Not only your nails but also your toes need attention. Summer is here, which means it is time to put on your flip flops. However, you need to ensure that those beautiful toenails will not be overshadowed by the eye-popping sandals. This is the perfect time to seek yourself a perfect French pedicure and sport it.
There are countless French tip designs besides the old classic white color. Nonetheless, it is noteworthy that the simple white shade is what made the French tip become an icon that we know today.
The Origin of French Tip You Should Know
While you’ve undoubtedly grown accustomed to the effortlessly elegant, subtly sophisticated, and undeniably chic design of the French tip manicure, you might be genuinely and quite pleasantly surprised to learn a fascinating secret.
This timeless beauty actually did not originate in France at all! It’s quite the plot twist in the history of nail artistry.
#1 Classic Toe French
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#2 Dripping Neon Lime
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#3 Shiny Royal Blue
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This universally recognized and beloved nail style was, in fact, brilliantly conceived and created by Jeff Pink in 1975. At that time, Pink was the visionary President and CEO of Orly International, a burgeoning beauty company.
Believe it or not, back in those vibrant days, he wasn’t strolling the boulevards of Paris; instead, he was an incredibly ingenious American beauty supplier diligently working away in the bustling, demanding world of Hollywood.
He created this innovative look to solve a very practical problem for film directors and actresses, who needed a versatile nail style that would complement every costume change without needing a full polish overhaul. Next time you admire a French tip, remember its truly American ingenuity!
#4 Lavender Bloom Pedicure
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#5 Present At The Tip
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As Jeff Pink and his dedicated colleagues were busily preparing for a demanding, up-and-coming fashion show in Hollywood, the film directors quickly faced a frustrating challenge.
They soon realized it was an incredibly stressful and time-consuming process to constantly apply different nail polish colors to each actress. Each outfit change demanded a new nail look that would perfectly complement the ensemble, leading to endless, painstaking applications and precious time wasted on set.
#6 Petal Princess Pedi
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#7 Barbrie Leopard
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#8 Crystal Kiss Toes
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Consequently, Pink, with his innovative mind, was approached and specifically asked to come up with a brand-new nail design, something revolutionary that would transition seamlessly between wardrobes without requiring any tedious or painstaking reapplication.
It was out of this very practical need that the elegant white French tip pedicure was brilliantly born!
#9 Simple Yet Alluring
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Given that this new design absolutely had to look flawless and perfect when integrated with every single outfit thrown its way, Pink had a stroke of genius.
He decided to lean on the timeless reliability of a classic. “I thought that I might just use the old, mighty, classic white,” he muses.
He further explains his simple yet revolutionary technique: “I thought of using white polish on the tips of the nails. I used it on the tips of nails, then put a flesh-toned polish over them.”
Undoubtedly, this seemingly simple yet truly ethereal inspiration proved to be an instant hit, perfectly fitting every single clothing design and solving a major Hollywood dilemma.
#10 Barnyard Babe Pedi
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How It Thrives
The effectiveness of the new nail style really helps the studios to shorten manicure time on set. Obviously, the directors were grateful to Pink for all the money that would have been saved.
Observing a lack of white nail polish and spotting a smart business opportunity, Pink decided to sell his own Natural Look Nail Kit, which consisted of a pair of flesh-colored polish and opaque white lacquer. Not long after, he took this look to the Paris runways and named it the “French manicure.”
#11 Freehand French Fun
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#12 Blushing French Bling
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#13 Iridescent Illumination
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#14 Whimsical Walkers
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#15 Garden Gala Toes
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#16 “Step into Spring” Pedi
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#17 Lavender Lane French
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#18 Classic French Crystals
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#19 Cloud Nine French
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#20 Boho Bloom Toes
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Before computers and smartphones supersede home-based entertainment appliances, people preferred to watch their favorite shows on television and keep up with the latest news through interviews.
When Johnny Carson asked Cher and Barbra Streisand about their noticeable long and eye-catching polished nails on The Tonight Show, female audiences were able to contemplate Pink’s masterpiece for the first time. According to him, “After a few years, [the kit] was selling like hotcakes!”
#21 Forget-Me-Not Toes
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#22 Milk Bath French
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#23 Lemon Drop Lines
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#24 Pop Art Pedi
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#25 Soft Wave French
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Of course, time goes on and the classic French pedicure is also altered to ensure it will not become obsolete among all the newest designs out there. You can stick to the classic, luxurious style.
However, if you want more than that, below are some magnificent, trendy French tip designs for you to choose from.
#26 Ruby Red Radiance
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#27 Refreshing Watermelon
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#28 Blushing Breeze Toes
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#29 Feather Light
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#30 Crystal Starburst Toes
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#31 Gentle Glide Pedi
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The next time you admire that effortlessly chic line of white gracing the tip of a perfectly manicured nail, you’ll know the fascinating backstory!
From its surprising Hollywood beginnings to becoming a global symbol of refined simplicity, the French tip proves that true style often emerges from innovation and a touch of genius.
It’s a timeless classic that continues to adapt, offering endless possibilities for elegance and personal expression.
Ready to give your own tips a touch of that classic, yet ever-fresh, allure?
