Choose the Visual Width of Your French Tip

Two French manicures can use the same pink base and white tip yet look quite different. One leaves most of the base visible; the other gives the tip a larger share of the nail. Before choosing extra details, compare that proportion. Here, “tip width” means how far the colored band extends toward the base, not the width of your finger.

Compare three bands on the same outline

Draw three copies of a simple nail outline on paper. Keep their length, shape, and base color the same. Add a fine band to one, a medium band to the second, and a broader band to the third. These are visual comparisons, not standard salon measurements. There is no required percentage that makes a French tip correct.

Look at the drawings together. Which leaves the balance of base and tip you want? If you change the nail shape or color between sketches, it becomes harder to tell whether the band itself is the part you prefer.

Separate the center from the sides

A reference may have a slim band at the center but color that travels farther down the sides. Another may show a more even strip. Point out both areas when you describe the photograph. Saying “a fine center with longer curved sides” communicates more than simply requesting a thin French tip.

These notes describe the visible design. They do not specify how to build, file, or apply a nail enhancement. Discuss the feasible shape and placement with your technician.

Choose the band before the border

A contrasting outline, dots, or a second stripe adds another decision. First choose the size of the main colored area. Then decide whether the extra detail still belongs. For example, a broad blue tip with a fine yellow boundary and a narrow blue tip with that same boundary are different requests.

The YLG cover photograph shows pink bases and several colorful, patterned tips. Use it to point to a boundary or proportion you like; it is not a chart of named widths or a promise that every detail can be reproduced on every nail.

Write one clear comparison

Try this note: “I prefer the amount of pink base visible in image A, with the curved sides in image B. Please confirm how that would fit my chosen length.” If you are undecided, bring the two alternatives and identify the one difference you want help comparing.

For a larger reference collection, see how to turn inspiration photos into a design brief. Review the YLG service catalog and confirm the booking option for your intended design. When you are ready, book your appointment.