Hola Sugarcups,
Let’s get down to business (nails). Or rather, French manicures. The OG, the one that dominated 2000s WAG culture. Imagine Victoria Beckham c.2006 World Cup, extra-large shades, a spray tan so deep you might as well call it mahogany and those unapologetically chunky white tips. Iconic? Sure. Timeless? Not so much.
But women, the French Manicure is given for you again – and no, we’re not talking concerning the catastrophic Tippex situation you rocked at your high school prom. New French is trendy, subtle and so Parisian that it may probably make you look like you did not simply are available the time machine from the entrance of a tabloid in 2005. So let’s begin speaking about learn how to put on it in 2025 to not look prefer it’s totally 2005.
1. If there’s one outfit you’ll completely personalize for your spring holiday, it’s likely to be your dress.
First rule of Don’t Look Like a Noughties WAG: Short nails. No long talons. No strict-square nail shape. Keep yours natural, kept clean, and filed to a rounded point. Picture: I sit over cappuccino in an outdoor café in Paris, not I just finished my shift on the set of a reality TV show.
2. Micro French = Instant Cool Girl
Latest style: French is curvy white tips. No big, thick, paint-stripper color over here. All about that soft, whisper of white. Micro French just brings that big, new-whipped, fresh-from-the-bymom beauty – suitable for literally any occasion. Wedding? Obviously. Monday morning meeting? Trendy. 11th hour romantic rendezvous? Masterstroke.
3. Leave Bubblegum Pink Behind
We WAGs will remember our mani back in 2014 when it was an almost neon PINK hue that was bright enough that it would probably glow in the dark. Flash-forward to 2025 and the mantra is the a milky, semi-sheer, barely-there base that lets your little nail paint shine. In other words, the action is: my nails but better. Fair SKIN?A light rosé shade. Olive SKIN? A baby-beige tone. DARKER skin? A nude peachy-beige hue.
4. Experiment with Color (That is Totally Fine to Do)
Or, if you’re feeling a little wild (and really – who isn’t?, swap out the typical white tip for something a little more unexpected. Soft baby blue? Très chic. A hint of cherry red? Fierce. Even black tips on nude base wear? So sleek and contemporary.
5. Your Cuticles Need aMakeover Too
French manicure? Only if your cuticles are getting the ‘hydrated goddess’ treatment. No dry, flaky cuticles please. Applying a quality cuticle oil (IT’S THE KEY) and maintaining your cuticles is half the battle when it comes to flawless nails. If a manicurist spends half the time of your full appointment caring for your cuticles, it’s because there’s a reason.
6. The Gel Revolution (We Love Low-Maintenance)
Gel nails have advanced leaps and bounds since they were first released in 2005. They were once thick, chunky and tasted like plastic. The gel nails of today are whisper-thin, flexible and last for weeks. If you really want gel, and you are looking for a healthy gel that is as natural as possible, the most popular gel is Bio Sculpture, as long as you’re not looking for something that looks like you glued it on in your car.
7. Less is More-Literally
Come on, you know French manicures were built for as much smart and elegant as possible, and at some point in the 00s they succumbed to the dissonance of early-aughts excess. But 2025 is all about understated luxury, pared-back minimalism and nonchalant cool-girl state of mind. So make it thin, make it fresh – but most of all, don’t make it WAG.
The New Guidelines for the French Manicure:
Short, natural nailsunder long square talons
Thin, mostly invisible white tips (micro French only)
Soft, sheer, ‘your-nails-but-better’ base colours
Try your hand at tinted Tips (pastels, ruby reds, and black for example)
Hydrated well-maintained cuticles = no negotiation
Use modern gel formulas to achieve a slick, long-wearing gloss
Moral of the story? French is back, but this time, it’s about easy effortless chic (not WAG energy from 2006). So go forth, do your micro French, and be a Parisienne and not a real housewife.
So, are you here for the new French manicure or are we still living with the ghost of noughties nails? Spill the tea.
Love,
Until next time,
Jasmin xx
