Shadow French Nail Art Will Have You Booking a Salon Appointment in No Time

September 27, 2022
Ariel Wodarcyk
By: Ariel Wodarcyk | Makeup.com by L'Oréal
Person with aqua shadow French nails

Ombre French, shadow French, optical illusion nails — whatever you call them, there’s an intricate new nail art trend dominating our Instagram feeds. To get the look, nail artists are painting at least two shades of the same color onto their clients’ nails, creating a shaded effect with lots of depth and dimension. The trend can be replicated in any color you choose, and there are already tons of fun variations of it popping up on our favorite artists’ profiles. To check out the trend for yourself, keep reading.

Emerald Illusions

Go bold by playing with shades of neon and kelly green. The translucent, jelly-like finish adds an extra fun touch.

Autumn Swirl Press-Ons

Shades of burnt orange and nude are perfect for fall, and we love this unique, swirly take on the shadow nail trend. These are press-ons, which means you can order them and skip the salon visit!

Mix and Match

If you can’t decide on a single color family, opt for two high-contrast colors with one on each hand. Fire-engine red lights up against bright blue and green.

Bubblegum Pink

If there’s one color we can’t get enough of this season, it’s pink. No matter the shade, you’ll be on-trend with this color and design.

Black Stockings

Black, gray and nude come together for nails that look like your favorite pair of sheer black tights. This set is a sexy and sophisticated take on the trend.

Pool Blue

Not ready for summer to end? Aqua nails extend the sunny season well into fall and winter.

French Tips

If you’re up for DIY-ing the trend, you can start with these subtle French tips. Go neutral for a classic look, or switch up the color bombo according to your mood.

Photo: @gmarienails, Design: Juliana Campisi

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