I Tried French-Moon Nails: See Photos
French-Moon Nails Are My New Go-To Autumn Look
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There's no rule that says you have to change your go-to nail-polish shades with the season, but it certainly is fun, if you ask me. In the cooler months, crisp whites, baby pinks, and pastel blues make way for deep maroons, toffee-apple reds, and warm browns. That said, certain designs are evergreen, having a place in your manicure wardrobe year round, like the classic french manicure. But still, that doesn't mean you can't put a seasonal spin on them. That's what the french-moon nail trend is all about.
This look takes the classic white and nude combo and puts a darker twist on it. The final result is moody but still fresh, like a sexier, elevated neutral. "We're seeing a big reboot of the french mani with the french moon, where black or metallic hues are used to trace a crescent shape along the cuticle line," Sarah Gibson Tuttle, founder and CEO of nail brand Olive & June, previously told POPSUGAR. "It's fun and festive while still being sophisticated."
When I found myself at the nail salon recently, I was weighing the options for my inaugural autumn manicure of the year. In front of me was the Gelish and Morgan Taylor autumnal collection, Change of Pace, filled with Dew Me a Favour, an ivory pearl; Stay Off the Trail, a lavender grey; Lost My Terrain of Thought, a khaki green; Sappy but Sweet, a bright berry; Golden Hour Glow, a pearly yellow; and All Good in the Woods, a shimmery black. All I knew was I wanted a french tip because of how nicely it grows out — I can't be bothered getting my nails done more than once a month.
My initial reaction was to reach for the creamy white, but then I thought I'd take a step out of my comfort zone. Morgan Taylor's shade All Good in the Woods (£6) was calling my name. It's a deep black with shimmery pigments mixed in, reminiscent of a warm cup of coffee, no milk, just sugar.
I told my choice to celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec, who was doing my nails, and we got to work. The plan was to start with BIAB nails using the Gelish Structure Cover Pink (salon only) for the base. Then Kandalec used All Good in the Woods to trace the edge of my nail, applying two coats. After completing each finger, she sealed it in with a shiny topcoat.
About midway through, I started to get nervous that the colour would look strange, but when Kandalec finished the manicure, I loved how it came out. The final result was kind of mysterious and definitely a little vampy — aka the perfect autumn manicure.
