French manicures look especially elegant on almond-shaped nails. Here, discover over a dozen ways to wear almond French tip nails.

Almond-shaped nails are the most popular manicure silhouette of the moment. The long, tapered nail shape is the perfect canvas for solid colors and gorgeous nail art, especially French-tip nail looks. 

“Almond is the most timeless shape for medium- to long-length nails,” says Nailing Hollywood artist Laura Malarkey. “I always say that almond nails are like wedge shoes for your hands—they make everyone’s fingers look long and slim. Plus, the almond shape is one of the strongest nail shapes because it absorbs shock and resists chipping better than square and oval shaped nails.”

Meet the expert

• Laura Malarkey is a nail artist at Nailing Hollywood.
• Tara Haye is a nail artist at Nailing Hollywood.
• Rachel Joseph is a nail artist at Nailing Hollywood.

If you don’t have medium to long nails, don’t fret. You can DIY an almond-shaped manicure with the Aprés Gel-X Nail Extension Kit with Natural Long Almond Tips ($117). Ready to experiment with the nail shape? Ahead, find 20 beautiful almond French tip nail looks to inspire your next manicure. 

Black and White Checker French Tips

“Almond-shaped manicures provide a perfect balance between a sharp point and a soft curve,” says Nailing Hollywood artist Tara Haye. This almond-shaped mani features a trendy mix-n-match design with black French tips, checkers, and cheerful smiley faces.

Pink Glitter French Tips

To paint the perfect French manicure, Nailing Hollywood artist Rachel Joseph says to start with the perfect sheer base. “I would recommend the shade Bare BB Cream ($20) from Gelcare,” she says. “It’s a beautiful nude that’ll complement every skin tone.”

Once you’ve cured your base, Joseph says to use a lining brush (like the Lights Lacquer Detail Brush, $10) to paint on your French tips. “Then, use a flat clean-up brush with alcohol or acetone, depending on whether you’re using gel or regular polish to clean up the French,” she adds.

Black and White Matte Heart French Tips

Here’s another black and white almond-shaped French manicure that instantly caught our eyes. Between the matte finish and marbled heart accent nails, what’s not to love? Remember: You can transform any manicure into a matte manicure with a matte top coat like the OPI Matte Top Coat ($12).

Chocolate Brown French Tips

Forget about classic white French tips—these chocolate brown ones have our hearts. Joseph created it using The Gel Bottle Inc. Hema-Free BIAB ($23) in the shade Ballet. For the tips, try the shade FashHun by the same brand.

Coquette Glitter French Tips

Bows are one of the biggest fashion motifs of 2024. To elevate your almond-shaped French mani, try a pink glitter polish topped off with a ballet pink bow, like nail artist Dayanna I. Sapiens did here.

Silver French Tips

Once upon a time, silver was a color reserved for the holidays. Now, it’s a fun, stylish hue to be celebrated and worn all year long. And, as you can see here, it’s a polish shade that looks especially pretty in French form on an almond-shaped mani. The exact shade used here is Sterling ($13) by Cirque Colors.

Dual-Finish Hot Pink French Tips

How fun is this dual-finish French manicure? Who knew opting for a matte base and glossy tips could make for such a head-turning nail look.

Coral Bloom French Tips

We love this classic white French mani topped off with dainty coral blooms. To perfect the lines of your French tips, try using the Orly Half Moon Guides ($7). The stickers will create a crisp line to paint against. Simply wait for your polish to dry and peel them off to reveal crisp tips.

Minty Green French Tips

This angular minty green French manicure looks so fresh. Malarkey painted it by hand but you may need to head to the salon to recreate such precise lines.

Glossy Nude French Tips

Instead of white French tips, try a glossy sandy nude shade. Haye created this airbrush-inspired neutral mani for Valentine's Day but it's a nail look that could easily be worn all year long.

Lavender Ombré French Tips

French manicures don’t have to feature super crisp arches. Here’s what a more ombré approach can get you. Malarkey took it up a notch by adding a chrome finish on top. You can give polish a chrome finish using products like the Beetles Chrome Nail Powder ($10).

Pink and Red Bow French Tips

Black French tips are a bold move that we fully stand behind. This coquette almond-shaped French mani was created using Orly’s Nourishing Nude and Mind Over Matter ($11 each) topped off with bow nail stickers. While the bow stickers she used are sold out, the Deco Beauty Coquette Nail Stickers ($12) will give you a similar look.

Rhinestone Cherry French Tips

Cherries are another popular motif this year, so this rhinestone cherry almond-shaped manicure is a must in our book. Sapiens brought the look to life using the Lights Lacquer Gemstone Charms ($8) with the brand’s Oui’d Nail Polish ($11).

White Flame French Tips

This isn't your average French manicure. Opting for flames over crisp crescent moon tips is a bold move that's trending. Take one scroll through Instagram or TikTok and you're bound to find a flame mani or two. Joseph created this one by starting with a pink aura base, making it an even more fashion-forward nail look.

Warm Rainbow Tips

Skittle manicures are those that feature a rainbow of colors. This one leans warm, with hot pink, red, tangerine, lemon, and lime shades. Malarkey created this bright manicure and focused on bringing the sides of the tips further down the nail for an even, more elongated look.

Black and Red Suits Nails

This black and red almond-shaped French manicure would be perfect for a Vegas vacation. The tiny card suit details and lucky angel numbers make it an ideal Sin City fit.

Minty Marbled French Tips

This minty French manicure is the perfect spring nail look. Malarkey created it using a pale lime zest polish on most nails, with abstract swatches on the others.

White Diagonal French Tips

There's nothing wrong with classic bright white French manicures. Instead of a whole hand of arched tips, consider some diagonal accents to create a more abstract appearance. You'll be shocked by just how chic it looks.

Shimmer Skittle French Tips

We’re swooning over this shimmery skittle French mani. You can DIY it with the Cirque Colors Surfer’s Crush Collection.

Pastel Diagonal Swoop French Tips

Another way to update a classic French mani? Swap symmetrical arched tips for diagonal swoop tips. Joseph created this pretty pastel nail look using Bio Sculpture USA Evo Gel Nail Polishes.