On The Not-So-French Manicure
Is the French Manicure really French?
No: According to Women's Wear Daily, Jeff Pink, who founded nail polish brand Orly, created the natural-looking two-tone French manicure in Hollywood, California. In 1976, actresses had their nails painted to match their dress color, so every time a costume change happened, so did a polish change. Before the starlets could return to work everyone was forced to wait for paint to dry. In an industry where time is money, Pink created the French manicure as a time-saving solution to this problem, but its original name was the "Natural Nail Look."
He then took this style to the runways of Paris, where it garnered even more attention. That’s when Americans really fell in love with the look and the French Manicure name took hold.
Others believe Max Factor introduced the style to Parisian fashionistas in the 1930s.
I decided to get the real scoop on French manicures in France by going out and getting one. The first hurdle was learning how to ask for it: "Je voudrais une manucure au style 'French' s'il vous plait." It was interesting that "French" was the only word in English.
Oh My Cream! store front. Image credit: Danielle Blackwell
I took to the Paris streets and got an appointment at Oh My Cream!, a trendy beauty concept store owned and operated by Parisienne Juliette Lévy, in the city's Sixth Arrondissement. She is often seen at Paris fashion shows and has even been written about in Vogue, describing her shop as “culte and confidentielle,” with a goal to curate “the best hair, skin, makeup, and nail treatments you can find, whether they’re organic or luxury, French or international, famous or pharmacy.”
When I arrived, I entered a beautiful room with artfully displayed beauty products. In the center was a white bar-height table with three pairs of chairs running the length, where the manicures were performed. There was a vase of fresh multicolored roses on the table and popular American music piped into the room from hidden speakers. I paid a higher rate than is common in America, at the beginning of the service so I did not have to dig in my purse with wet nails at the end.
My manicurist Elsa was French and though she spoke only a little English, we were able to chat without problem during the process. She told me it wasn’t common for people to come in and request a French manicure, and that French women paint their nails more in the warmer months and often choose bright reds. She used Kure Bazaar polish on my nails, which is lovely French brand free of all the nasty chemicals generally found in polish. She was meticulous in her job and I have the most natural looking French manicure I’ve ever seen, let alone had adorn my fingertips.
Results of my French Manicure experience. Image credit: Danielle Blackwell
Oh My Cream! – 3 rue de Tournon, Paris 75006, 01 43 54 80 83
