I’m officially sporting Zoë Kravitz's "Cloudy French" manicure for the remainder of winter.
Zoë Kravitz's beauty looks consistently make it onto my mood board (her micro bob! wavy side bangs! Nina Park-inspired blurred lips!), but I genuinely gasped when I saw her soft-girl glam at this year’s Golden Globes. Every aspect was sheer perfection, from her sophisticated updo with wispy tendrils and a silver flower pin to her rosy lips and eyelids and her "cloudy French" manicure. Indeed, I zoomed in on those red carpet shots to observe a sheer, misty polish that gave her tips a silken appearance. Fortunately for me, celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein revealed all the details of Kravitz's manicure of the moment, along with a close-up image to bring to your next nail appointment. Scroll down for all the divine details.
Goldstein refers to this set as "soft, natural nails with a hint of cloudy French," elevating it from the typical clean, bare manicure. Think of it as sheer dressing for your nails. Just as you might wear a transparent garment made from organza, tulle, or lace, this manicure features a translucent layer over the traditional sheer French. To achieve this look, Goldstein first applies a coat of milky-pink polish to Kravitz's nails (specifically The GelBottle Inc's Chiffon), then adds a thin layer of milky white polish "just on the tips of the nails for color correction." Finish everything off with a glossy top coat to achieve that flawlessly foggy look. For an even more "cloudy" effect, you can reapply another sheer layer of your base polish to enhance the haze. Just ensure that the previous two coats have dried completely, or you risk creating more of a blurred, ombré French (or Frombé)—a beautiful look in its own right, but I'll personally be sporting Kravitz's cloudy version all season long.
The GelBottle Inc
2 in 1 Base Coat
The GelBottle Inc
Chiffon
The GelBottle Inc
Extreme Shine Top Coat
More "Cloudy French" Polishes to Consider
You won't regret picking up Chanel's milky-pink Ballerina.
This lacquer from Londontown, also ballet slipper-inspired, has such an exquisite finish.
This sheer white shade is a true staple.
Celisse
Quickcoat - Vanity
I’m a fan of Celisse’s entire collection of sheer, buildable polishes, but Vanity is my go-to for a milky base.
The brand describes this lacquer as a "cloudy sheer white." I can’t think of a better option for a cloudy French!
Professional nail artists often use Put It In Neutral as a base for various nail designs, including—yep!—a classic French.
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I’m officially sporting Zoë Kravitz's "Cloudy French" manicure for the remainder of winter.
Delicate but divine.