The Floating French Manicure Is Our Favorite Modern Nail Look For 2024

If you love putting a twist on a traditional French manicure (which was a favorite of the late Princess Diana, by the way), you probably already know all about the floating variation. The simple design became popular in 2019 thanks to nail artist Tracey Lee, and referred to a look that moved the classic, horizontal white tip at the end of the nail to a vertical, center line. While that became super popular throughout the early 2020s, the nail design has since evolved into something totally different.

Now, in 2024, the term floating French manicure refers to a specific look created by celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec. Her signature design features a thin strip of polish a third of the way down the nail without filling in the tip, allowing for your natural nail color to show through. The look is minimalist and modern, as well as adaptable on various nail shapes and lengths. So, with that in mind, we've scoured the internet to find some of the most creative takes on this more modern version of the trend so you can rock it your way.

The 2024 version of the floating French manicure tends to utilize a straight line a third of the way down the nail. But if you want to do it a little different, then try adding the line further down the nail closer to the nail bed. This sharp line can create the illusion of longer nails, especially on square tips.

There's no reason why your floating French manicure has to be a straight line. If you want your manicure more in-line with the classic look, a thin, black curved line is the way to go. The sharp contrast of the dark color against a black nail is striking and creates definition where a white line wouldn't. A tiny pop of nail art on the ends, like a miniature heart, brings a touch of understated playfulness to the look. 

For those who long to preserve the delicate essence of the traditional French manicure, opting for a barely-there line is the way to go. The super minimalist design looks chic over a a milk bath-eqsue base.Using a light yellow polish, paint a hair-line curve about one-third of the way from the top of your nail to highlight where a traditional French manicure would begin.

Why limit yourself to one line when you can have two? To make the floating French manicure a little more unique, paint parallel lines across the nail bed. Getting this technique right may require some practice to keep the lines from bleeding together. Use a stencil to ensure your lines are nice and straight. 

If you're not quite ready to give up the French manicure entirely just yet, that's okay. Because you could always mix the old with the new. One way to do that is by keeping your classic French tips, but also adding a floating French line further down the nail. This looks great on pointy nails, as there's a lot of room to play with placement. Try it in a traditional white, or vary it up with blue, black, or purple lilac polish to be on trend.