How to Shape Nails for French Manicures

Getting a clean white tip for a French manicure is easier than it looks. With the help of polish remover and a small brush, white nail polish can be applied without precision and later shaped into the perfect nail tip.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Nail polish remover
• Small make-up brush
• Cotton swab

1. Use a small makeup brush to remove any polish that is outside of the tip boundary after the white coat of nail tip polish has been applied to all the fingers. Dip the makeup brush in the nail polish remover and dab off excess; too much remover on the brush will run and smudge the nail tip. Use the makeup brush to shape the inside edge of the white nail tip by smoothing the rough edge of the white polish into a clean line.

2. Clean polish off the makeup brush by dabbing the brush into the nail polish remover after working on each nail. Dab off the excess remover before starting to work on the next nail.

3. Soak a cotton swab in polish remover to clean any smudges or drips of nail polish on the skin and under the free edge and sides of the nail.

4. Allow the nail tips to dry for five minutes before applying the sheer polish.

Tips & Warnings

• French tips can be shaped in different ways according to personal style preference. For a bold look, tips are painted with a straight edge against the nail. For a more natural look, tips are shaped with a rounded edge to follow the natural line of the nail bed. Tips can also be painted with a peaked middle.