Flash kit by Manicurist and I really loved it! It took about 10 minutes for me to do each hand at home. That is a much shorter time investment than going to the salon.
Rituel Manucure is another French brand for semi-permanent nails that I would like to try one day.
This is definitely a practical way to get French girl nails without too much upkeep.
I hope you found my French girl nail tips useful and insightful! Stay tuned for more French girl beauty tips and subscribe to our mailing list below for new post updates.
Bisous!
