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A French manicure is a timeless classic. Trends come and go, but the combination of polished pale pink nails with elegant white tips will always be a go-to for large swathes of the population. But for those beauty buffs who like to keep their nails short and the finish minimalist (or those for whom extended French tips are a ’90s trend too far), the traditional look has had a subtle refresh, just in time for the spring.
Unsurprisingly it was Barbie star Margot Robbie, who has spent several months in various shades of pink, who put the spotlight on micro-French nails (a name coined by Robbie’s nail artist, Betina Goldstein), when she attended the Academy’s pre-Oscars luncheon sporting the discreet style. Margot’s simple and natural nails were the perfect addition to her equally classic outfit: an archive Chanel skirt suit from spring/summer 1994 (back when this look first appeared on the runway, French manis would have been everywhere).
According to celebrity manicurist Harriet Westmoreland, “the baby French is today’s version of the traditional French manicure, with the white tip painted as thin as possible and yet slightly separated from the base of the nail”. Not only is it a versatile addition to any outfit, “they are very flattering… because you adapt them to make the nail [appear] longer. My clients who do baby French nails are never satisfied with [one] time – they do them again and again,” Westmoreland adds.
The other major plus? A baby French manicure is easy to maintain, as the nude shade disguises the regrowth of the natural nail, meaning you don’t have to rush back to the salon the moment it starts to grow out. “Since the base of the nail is very natural, you can leave more time between appointments,” Westmoreland says.
The baby French looks especially good on short nails, and Westmoreland likes to work with a square shape (another ’90s trend enjoying a resurgence). “I think it’s the most flattering and what goes best with this design.” To mimic Margot’s baby French manicure at home, Westmoreland lists her three essentials: “Creme, Rose and Spun Out of Dreams, all from Bio Sculpture.”
This article was originally published on British Vogue.
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