- I get monthly professional manicures and have tried everything from Russian to Japanese techniques.
- On a recent trip to Paris, I decided to spring for a $160 French manicure.
- Although the technique wasn’t as unique as other manicures I’ve tried, I was happy with the results.
In preparation for my first trip to Paris, I did the usual itinerary prep — museums, restaurants, and boutiques. However, I also realized this would be the perfect opportunity to experience a French manicure, both in the sense of style and technique.
Unlike the Japanese gel and Russian manicures I’ve tried recently, French manicures (a solid-colored base with a crescent tip in a different color) aren’t necessarily French. They’re a US invention coined in the 1970s inspired by French fashion and beauty aesthetics.
Nevertheless, as a nail buff who gets monthly manicures, I’m always curious to see what they’re like in other countries. I also personally think it’s fun to say I got a French mani in France.
From finding a salon in a foreign country to the actual manicure process, here’s what it was like.
