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The French manicure has remained a classic nail look for years, and over time, it’s only gotten better. These days, there are so many ways to upgrade the traditional mani. You can play around with every color, shape, or length imaginable. In terms of the latter, long French manicures are a great way to show off the sophisticated nail design.

With long nails, there’s far more real estate to occupy, so you can let your imagination run wild. Whether the standard white and nude color palette is your go-to or you prefer bolder takes, we’ve rounded up 26 long French nail ideas for every mood and style below.

01

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Cherry French Nails

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Take your classic white French manicure up a notch with a cute cherry nail art design. Whether you opt for decals, like Inked by Dani Color Nail Art ($10), or have a stable hand to freehand it, adding a poppy cherry design makes for a fun manicure. White tips and glittery nude nails let the airbrushed cherries take center stage.

02

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Rose French Nails

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Adding a 3D element of surprise, like a hand-crafted rose adornment, brings this simple French square manicure to life. Thanks to the extra-long nail length and tapered-off tip, there’s plenty of space for the full rose to be placed. It’s giving Beauty and the Beast vibes, and we are here for it.

03

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XL Pastel French Nails

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The longer the nails, the more real estate there is for gradient nails. This square matte-tipped set fades from a palette of pastel colors into a nude base with a mid-nail arch and two unexpected small white Nike swoosh details.

04

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Baby Blue French Nails

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This version pops color into the standard French manicure with a few coats of sheer baby blue polish and an opaque light blue on the tips. Use complimentary blue colors like Cirque Colors Nail Polish ($13) in Morningtide for the base and CND Shellac Gel Polish ($16) in Creekside for the French tips.

05

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Coquette Bow French Nails

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This coquette, bow-adorned manicure is perfect for any occasion—from weddings to girls’ trips. The mix of expertly executed mini pearls—which rim the almond-shaped chrome tips—pairs beautifully with the darling bow details.

06

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White French Nails

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If you like the simplicity of a classic French manicure but want to dress it up a bit, consider this stone-inspired look. Start by polishing on a sheer nude color across the entire nail and using an opaque snow-white polish to make an arch at the base of the tip. To finish, swipe on one shade of pale gray polish and top it off with two coats of silver glitter.

07

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Red and Gold French Nails

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This red and gold split French mani is super cool. To create a precise division between the red and gold polish, reach for a medium-sized nail brush, which allows you to coat the tips in color while still making a sharp delineation. Make sure to stockpile your nail polish kit with three colors: a glittery gold, like Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer ($22) in Lunar Love; a classic red, such as Pearnova Classic Lacquer ($5) in Kissu Miss You; and nude, like OPI Nail Lacquer ($12) in Put it In Neutral.

08

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Ruby Red Celestial French Nails

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This gorgeous, long French design ticks all the boxes. It has a hint of intricate nail art, gems, a touch of chrome detail, and a glossy red tip. To create this manicure, first apply a nude base coat and then outline the tips with a classic cherry red nail polish like Chanel Longwear Nail Colour ($32) in Incendiaire. Then, paint on the gold chrome stars and add gems on top.

09

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Jelly Green Chrome French Nails

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Green French manicures are always stunning. Here, the tips of the nails are painted a pale shade of green and then layered with chrome. The micro-thin, chrome nail arches are a mesmerizing accent design.

10

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Black and Blue French Nails

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Why choose one shade of blue when you can have them all? This manicure incorporates a variety of blue tones, with each nail featuring a different one.

Adding thin black detail to the base of each nail gives the look an abstract art kind of feeling—and we’re obsessed.

11

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Pink Gradient French Nails

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Pretty pink nails are always a winner, and adding sparkles and stars ups the ante big time. We’re here for this gradient pink skittle set, starting with hot pink polish and lightening up to a crisp white lacquer.

12

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Multi-Green French Nails

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Metallic green nails are interesting on their own. But rather than sticking with a monochromatic palette across all ten fingers, sprinkle in a classic French manicure on a few nails. Pairing a simple French manicure with an edgy metallic teal-meets-mint shade is a surefire way to create a one-of-a-kind nail look.

13

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Ombre Optical Illusion

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For a moody take on the French manicure, consider this brown-black design. The ombre effect forms a soft gradient between the light and dark colors, accented by micro-thin lines of black polish at the base of each nail.

14

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French Skittle Nails

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Can’t decide on a nail color? We feel you, and that’s where this vibrant-colored French skittle manicure comes into play. Rather than sticking to a basic color palette, you can let your creativity run wild by mixing and matching bright polish colors.

15

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Outlined French Nails

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The outlined French manicure is perfect for longer almond, stiletto, and coffin-shaped nails. It flips the switch on the traditional white-tipped nail look. Instead, the moody colors extend from the tip down to the base of the nail to outline the entire nail, similar to a negative space mani.

16

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Gradient Green French Nails

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Elevate a French manicure with varying shades of green. This gradient set relies on a sheer pink base that mimics the nails’ natural coloring, complementing the multiple shades of green polishes used.

17

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Logo French Nails

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Logo nails are trending. Here, the tonal Fendi logo is accomplished using Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint ($5) in Black Forest and Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish ($5) in Mauve Kiss. Even though the logo is kept just to the tips, the overall look feels incredibly luxe.

18

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Red Studded French Nails

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Leave it to Megan Fox to make studded bright red French manicure tips look cool. Fox’s manicurist, Brittney Boyce, layered silver studs over the extra-long coffin-shaped nails for a next-level, edgy manicure.

19

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Bedazzled French Nails

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A little bit of nail bling elevates a white French manicure. To adhere the tiny gems to your nails, dip a wooden nail stick in nail glue, dab it onto the nails, and then place the rhinestones in the center. This bejeweled set is so good you’ll do a double take.

20

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Barbiecore French Nails

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This pretty pink-meets-red French manicure is another stunning take on gradient nails. You’ll need three different nail polishes to achieve the look—baby pink, hot pink, and true red.

21

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Wine Red French Nails

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Add a twist to a wine-red French manicure by polishing one nail with a light smattering of gold glitter. The non-uniform pattern of glitter makes for a less contrived look.

22

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Graphic Tips

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This mix-and-match black manicure is eye-catching and exciting. Pairing classic glossy French tips with negative space French tips creates an interesting contrast.

23

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All-Over Glitter

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Rather than giving the tips all the attention, show the base of your nails some love by coating them in glitter. The bright blue tips and sparkly base coat are a perfect match.

24

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Muted French Skittle Nails

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Not every iteration of the skittle French manicure must be bright and loud. Take a cue from this muted version—featuring cream, brown, and green shades. Leaving the nail base bare allows for the colored tip to be more pronounced.

25

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Rainbow French Manicure

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For a whimsical take on the French mani, try this rainbow design. It features vibrant shades of purple, green, pink, and blue. Not to mention, each nail is decked out with color-coordinated heart-shaped gems. You can use Deco Beauty Jewel Nail Stickers ($12) to achieve this look.

26

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3D Green Croc French Manicure

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If you’re into croc-inspired manicures, this green one is worth trying. The pale pink matte base is the perfect foundation for these statement-making tips