How to Do French Ombre Nails

French ombre nails, also called French fade or baby boomer nails, combine the classic French tip with an ombre-style gradient to create a bright, blended look. They’re great for special occasions, like weddings, school dances or holiday parties, and you can even add fun embellishments like glitter or nail sprinkles. Whether you prefer regular or acrylic nail polish, this look is pretty, eye-catching, and easy to create.

1. Trim, file and clean your nails before you paint them. Use your clippers to cut your nails to your desired length. Then, buff the top of your nails with a nail file. Next, soak your nails in warm, soapy water for 2-3 minutes before scrubbing them lightly with a nail brush. Finally, use a cuticle pusher or orange stick to push your cuticles down toward your nail bed.

You can finish your quick manicure with hand lotion. However, the nail polish won't stick to nails that have lotion on them, so wipe nail polish remover over your nails before you paint them.

2. Apply a clear base coat to protect your nails.

3. Paint on 2 or more coats of a neutral polish. Choose a natural or pastel-colored nail polish for your main color. Carefully paint it on your nails in a thin, even layer. Wait for it to dry, then apply another layer. Repeat to make the color more vibrant, if necessary.

French ombre nails look best with neutral or pastel colors, like peach, light pink, beige, or light blue. Lighter colors make the fading effect look more natural.

4. Apply a thick coat of white polish to the end of a makeup sponge. Take out a wedge-shaped, disposable makeup sponge and use your nail polish brush to paint a thick, straight coat of white polish on its tip. Paint until you have a strip of white polish that’s as wide as your nail and long enough to cover the tip of your nail.

For a glittery look, use a shimmery polish for both the white and colored parts of the ombre.

To make sure your sponge is clean before you apply the polish, use a piece of scotch tape to remove any dust or debris. Stick the tape onto the sponge, then slowly pull it off.

5. Add your base color to the sponge, overlapping it to create a gradient. Take out the neutral nail polish that you just applied to your nails. Paint it on the makeup sponge, just above the white polish, then continue down the sponge to overlap the color with the white. Leave a small strip of white untouched, as wide as you want the white part of your nail to be. When you’re done, you should have a strip of white, a blended section, and a strip of your neutral color, creating a fading, ombre effect.[6]

Go back with your white color afterwards and mix the colors a bit more, if necessary.

Apply the nail polish liberally.

6. Dab the makeup sponge onto your nail. Hold your makeup sponge with the white part lined up to the tip of your nail. Gently dab the sponge against the nail to transfer the polish, tilting it slightly to hit the sides. Slowly move the sponge part-way down your nail away from your tip as the polish layer becomes thinner. Continue dabbing your nail with the sponge until you see the French fade effect.

Don’t worry if you get polish on the tape or liquid latex tape around your nail. That’s what it’s there for!

(Tips: If any polish got onto your skin, dip a Q-tip or nail brush into nail polish remover and brush it over the area to remove it.)

7. Apply a clear top coat to smooth and shine your nails. Applying with a makeup sponge can give the polish a slightly grittier texture. To smooth it out, make it shinier, and help it last longer, brush on a clear top coat. Let it dry for 10-15 minutes to finish your French ombre nails!

For a subtle, shimmery look, use a clear, sparkly top coat.

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