Looking for an understated look to garner maximum envy during your next Zoom call? Meet Trophy Wife’s twist on the French manicure.
We’ve partnered with nail expert Chelsea Bagan of Trophy Wife nail art to bring you this fresh take on a French classic. And because we’re all about style and substance, we’ve brought this look to life in a step-by-step guide using our 10-free, naturally balanced nail colours. Some call it minimalist, we call it marvellous, and it won’t be long till you’re calling it your favourite look.
Naturally, we’re biased, and will always recommend our range first. But if you can’t get your hands on Kester Black colours or products, any base, polish and top coat will do.
What you will need:
- Cotton pads and Nail Cleanser
- Base Coat
- Babe
- Jungle Gymnast
- Daisy Chain
- Skinny Dip
- Impeachment
- Lilac
- Bubblegum
- Supersonic Top Coat
- Self Love Oil
- A thin nail art brush
Tool tip:
If you don’t have nail art tools handy you can craft-your-own using items found around the house:
- Make a fine-tipped nail brush from a regular paint brush by snipping off some bristles, dipping them in a top coat and securely taping them at one end after they’ve dried. Tape this to a pen or pencil for mobility and away you go.
- Toothpicks make for a great pointed tip in the absence of brushes.
- Pacers or mechanical pencils (so futuristic) make great lining tools, but require some extra TLC due to their fragility.
Step 1. Clean, prep and file
We recommend a round or oval-shaped nail for this look. Find out how to achieve this with our nifty nail shape guide. Then prep for paint by gliding a cotton pad soaked in nail cleanser over each fingernail. Even if your nails are polish-free, cleansing them before painting will prevent your tips from chipping prematurely.
SHOP NAIL CLEANSER
Step 2. Ace the base
Apply a thin layer of Miracle Treatment Base Coat to your nails and allow it to dry. This anything-but-basic formula doubles as a repairing treatment and pretty pearlescent colour - talk about the full package.
SHOP MIRACLE TREATMENT BASE COAT
Step 3. Bring it on, Babe
Paint two thin coats of Babe over each fingernail, covering the surface from base to tip. Let your first layer dry for roughly five-minutes before repeating. Remember, loading your brush with enough polish for just one coat will help prevent overflow.
SHOP BABE
Step 4. Start painting
Using a thin brush, or striper brush, paint a neat squiggle across one half of the nail tip. (We’ll go back for the second half later.) Then fill in the gap between this line and the edge of your nail and allow to dry. Here we’ve used Jungle Gymnast for some good, green earth-loving vibes but you can start with any colour your heart desires.
SHOP JUNGLE GYMNAST
Step 5. Repeat
Continue painting soft squiggles on the rest of your nails and allow to dry for around five-minutes before approaching the second-half. We’ve stuck to a pretty soft colour scheme with Daisy Chain on alternating fingers.
SHOP NAIL POLISH
Step 6. Overlap on the other side
Remember that sweet first squiggle you painted? We’re flipping it and reversing it on the other half of your nail in an assorted array of colours. Paint another on the second half of your nail tip, filling-in the gap all the way to the edge. Here we’ve used Lilac, to create a complementary combo but don’t be afraid to experiment with contrasting colourways or mod monochrome ones.
SHOP NAIL POLISH
Step 7. Tip top coat
Once you’re satisfied with all of those squiggles (brilliant job, by the way), apply a top coat to seal it all in making sure you’ve covered the tips to prevent chipping. We recommend using our Supersonic Top Coat so you can get snapping (bragging about your newest nail look) sooner - 90 seconds sooner to be precise.
SHOP SUPERSONIC TOP COAT
Step 8. Pamper those cuticles
Once you’re all dry, it’s time to hydrate those hands of yours. Gently massage a drop of Self Love Oil into your cuticles and admire those freshly finished nails of yours.SHOP SELF LOVE OIL
Now that you’re au fait with the French twist, the world really ought to know. Spread the word by sharing your latest nail looks using #kesterblack and tagging us at @kesterblack. Or you could send us a love letter addressed to hello@kesterblack.com.
