24 Pastel French Nail Ideas to Spring Your Mani Forward (2024)

24 Pastel French Nail Ideas to Spring Your Mani Forward (1)

Spring has sprung, meaning it's time to whip out all the seasonal manicures. And no color palette is associated with springtime quite like pastels. They're pretty and polished, soft and sweet—like the perfect spring day.

But why stop there? Make your mani a trend twofer by combining pastels with French manicures. Pastel French nails can go beyond the classic design in pale pink or baby blue. As with standard French manicures, there are many ways to play with the motif. From fun florals to graphic takes to stripes and swirls, we've rounded up 24 pastel French manicures that will take you from Easter to Memorial Day and beyond.

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Star Power

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If pastels feel too girly, opt for a pink base in a your-nails-but-better hue. Add French tips and rhinestone-topped stars for the ultimate nail art fix. It's a star-bright situation that will keep you and your nails happy.

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Pastels Party

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Can't choose just one pastel? Why not wear them all? This multicolored and multilayered design is an artsy take on pastel French nails.

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Pretty Petals

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Flowers for spring? Groundbreaking. But in this case—juxtaposed with French tips and topped with sparkles—they actually are.

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Seeing Stripes

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Periwinkle is still going strong, and for good reason—the pretty pastel never gets old. Add a sparkly stripe and French tips and you've yourself got the ultimate pastel French manicure. Consider it a triple threat.

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Field Day

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Have a field day—literally—with the flower motif. Mix and match the petals to the French tips to play up all the pretty pastel hues.

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Swirl Effect

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A wiggling rainbow is a great way to flaunt your color palette. The design works with any color combo but it's spot on for spring in pastels. The simple French tips give the look balance.

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Middle Part

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It's impressive that a design so simple can be so striking. Just split a French tip in half and see where the motif takes you. It's a beautiful graphic twist on pastel French nails.

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Fade Into You

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Pastel French nails get an ombré and airbrushed effect for a design that hits on all the spring trends. If you want to keep it simple, stick with just one color. Either way, it's a head-turner.

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Flower Power

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Nothing says spring is in bloom quite like pastel flowers. Stick buds on a couple of accent nails to keep the look from feeling too twee.

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Sticker Shock

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Pastel French nails in a slew of colors would be enough. But add in nail stickers, like this look does, and take it to a whole new level. Smiley faces are a classic, but you can make this look your own with the decal of your choice.

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Dual Tone

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Two pastels on each nail are certainly twice as nice. Opt for a chunky French manicure to maximize your palette.

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Purple Reign

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It's easy to see why purple was once the color of royalty. These pastel French nails pack in a few designs so you can mix and match your nails accordingly. The options to play with pink and purple hearts and swirls are endless.

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Heart You

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Turn hearts into a French mani. The dual design is sweet and romantic. Pastel hues certainly play up that sentiment.

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Double Dip

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Consider this a double dose of spring colors. Paint your moons and tips in pastel hues for twice the fun. A nude base makes the colors pop even more.

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Gold Bar

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The geometric design may look fancy, but it's very doable to DIY. Need proof? Check out the video here.

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Serenity Now

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Whether you see seafoam as green or interpret it as being more on the minty side, there's no denying that these shades are delightfully calming and relaxing. The mix of hearts, French tips, and full-color nails adds a playful touch.

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Spring Fling

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Romance is in the air! These pastel French nails are a spring fling for your fingertips. You'll easily fall in love with them.

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Mellow Yellow

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Pale yellow might be the most underrated pastel. The springy, soothing shade looks good in many designs, as this mani proves. It's pastel French nails with an artsy twist.

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Queen of Hearts

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Hearts and pastels go together like peanut butter and jelly. We love how the accent nails with a trio of hearts hits all the hues in the mani. It's a sweet spring take on pastel French nails.

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Feeling Blue

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Glitter, French tips, and florals are a feast for the eyes. The all-blue monochromatic scheme makes it even more magical.

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Peachy Keen

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This mani was created to pay homage to the 2024 Pantone color of the year, Peach Fuzz, and it's convincing us the hue deserved the top prize. Delicate, subtle, soft, and sweet, peach polish works as a neutral too.

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This Bud's For You

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You might expect that a garden was the inspo behind this mani, but nail artist Aistė Haas says it isn't so: She actually looked to birthday cake as her muse.

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Lavender Fields Forever

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Lavender is known for its soothing powers, and it's fair to say this mani has the same effect. The mix of designs feels as fresh as a sprig of lavender itself.

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Rainbow Bright

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Taste the rainbow! These French tips are essentially a greatest-hits lineup of the prettiest pastels. The simple design packs a punch.

24 Pastel French Nail Ideas to Spring Your Mani Forward (2024)

FAQs

What is the trend in French manicure 2024? ›

Artists are getting creative with their finishing touches: The classic French manicure is gilded in gold-dipped tips and pastels are getting the “cateye” treatment. You can expect new textures — like crocodile print — and the addition of 3D jewels to make designs pop.

How do you jazz up a French manicure? ›

Try a Tweak on the Classic French Manicure

To do a reverse French manicure, apply a base coat, then the color you want for the bulk of the nail. Use a fine brush to add a line of color all along the cuticle.

What is the best base color for French nails? ›

A sheer pink polish or a builder gel will achieve the most natural French manicured nails. Your skin tone should be the main focus when choosing a base shade; for example, rose-based shades are great for fair/light skin, whilst a deeper nude colour is better for dark skin.

What nail shape is best for French manicure? ›

Ami suggests a rounded or square-oval shape for short nails and an almond shape for longer nails. Ami says to try and choose a base shade suitable for your skin tone, but if in doubt, simply opt for a clear polish.

What is the nail color for spring 2024? ›

While we're used to seeing pastels and floral-inspired colors in the spring, this year, spring nail colors are bolder and brighter. Think fiery reds, splashy blues, and even vivid yellows alongside classic springtime hues like lavender and pink.

What are the nail trends for spring 2024? ›

"Soft and whimsical colors. Pastel shades combined with pearls. Bows in different textures." Garcia also believes the other side of the coquette aesthetic will be featured, with darker, edgy, and more sultry nail patterns emerging.

What is a milky French manicure? ›

While a traditional French manicure combines a light pink or nude base color and bright white tips, a milky French manicure uses a sheer, creamy off-white base color that offers a very subtle contrast between the nail base and the tips. The effect is softer and more opaque than the classic French mani.

How do you make natural French manicure nails look like? ›

Paint French tips with bright white nail polish.

Start from one side of each nail and slowly turn your finger as you paint, letting the curve with your natural nail and creating a crescent-shaped line from one side of the nail to the other. Then, wait another 2 minutes for the white polish to dry.

What is a classic French manicure? ›

A French manicure is typically designed with a neutral base color and white accent color that is applied in a half-moon shape on the tip of each fingernail or nail extension.

What color toes for French tip nails? ›

"If a person opts for a French manicure on her fingertips, she should try other shades like red, pink, orange or dark colours on her toes.

What color are classic French nails? ›

Glazed doughnut nails give a classic French manicure a sugary sweet vibe. With a base of sheer pale pink or milky white, choose a top coat of colour with a pearlescent effect. You could also paint the tips a pearlescent white to make them pop.

What colors are good for French manicure? ›

A French manicure or pedicure employs the best of neutral colors for a classy and chic style every time. Traditionally, they utilize a light pink color or nude neutral color for the base coat. The defining feature of a French tip manicure or pedicure is the white line across the top.

What is the new French manicure called? ›

The latest spin on the classic French manicure is a patriotic one: technically called the American French manicure, but it also goes by the moniker "muted French manicure." Whatever you want to call it, it's undeniably chic and elegant.

What is the most classy nail shape? ›

'A square nail shape is a timeless classic that never goes out of style. It's characterised by its straight edges and angular corners - it's a perfect choice for anyone looking for a chic, yet simple look, says Huber-Millet. Overview: a timeless classic that never goes out of style.

What does the new French manicure look like? ›

The base, rather than being an opaque baby pink or peach shade, is translucent and barely there. "The 'modern French' manicure enlists a sheer shade that will enhance your natural nails while camouflaging any imperfections," says Ami. "As a result, nails simply look perfectly groomed."

What color nails to wear in February 2024? ›

Here are some of our favourite colour combinations that we think are the perfect choice for a February set. Delicate pinks, creamy whites, gentle lavenders and a sneaky unreleased PureBuild 3 shade!

Is a French manicure out of date? ›

The French manicure is a timeless nail design that has lasted throughout the ages. Developed in the 20's, this “go to” nail design is perfect for any event and suits pretty much any tastes with safe and adventurous adaptations developed over the years.

What color are the nails in January 2024? ›

January: Navy Blue

This bright navy blue that isn't too dark is just the color needed to make a statement in the new year.

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