Nail art techniques, from dotting to foils
A clear tour of the core techniques, the small kit behind them and the habits that keep fine detail clean and lasting.
Nail Art
Techniques, French tips and the quiet power of negative space.
Nail art is design at the smallest scale: ten canvases, a few millimetres wide, that travel with you all day. In this rubric we explain the techniques behind the looks, from dotting tools and stamping plates to foils and gel detail work, revisit the French manicure in all its modern forms and show how leaving part of the nail bare can be the most elegant choice of all.
The French manicure, classic, micro and reverse
Where the white tip came from, the variations worth knowing and three reliable ways to paint a smile line that looks clean and natural.
Negative space and the art of leaving nails bare
Minimal nail art that turns the bare nail into part of the design, with ideas, techniques and the reasons it suits short nails and busy weeks.
Try it yourself
Virtual Nail Studio
Design a manicure on screen: shape, length, colour, finish and nail art, then save the look.
Keep exploring
More rubrics
- ManicureGel, BIAB, extensions and a home manicure that looks professional.
- Nail CareStrong nails, healthy cuticles and the myths worth leaving behind.
- ColourUndertones, colour harmony and a palette for every season.
- Shapes & StylesAlmond or square, chrome or milky: the shapes and finishes of the moment.
- Salon GuideHygiene, etiquette and what a really good appointment feels like.
- History & CultureFrom ancient pigments to modern nail art, a small canvas with a long story.