French manicures are one of the most popular nails trends of today. This style is done by painting the tips of the nails a sophisticated vanilla white shade. Doing a French manicure at home takes a steady hand and a lot of practice to have the results looking salon perfect. For those who would like a French manicure that is similar to a professional nail session, try choosing the easy route and replace your regular polish with paint pens.

How to Do a French Manicure at Home: Prep the Nails

Begin by cleaning your nails with soap and water to remove any dirt or oils that may be sticking to the surface. This step is important as residue between the nail and paint can cause an uneven coat. Remove any old nail polish and finish prepping by cutting and filing nails to smooth out any rough edges.

Dip your fingernails in a bowl of warm water for about 5 to 7 minutes. This will help to soften your cuticles. Remove your hands from the water and push back your cuticles using an orange stick. Use a small pair of nail scissors to cut any loose cuticles from the base of your nails. Trimming the cuticles will make the nails appear longer and your fingers slimmer.

How to Do a French Manicure at Home: Apply Base Coats

Applying a clear base primer coat prior to painting your nails can help the colored nail polish adhere better to the nail and last longer. One thin coat of the primer base should be applied and allowed at least 5 minutes to completely dry before moving on to the next step.

Next, apply the first of two coats of your French manicure base color. While some people prefer their base color to be their natural nail shade, others prefer a sheer pink or vanilla color to cover their nails. Whichever you decide, paint the entire nail with two thin coats. Allow time for each coat to dry before applying the next.

How to Do a French Manicure at Home: Create the Tips

Painting the tips of the nails for a French manicure can be extremely difficult and time consuming. You can save yourself some time by using a paint pen rather than the nail polish brush to create your French manicure tips. Paint pens can be purchased from most craft stores.

Use your paint pen in a vanilla white shade to create the tips for your French manicure. The tip of the paint pen is slim, allowing you to easily draw a line across the tip of the nail that can later be colored in with the pen. The paint pen acts similar to regular nail polish and can last up to 2 weeks.

How to Do a French Manicure at Home: Protect the Nails

Now that you’ve finished painting your French manicure nail tips, you will need to protect your nails from smudging, peeling and cracking. This can be done by applying a thin coat of a clear top layer. When applying the clear top coat, paint over the edges of the nails as this is where most peeling begins.

Allow the nails to dry for at least 20 minutes to avoid smudging the paint. To help the nails dry faster, there are a few easy things you can do. Soaking your fingernails in a bowl of ice water or under a cold stream of running water can help to dry nails quicker. A blow dryer set on low is also very effective in drying the nails quickly.