Gothic black French nails are trending as the emo alternative to Vanilla Girl manicures

Jenna Ortega's Wednesday Addams has given the moody emo aesthetic a whole new lease of life with her “soft goth” makeup. Now gothic black French nails are everywhere as a chic continuation of the trend.  So much so, the search terms “Goth French Tips” and “Black French Nails” have collectively amassed a cool 309.7 million views on Tiktok.

Now manicurists have put their own spin on the black nail polish you haphazardly whacked on at the back of the school bus listening to My Chemical Romance. Gothic black French nails are a more graphic, grown-up interpretation and look hauntingly beautiful worn with nothing more than nude lipstick and black kohl-rimmed eyes that are softly-blown out. 

So what exactly are gothic black French nails? Expressive, off-beat and with an irrepressible hint of counterculture, the idea is to take a traditional French manicure and turn it on its head with a black – rather than stark white – tip. In other words, they're a compelling contradiction to the coquette aesthetic and Vanilla Girl French nails that are currently going viral. 

There are endless manifestations of goth French tips to choose from, whether it's a high-gloss oval version, stiletto nails or nail art that swoops and swirls from the free edge down the nail bed. 

Here's all the inspiration you need for your next nail appointment and walk on the dark side…

Squoval “Black Sheer Pantyhose” 

You can always rely on Betina Goldstein to give soft ballerina pink nails a new twist. In a recent Instagram post she explains that after creating a squoval nail shape, she applied the Chanel Longwear Nail Colour in Ballerina. Next she added a couple of drops of black nail polish to a base coat and applied the mixture over the top. The effect is like sheer black tights over bare skin with a black tip to finish the look. 

High-Shine Mannequin Nails

These jelly-like nude nails mimic Kourtney Kardashian's skin tone perfectly, while the black French tip is an elevated alternative to white, especially when pared with a chic black dress.

The Black Pearl French

Gunmetal grey pearls add interest to these nearly-black French nails. Their delicate size stop the look from straying into punk territory. 

The Negative Space Double French

Here the thicker French tip is mimicked by a pin-thin half moon above the cuticle. 

Pick 'N Mix Goth French Tips

If you're a die-hard nail art girl but still want to embrace gothic black French nails, then this combination of swirly nail art, the odd black nail and French tips on alternate nails hits the sweet spot. 

For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Acting Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.

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