What do multitalented mogulsBeyoncé, Reese Witherspoon, and Victoria Beckham have in common? Aside from obvious talent, enviable business acumen, and covetable closets, they share a love for thetimelessFrench manicure.
While you're undoubtedly familiar with the quintessentially chic design, you might be surprised to learn that the French manicuredid not, in fact,originate inFrance. It was created in 1975 by President and CEO of Orly International Jeff Pink, who, at the time, was an Americanbeauty supplier working inHollywood. "The directors would complain about how long it would take to change the nail colors on the actresses to match their wardrobes for different scenes," recalls Pink. "They asked me to make a color that would go with everything.I thought of using white polish on the tips of the nails. I used it on the tips of nails, then put a flesh-toned polish over it," he explains. This natural-looking nail polishdesigntransitioned seamlessly between wardrobes, therebydecreasingthe time it took for costume changes.
At the time, white nail polish was uncommon and not easily sourced, but Pink changed all that after the studios thanked him for all the money they wouldsave on manicures and idle time on set. Seeing a smart business opportunity, Pink began selling a flesh-colored polish and opaque white lacquer together, calling the set the Natural Look Nail Kit. He then took the look to Paris, where it was used on models for a fashion show. When he returned to the states, he started calling it the French manicure.
Of course, this was in the pre-Instagram era, so consumers didn't have the behind-the-scenes access to beauty experts that we have today. The French manicure really took offwhen two of the biggest stars of the era (and arguably ever) wore the look on television. "After Cher and Barbra Streisand went on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonseparately with their French manicures, people started talking about it," Pink recalls. Carson asked Streisand about her noticeably long and precisely polished nails, and the rest is history. According to Pink, "After a few years,[the kit] was selling like hotcakes!"
So there you have it: The 45-year-old French manicure is as American as apple pie. Today, it remains a classic nail look andcontinues toinspirenewiterations to fit the ever-changing color and design trends.Since it's a longtime favorite of the Hollywood set, it's no surprise that Beyoncé, Reese Witherspoon, and Victoria Beckham regularly sport the design everywhere from red carpets to boardrooms to book clubs and beach days. Keep scrolling for a few of our favorite French mani moments from today's biggest stars, plus the perfect polishes and tools to help you create the look at home.
Beyoncé
(Image credit: @Beyonce)
(Image credit: @Beyonce)
Orly
White Tips French Manicure Nail Lacquer Tip
The little white nail polish that started it all.
Reese Witherspoon
(Image credit: @ReeseWitherspoon)
(Image credit: @ReeseWitherspoon)
(Image credit: @ReeseWitherspoon)
Victoria Beckham
(Image credit: @VictoriaBeckham)
(Image credit: @VictoriaBeckham)
(Image credit: @VictoriaBeckham)
More Celebs Who Love a French Mani
Jennifer Aniston
(Image credit: @JenniferAniston)
Kerry Washington
(Image credit: @KerryWashington)
Emily Ratajkowski
(Image credit: @EmRata)
(Image credit: @EmRata)
Cuccio
Revitalize Cuticle Oil
No French manicure is complete without cuticle care. There's a reason this isone of the best-selling nail products on Amazon. It really works.
Kim Kardashian West
(Image credit: @KimKardashian)
(Image credit: @KimKardashian)
Olive & June
The Starter Kit
Cover all your bases with Olive & June's classic sheer nail color, topcoat, anduniversal polish bottle handle.
Hailey Bieber
(Image credit: @HaileyBieber)
(Image credit: @HaileyBieber)
Dua Lipa
(Image credit: @DuaLipa)
Deborah Lippmann
Nail Tone Perfector Base Coat
Enriched with ultra-sheer violet pigments that neutralize dull, stained, or yellow nails, this basecoat enhances and unifies the natural tone of the nail plate to help whiten the nail tips.
Rhianna
(Image credit: @BadGalRiri)
Ashley Graham
(Image credit: @AshleyGraham)
(Image credit: @AshleyGraham)
Golden Rose
Nail Whitening Pencil
The secret to a quick DIY French manicure on the go? This whitening pencil. Bonus: no drying time!
Maren Morris
(Image credit: @MarenMorris)
(Image credit: @MarenMorris)
Réverénce de Bastien
The Glass Nail File
Trust us when we say a glass nail file is a total at-home mani game changer.
Up next:These Will Be the 19 Biggest Nail Trends of 2020
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NailsBeyonceNail ArtNail PolishFrench BeautyVictoria BeckhamReese Witherspoon