"French Moon" Nail Art Is the Dark New Twist on the Classic French Manicure
“What’s old is new again” seems to be the motto of 2021, not only for dainty anklet jewelry and getting back together with your ex, but also the oft-forgotten french manicure. (Luckily, we’re safe from the resurgence of shoulder pads. . . for now.) Yet, while the white-tipped nail art of the early aughts has populated our Instagram feeds more readily these last few years than the seeds of a strawberry, there’s a darker twist on the trend you can expect to see more of this winter: the “french moon” manicure.
Think of it as the mysterious, much sexier cousin to the traditional nail look that’s perfect for the colder season: “As we head into winter, we’re seeing dark colors reign supreme, with metallics adding a pop of fun,” said Sarah Gibson Tuttle, founder and CEO of nail brand Olive & June. “We’re seeing a big reboot of the french mani for winter with the french moon, where black or metallic hues are used to trace a crescent shape along the cuticle line. It’s fun and festive while still being sophisticated.”
Whether you want to keep it simple with a single black stripe or add a little something extra like glitter or rhinestones, every iteration of the look (which you can sift through below) is just as stellar as the next. Someone call NASA . . .
