Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Autumn Winter 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    1. Beauty

    You heard it here first: as a nail technician, this classic pedicure trend is the only one I buy into

    These are all of the products you need

    By Tori Crowther
    Published 23 April 2024 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    french pedicure - Woman's pedicure in the water and sand at the beach - gettyimages 1353071606
    (Image credit: Getty Images / royalty-free)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    I have always loved a french pedicure. Ever since I was a teenager, I've worn white tips on my toes; even when it was uncool the past decade. So you can imagine how thrilled I am about the return of the french mani/pedi being cool again. This time, there are more variations than ever before. 

    In true Devil Wears Prada: "It's a tough call. They're so different" fashion, despite all of these pedicures looking similar, they all differ slightly. There are 4 main french pedicures that I often see and wear myself: bubblegum (a pink base), clear (as you can expect, a clear base), chrome (a shimmery base) and milk (a white, milky base).

    If you're looking to try something a little different—or return to an old favourite— with your next pedicure, try some white tips in one of these versions. 

    1. Bubblegum french pedi

    A post shared by Harriet Westmoreland

    A photo posted by harrietwestmoreland

    A post shared by Kelly | Luxury Manicurist Hampshire

    A photo posted by noir__beauty

    A sheer pink base is the perfect way to get this bubblegum pink french pedi that looks ultra shiny and clean. For this, I love the Dior Glow polish with Seche Vite's fast dry top coat for that gel effect top coat.

    Dior Nail Glow

    Dior Nail Glow
    £25 AT SEPHORA UK

    Seche Vite fast drying top coat

    Seche Vite Fast Drying Top Coat
    £9 AT BOOTS

    2. Clear base french pedi

    A post shared by Beth Watkivs GLÓ Beauty Sussex

    A photo posted by globeautysussex

    A post shared by 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲

    A photo posted by isabeldbeauty

    Sometimes you can't go wrong with the original. Using a clear base with a bright white tip, finished off with a high-shine top coat to create that classic french pedicure look.

    You may like
    • Autumn Nail Trends 2026 From Fawn Print to Milky Matcha—These Are Autumn 2026’s Defining Nail Trends
    • Best nail strengtheners The Autumn Nail Reset: Strengtheners That Repair Brittle, Weather-Worn Nails
    • How to keep long nails clean My Long, Natural Nails Never Look Clean—Here’s How 3 Nail Experts Recommend Keeping Them Salon-Fresh

    3. Chrome french pedicure

    A post shared by Glow Studio ✨ Manicure•brwi•wosk

    A photo posted by glow_studio_koszykowa

    A post shared by L i s a

    A photo posted by nailsbylisabannister

    Of course, chrome and sparkles are making their way to our toes and I'm here for it. Try a chrome top coat with a gel pedicure or a subtly glittered top coat if you're using nail polish to give a classic a special twist.

    chrome nails

    Manucurist Glazed Effect Powder
    £9 AT MANUCURIST

    Nails Inc Plant Power Nail Polish in Glowing Somewhere

    Nails Inc Plant Power Nail Polish in Glowing Somewhere
    £9 AT LOOKFANTASTIC

    4. Milky french pedi

    A post shared by Céline • Nail Artist 💅🏼 • Dubai Marina 🇦🇪

    A photo posted by cosyongles

    A post shared by Julie Coates Salon Owner

    A photo posted by thelaneshealthandbeauty

    To try something a little different, go for a milky base coat instead of a clear or white one. If you struggle to do a french pedicure then try one of the handy kits available, like this Mylee kit that uses a clever clear sponge tool to avoid the painstaking painting required. 

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Mylee French Me Kit

    Mylee French Me Kit
    £18.99 AT MYLEE

    Tori Crowther
    Social Links Navigation
    Beauty Contributor

    Tori is a freelance beauty journalist and contributor for Marie Claire. She has written for various titles, including Allure, Glamour, Elle, Refinery29, Brides, and more. Currently training to be a nail tech, Tori is a total nail enthusiast and always has time to talk all things nail art. When she’s not writing about beauty and testing products, Tori can be found walking her rescue dog Pip, drinking great coffee, and eating as many croissants as humanly possible.

    Read more
    Autumn Nail Trends 2026
    Nails From Fawn Print to Milky Matcha—These Are Autumn 2026’s Defining Nail Trends
    Best nail strengtheners
    Beauty The Autumn Nail Reset: Strengtheners That Repair Brittle, Weather-Worn Nails
     
     
    How to keep long nails clean
    Beauty My Long, Natural Nails Never Look Clean—Here’s How 3 Nail Experts Recommend Keeping Them Salon-Fresh
    nail brush benefits
    Nails My £4 Secret to a Minimal Manicure—This Simple Tool Makes Bare Nails Look Immaculate
     
     
    Latest in Beauty
    New Beauty Products
    Beauty The Beauty Digest: Nobel Prize-Winning Skincare, a Very Chic Body Brush and the Future of LED Therapy
    What to ask for at the hair salon
    Hair Here's What to Ask For at the Hair Salon to Get What You Actually Want
     
     
    Laura Pearson reviews SKINVIVE and HArmonyCa
    Skincare I Avoided Injectables Until I Was 42—These Are the 2 Treatments That Changed My Mind
    Autumn fragrance
    Fragrance Your Autumn Reset Starts With Your Fragrance—Here's How to Find the Right One
     
     
    Latest in Features
    Roasted carrots, parsnips, and onions: A chopping board with vegetables on for chicken soup
    Nutrition My Grandmother Swore By Chicken Soup When We Were Ill—Our Experts Weigh In on Which Urban Wellness Legends Actually Work
    New Beauty Products
    Beauty The Beauty Digest: Nobel Prize-Winning Skincare, a Very Chic Body Brush and the Future of LED Therapy
     
     
    What to ask for at the hair salon
    Hair Here's What to Ask For at the Hair Salon to Get What You Actually Want
    Dr Hazel Wallace
    Female health I'm a Female Health Expert With PMOS. These 8 “Boring” Habits Help Me the Most
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.