13 Of The Chicest Summer French Tip Nail Designs To Try Right Now
Elevate this classic manicure style with playful colourways and showstopping finishes.
For your next manicure appointment, do consider a summer French tip nail design. They have the refined elegance of a clean French set, yet make for a great starting point to try new colour combinations, additional nail art and ethereal finishes on top.
Most of the year's freshest nail trends - from cat-eye and aura nails to pretty shades of pink and baby blue - can be incorporated into your French manicure.
Session manicurist Ami Streets agrees. 'For the sunny season, the classic French manicure gets a modern refresh with colourful tips in pastels, citrus brights, or soft gradients,' she tells ELLE UK. 'Wavy, angled, or double lines playfully replace the traditional tip, while iridescent polishes give a luminous glow that catch the summer light beautifully. Meanwhile, matte, or marbled textures can add edge and interest for those that love a nail art effect.'
Think of the French manicure as the nail version of the little black dress or jeans and tee combo. It can be kept completely minimal and clean or it can look completely maximalist, depending on what you add to it.
The best colour combinations for French tips this summer
The easiest way to start is by switching up the basic white and pink colourway with more playful or unexpected tones. Streets is a fan of pairing peach tips with a subtle pink base (try Kure Bazaar's Lychee with French Rose), sky blue with soft lilac or mint green with butter yellow.
If you're easing into nail art, Streets suggests a thin, micro-French tip with chrome or glazed finishes on top. 'This is one of my favourite looks, especially over beautiful sorbet pastel shades like mint green or icy blue,' she says. 'It’s all about playful details and personal expression while keeping it subtle, chic and wearable.
Ahead, the freshest French tip nail designs for summer 2025
Double Trouble
Dual-tone micro French tips create an extra detail that's understated yet playful.
Pastel Chrome
Chrome powder finishes lend an ethereal touch to this sorbet-themed French manicure.
Off To The Meds
Channel the laidback mood of a Mediterranean getaway with this yellow and blue colour palette complete with intricate nail art on the ring fingers.
Dreamy Florals
Butter yellow is all the rage right now. Extra touches of watercolour floral makes this design feel extra summery.
Wedding Party
If you're a summer bride (or simply attending the festivities), this bow-embellished design is exactly what the occasion asked for.
Ocean Breeze
Tap into the baby blue manicure trend and add on sprinklings of shimmer and white flowers for a tropical touch.
Princess Nails
When in doubt, keep it clean with a classic French mani and elevate it for the season with a jelly pink base instead of a matte one.
Freshwater Pearl
Chrome finishes, off-white tips, and tiny pearls come together for an otherworldly set.
Crocodile Green
If you prefer something with a little edge, try this crocodile-inspired design in a mossy green hue.
Good Vibrations
Korean gels take nail art to the next level. Try this aura-inspired manicure and enjoy the compliments that'll come your way...
Monochrome Chic
Committed to dark nails all year round? Incorporating it your French manicure gives it a fresher feel.
Seascapes
Sea-themed manicures, complete with waves and starfishes, are big on social media. This magical set will please the maximalists among us.
Double Date
Why not take it up a notch with both a reverse French mani and and French tip? Leave the rest of your nails clean for a grow-up feel.
Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
Victoria Beckham Puts Her Own Spin On The 'Soap Nail' Trend
A Guide To Creating Cherry Nails For Summer
5 Sunny Nail Designs For The Summer Heatwave
The 4 Juicy Fruit Nail Trends To Try
