French manicure

noun

: a manicure in which a band of usually white polish across the tip of the nail contrasts with the often clear or pale polish below

[Michele] DiMauro … has always taken care of her nails. For many years, that meant a standard French manicure—pale pink base, white tip.

—Cara Pesek

There are some beauty trends that are more contentious than others. One of the more polarizing ways to polish up your digits is the French manicure. This technique involves painting the tip of the nail white while the rest is left clear, and is typically applied to long nails filed into a square shape.

—Caitlin Agnew

see also french tips

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above