Some crave bold colors when the weather warms (that is, after all, one of spring 2026’s biggest nail trends)—but the “clean girls” should fret not. A much more subtle take on the classic French manicure, called the “cloudy” French, is here. First spotted on Zoe Kravitz at the Golden Globes awards (painted by none other than artistic genius and Chanel nail artist Betina Goldstein), the subtle look is now taking over nail salons.

“The cloudy French manicure doesn’t have that sharp white line,” nail artist Naomi Yasuda tells me when I stop by her studio for a set. She recently collaborated with Magnum Ice Cream to create custom Coachella-themed sets, now for sale. “It’s much softer and more feminine.”

To get the cloudy French manicure, she continues, you should flip the typical application steps. For a classic French manicure, your nail artist will paint the nude base first, then use an opaque white nail polish to get the smile line just right. “You should use a sheer white polish to paint the white line first,” she says. “Then put a sheer layer of nude polish on top. That’s what makes it look more cloudy and subtle.” Inspiration, below.

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