I’m Officially Wearing Zoë Kravitz's “Cloudy French” Manicure for the Rest of Winter
Zoë Kravitz's beauty looks always earn a spot on my mood board (her micro bob! wavy side bangs! Nina Park-ified blurred lips!), but I audibly gasped when I saw her soft-girl glam at this year's Golden Globes. Everything about it was pure perfection, from her elegant updo—complete with wispy tendrils and a silver flower pin—to her rosy lips and lids to her "cloudy French" mani. Yes, I really did zoom all the way in on those red carpet photos and clocked a sheer, foggy polish that made her tips look swathed in silk. Luckily for me, celebrity manicurist Betina Goldstein shared all the details on Kravitz's manicure du jour, plus a close-up shot to take to your next nail appointment. Scroll ahead for all the heavenly details.
Goldstein dubs this set "soft, natural nails with a touch of cloudy French," which takes it a step further from your average clean, naked mani. Essentially, think of it like sheer dressing for your nails. Just as how you might don a see-through garment cut from organza, tulle, or lace, this manicure incorporates a translucent veil over a classic sheer French. To get the look, Goldstein first applies a coat of milky-pink polish on Kravitz's nails (The GelBottle Inc's Chiffon, to be exact), then adds one thin coat of milky white lacquer "just on the tips of the nails to color correct." Seal everything with a glossy top coat, and you'll wind up with that perfectly foggy finish.
For even more of a "cloudy" effect, you can even reapply another sheer layer of your base polish and dial up the haze. Just make sure your two previous coats have completely dried, otherwise you might wind up with more of a blurred, ombré French (aka, Frombé)—a stunning look in its own right, but I'll personally be wearing Kravitz's cloudy iteration all season long.
Shop the Look
The GelBottle Inc
2 in 1 Base Coat
The Gelbottle Inc
Chiffon
The GelBottle Inc
Extreme Shine Top Coat
More "Cloudy French" Polishes to Try
You won't ever regret snagging Chanel's milky-pink Ballerina.
Another ballet slipper-coded pink, this lacquer from Londontown has such a luxurious finish.
This sheer white shade is such a staple.
Celisse
Quickcoat - Vanity
I'm obsessed with Celisse's full range of sheer, buildable polishes, but Vanity is my pick for a milky base.
The brand describes this lacquer as a "cloudy sheer white." I can't think of a better choice for a cloudy French!
Pro manicurists will typically use Put It In Neutral as a base for a variety of nail looks, including—yep!—a classic French.
