The “Reverse French Mani” Is Everywhere—and Here Are 15 Ways to Wear the Trend

It wasn’t too long ago that I was predicting French ombré nails were going to be huge, and now, there’s another play on the French manicure joining the family. The internet is going crazy over reverse French nails, and I can definitely see the appeal. It’s a new approach to the classic technique, and I happen to know how to recreate it right at home. I chatted with a celebrity manicurist to learn everything about this latest trend—plus, I compiled 15 ideas to try out now. 

Julie Kandalec is a licensed NYC-based celebrity and editorial nail professional, educator, author, and now, salon owner in Manhattan. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, her clientele includes Jessica Chastain, Emily Blunt and Rose Byrne, to name a few.

“A reverse French is a manicure that features nail art at the base (the moon or crescent) of the nail versus at the tip (free edge),” says Kandalec. “It can be a minimalist way to show a subtle design. It also won't wear off as easily since it's at the base of the nail and more protected by the usual daily wear.” And while you can go for the traditional white nail polish like the classic French mani, you can use any color you want to make entirely your own. 

While you can book an appointment, Kandalec shares four easy steps to doing reverse French nails at home. 

1. Prep your nails. The expert recommends removing any previous polish before shaping, pushing back your cuticles and trimming any hangnails. Then clean each nail with acetone to get it ready for your nail polish of choice. 
2. Apply your base nail polish. Kandalec suggests leaving a tiny sliver of space at the cuticle area. Don’t worry you’ll cover this up in a minute.
3. Grab your detailed brush. “The handle is short, so you can get in really close. Apply polish at the moon of the nail in the desired design, being sure to cover the color underneath at the cuticle,” she explains. 
4. Let it dry. Once dry, apply top coat to protect your new design and avoid any smudges. 

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This manicure is sure to make you sparkle. Grab your gold glitter and glide the polish alongside your nail bed. Add a pop of color on the rest of your nail and admire your statement-worthy nails. 

Gems are a great way to elevate your manicure. Note: Remember to apply a *very* small amount of nail glue and press down gently so that they stay put all day. 

It doesn’t have to be spring to rock some florals on your nails. Decorate your cuticles with small flowers in your favorite pastel colors, or you can always opt for art stickers instead. 

If you can’t quite say goodbye to the classic manicure, how about combining it with the reverse French trend? This nail idea alternates between both techniques, using black and white polish for a minimal yet modern take. 

A splash of any color is a great choice, but pink has to be on the top of my list. The cute strawberries nail art mixed with pink inverted lines is a match made in mani heaven. 

This cheeky manicure uses the French reverse technique to recreate a cool orange slice—and I’m already bookmarking this one in my vacay folder.

Speaking of fruits, this watermelon-inspired manicure is sure to be a hit during 4th of July. Surprisingly, this nail design also combines with another popular one: aura nails. Once you successfully achieve a gradient effect on your entire nail, use a green nail polish and swipe it along the cuticle to show off the fruity treat. 

If you don’t have a steady hand when it comes to drawing lines (because same), then press-ons should be on your radar. This golden manicure jumps on the trend and takes it up a notch by rising the line closer to the tip for an almost color block moment. 

Kandalec revealed her own rendition of French reverse nails at the Libertine Summer/Spring 2025 fashion show this year—proof that she was ahead of the trend. Inspired by the Elizabeth Street garden, she shares: “The yellow moons were an homage to the sunshine.” 

A butterfly print is a great way to incorporate the French reverse manicure. Apply lines along the cuticle, connecting it with the diagonal lines laying across the nails to mimic the insect’s wings. Luckily, manicurist Brittany Allen shared a step-by-step tutorial to recreate it at home. 

Regardless which nail color you choose, you can never go wrong with a red nail design (especially when it symbolizes love and passion). Similar to this creator, choose one statement nail to show off the reverse French look and experiment with the rest of your manicure as you see fit. 

French reverse nails work perfectly with shorter nails as evidenced by the manicure above. This minimal look only focuses on applying the reverse technique on the pointer and ring finger for a chic finish. 

Nothing says bold quite like a neon manicure. Once you make the base white, use bright shades of blue, yellow, red and green to make your nails stand out. 

This reverse French manicure gives the illusion of the base color fading away—thanks to the almost opaque line drawn across the nail bed. The key here is getting a darker shade for a deep contrast to your main polish choice.