Skinny French Nails: Top Color Picks and How to Do Them

The skinny French manicure is having a moment because of its quick and easy process.

We all know what type of manicure the French tip is. It is a classic nail design where the tips of the nails are painted white, resembling the natural white tips of healthy nails. The French tip is a timeless look that adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to any manicure. 

On the other hand, skinny French nails, also known as the micro French manicure, is a modern twist on the traditional French tip. Instead of a thick white strip across the top, the white tip in a skinny French manicure is razor-thin and almost undetectable, giving a more subtle and minimalist appearance. This style has become increasingly popular for its chic and natural look, especially on shorter nails, and it's a great option for those who prefer a more understated nail design.

How to do skinny French nails

To do French nails, begin by cleaning and filing your nails. Hydrate your cuticles and buff your nails, then clean the surface. Apply your base coat color, ranging from clear to light pink. Use French tip stickers as a guide for painting the tips white or another color of your choice, then layer with a top coat for a glossy finish. 

Doing skinny French nails has the same flow of steps. However, it varies in the position of the stickers. In this case, the stickers are placed nearer the tip, giving only a glint of space for the skinny tip.

Other experts swear by using thin brushes with freehand sweeps, silicone sponges for a stamping effect, or nail striping tapes and stickers.

You can use any color you want for skinny nails, but the classic choice is a natural base and white tips. Orly Breathable White Tips is a popular choice for this style.

Square Skinny

A square skinny is done using a thin straight band at the very tip of your nail. Of course, it works well for square nails, but you can have any shape of the nail, as long as the thin French tip stays straight. A popular choice is Dazzle Dry's Mini Flight, which includes five shades from pale pink to milky soft white for that natural clean look.

Mirrored Skinny

This style consists of two thin lines. One is at that very edge of the tip of your nail and another at the bottom part, mirroring the one at the top. For this style, use a dark opaque color, like blue, so you won't have to go over your thin lines over and over. Try OPI Nail Lacquer Scorpio Seduction, which is an irresistible shade of shimmering blue.

Midnight Skinny

Midnight style is done with a black classic skinny topped with a glittery clear polish to mimic the midnight sky. Alternatively, you can use an ultra-black nail polish with glitter, like Holo Taco's Waste of Space.

Melting Skinny

This type of skinny French manicure starts with a classic thin line at the tip that continues to a thin line at the very edge of the nails, making it look like the French tip dripped on one side. Try shimmering nail polishes to boost the flowing look, just like L.A. Colors' Glitter Vibes Polish.

Reverse Skinny

The reverse skinny style is a reverse of the classic skinny, where the thin line is found at the bottom of the nail. Go all out with Essie's Gel Couture Nail Polish Fashion Freedom Collection in Wilder Than I Seam vibrant pink-violet hue.

Rainbow Skinny

This variation is the most colorful of all skinny French manicures. It is done the same way as a classic skinny but using a different color for each nail. KleanColor's 12-piece set covers all the colors and a little bit more.

Metallic Skinny

This one uses metallic colors such as gold, silver, and chrome, among others, on opaque bases, which gives the look of having pin-striped nails. You can also try Maniology's Duochrome Night Out line, which gives you two colors in one swipe.

Drawn Skinny

Drawn skinny French manicure makes your nails look longer without using artificial extensions. It is done by putting inverted thin V-shaped lines that originate from the tip. ILNP's The Boulevard is a shimmery gray coat that will surely do the trick.