The Floating French Manicure Is A Dreamy Take On Classic Nails

French manicures are as versatile as they are timeless. While you can always take the classic route à la Carmela Soprano, the look is more than ideal for experimenting. From animal-print tips to metallic Frenchies, the style has had its fair share of wild and not-so-wild versions. If you've tried them all and feel bored or are a French-nail newbie, we have good news: The floating French manicure is the dreamiest iteration that you need to try.

Characterized by a simple line across the nail instead of a fully filled-out tip, the floating French manicure is an ethereal take on classic nails. Unlike the subtle baby French manicure, which features a stripe at the very top of the nail, the floating French manicure has a stripe further down the nail. Celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec revived the dreamy trend for Staud's Spring 2024 ready-to-wear collection, sending models down the runway with colorful lines across their nails. "Instead of the thin line being at the tip, we put it one-third of the way down the nail for a twist on the on-trend design," Kandalec explained in a statement at the time.

Other than being super easy to do, the floating French manicure leaves plenty of room for playful designs, even if you're not too experienced in doing your own nails. Without further ado, here are five floating French manicure ideas for your next mani switch-up.

Given its minimalist nature, the floating French manicure can easily be achieved in the comfort of your own space. You don't have to be a nail technician or particularly savvy with nails; all you need is a steady hand to draw a straight line across your nail base. Depending on your desired look, position it higher or lower.

Have fun here — you can go with either a nude or a colorful base and adjust the shade of your stripe accordingly. A nude nail with a vibrant line is a great look, while contrasting shades will elevate your floating Frenchies and maintain the simplistic aesthetic of the dreamy manicure.

In addition to being the perfect canvas for having fun, the floating French manicure doesn't have to feature a straight line. Instead, you can draw the so-called smile line across your nail, which will pair beautifully with longer almond-shaped nails. Again, any color combination works here, as do textures. To add a twist to your floating Frenchies, consider using a chrome gel for the stripe. The minimalist take on the trending high-shine chrome mani will be perfect for those who want to maintain the look's subdued aesthetic without losing any grooviness.

While floating Frenchies might be the ultimate minimalist nail look, that doesn't mean you can't inject some creativity into the otherwise understated manicure. For example, instead of a straightforward line, opt for a barbed-wire stripe across your nail for an unexpected twist. Gems are also an out-of-the-box way to elevate your floating tips, which you can use to outline the stripe. However, if you're keen on keeping the line as-is, you can still utilize the remaining nail space or even embellish the stripe itself with tiny shapes, like stars or hearts.

For those eager to dip their toes into the floating French manicure trend without sacrificing their love for a creative nail look, look no further than an accent nail. Stick to your favorite manicure style, whatever that may be, and simply incorporate one or a couple of accent nails featuring floating French tips. However, if you want to avoid losing the minimalist effect of the floating line, make sure to keep the rest of your nails as simple as possible. We recommend opting for a single shade across most nails and doing a contrasting color on the striped accent nail for an effortlessly chic look.

Sticking to a single manicure trend can be challenging for a nail enthusiast. However, with floating French tips, you're not confined to a single line, which can mean only one thing: venturing into the negative space French manicure to freshen up minimalist nails. By adding an additional line either above or below your main floating stripe, you can create the illusion of hollow tips, making the otherwise basic manicure visually interesting with minimal effort. Not only do you get to try out two French tip trends at once but you can also still play around with various colors and designs to add more fun to your nails.