Spring has sprung, meaning it’s time to whip out all the seasonal manicures. And no color palette is ᴀssociated with springtime quite like pastels. They’re pretty and polished, soft and sweet—like the perfect spring day.
But why stop there? Make your mani a trend twofer by combining pastels with French manicures. Pastel French nails can go beyond the classic design in pale pink or baby blue. As with standard French manicures, there are many ways to play with the motif. From fun florals to graphic takes to stripes and swirls, we’ve rounded up 24 pastel French manicures that will take you from Easter to Memorial Day and beyond.
Star Power
If pastels feel too girly, opt for a pink base in a your-nails-but-better hue. Add French tips and rhinestone-topped stars for the ultimate nail art fix. It’s a star-bright situation that will keep you and your nails happy.
Pastels Party
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/PastelsParty-f5c84103c7f44078b615a08127ca61b3.jpg)
Can’t choose just one pastel? Why not wear them all? This multicolored and multilayered design is an artsy take on pastel French nails.
Pretty Petals
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/PrettyPetals-7f3babeb64df41b5b1f0008c5ba273ec.jpg)
Flowers for spring? Groundbreaking. But in this case—juxtaposed with French tips and topped with sparkles—they actually are.
Seeing Stripes
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/SeeingStripes-d658700deca747a1be09a46c10870994.jpg)
Periwinkle is still going strong, and for good reason—the pretty pastel never gets old. Add a sparkly stripe and French tips and you’ve yourself got the ultimate pastel French manicure. Consider it a triple threat.
Field Day
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/FieldDay-4309a76f58924dd086e296c4e306c2ce.jpg)
Have a field day—literally—with the flower motif. Mix and match the petals to the French tips to play up all the pretty pastel hues.
Swirl Effect
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/SwirlEffect-c4350b6b1c96499fbb0148a7fc0e6a9a.jpg)
A wiggling rainbow is a great way to flaunt your color palette. The design works with any color combo but it’s spot on for spring in pastels. The simple French tips give the look balance.
Middle Part
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/MiddlePart-50d7560b1cc24381b22b84db67328e3e.jpg)
It’s impressive that a design so simple can be so striking. Just split a French tip in half and see where the motif takes you. It’s a beautiful graphic twist on pastel French nails.
Fade Into You
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/FadeIntoYou-dc47c3525b0b40a7860955def79da482.jpg)
Pastel French nails get an ombré and airbrushed effect for a design that hits on all the spring trends. If you want to keep it simple, stick with just one color. Either way, it’s a head-turner.
Flower Power
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/FlowerPower-1e771675afbc49739954b1e70d4c63fd.jpg)
Nothing says spring is in bloom quite like pastel flowers. Stick buds on a couple of accent nails to keep the look from feeling too twee.
Sticker Shock
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/StickerShock-2e6c5ad5bb2148c6a09d01bb0946cec2.jpg)
Pastel French nails in a slew of colors would be enough. But add in nail stickers, like this look does, and take it to a whole new level. Smiley faces are a classic, but you can make this look your own with the decal of your choice.
Dual Tone
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/DualTone-bd0915a39fd74351864fddc265ed1e38.jpg)
Two pastels on each nail are certainly twice as nice. Opt for a chunky French manicure to maximize your palette.
Purple Reign
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/PurpleReign-4da3167cb3dc4cf291838e5bfe72e170.jpg)
It’s easy to see why purple was once the color of royalty. These pastel French nails pack in a few designs so you can mix and match your nails accordingly. The options to play with pink and purple hearts and swirls are endless.
Heart You
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/HeartYou-c659f94097bd40e7a7f884a61befdaf6.jpg)
Turn hearts into a French mani. The dual design is sweet and romantic. Pastel hues certainly play up that sentiment.
Double Dip
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/DoubleDip-7ffde03dc7c149c2b904cee24dfdbb85.jpg)
Consider this a double dose of spring colors. Paint your moons and tips in pastel hues for twice the fun. A ɴuᴅᴇ base makes the colors pop even more.
Gold Bar
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/GoldBar-16eb84d203d446ba86eb6003acbd0be6.jpg)
The geometric design may look fancy, but it’s very doable to DIY. Need proof? Check out the video here.
Serenity Now
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/SerenityNow-54d95e958fe044eb9b9658e60cd52f6e.jpg)
Whether you see seafoam as green or interpret it as being more on the minty side, there’s no denying that these shades are delightfully calming and relaxing. The mix of hearts, French tips, and full-color nails adds a playful touch.
Spring Fling
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/SpringFling-e69ee66a897447a7b442284950900719.jpg)
Romance is in the air! These pastel French nails are a spring fling for your fingertips. You’ll easily fall in love with them.
Mellow Yellow
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/MellowYellow-2ac6528ce2bf4e3ab48e9bf105f592fc.jpg)
Pale yellow might be the most underrated pastel. The springy, soothing shade looks good in many designs, as this mani proves. It’s pastel French nails with an artsy twist.
Queen of Hearts
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/QueenofHearts-a1da0bc0d1ad46d9b1a2e11f222da9cb.jpg)
Hearts and pastels go together like peanut ʙuттer and jelly. We love how the accent nails with a trio of hearts hits all the hues in the mani. It’s a sweet spring take on pastel French nails.
Feeling Blue
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/FeelingBlue-f07567cef02b4b7d962581dfb0a3de85.jpg)
Glitter, French tips, and florals are a feast for the eyes. The all-blue monochromatic scheme makes it even more magical.
Peachy Keen
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/PeachyKeen-cbb8018e145043c9a65e1f1518e9c6ad.jpg)
This mani was created to pay homage to the 2024 Pantone color of the year, Peach Fuzz, and it’s convincing us the hue deserved the top prize. Delicate, subtle, soft, and sweet, peach polish works as a neutral too.
This Bud’s For You
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/ThisBudsForYou-59342cbef48a4b5c937ded636f5b6df2.jpg)
You might expect that a garden was the inspo behind this mani, but nail artist Aistė Haas says it isn’t so: She actually looked to birthday cake as her muse.
Lavender Fields Forever
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/LavenderFieldsForever-2cf4b9a30b654eae9e15ec6f3910a1a6.jpg)
Lavender is known for its soothing powers, and it’s fair to say this mani has the same effect. The mix of designs feels as fresh as a sprig of lavender itself.
Rainbow Bright
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/RainbowBright-c1e56f7d14c44a1abb0c718b9d28ce1a.jpg)
Taste the rainbow! These French tips are essentially a greatest-hits lineup of the prettiest pastels. The simple design packs a punch.
