Parlez Vous Français?: The Top 3 & The Bottom 3
Posted October 24, 2013
Challenge 6, sponsored by Orly, asked our Top 7 to reinvent the French manicure by giving it a twist. Our contestants created some very interesting — and wearable — spins on the old classic, maintaining the versatility of being able to go from day to night with one look.
This week’s guest judge was Orly’s Jeff Pink. Permanent judges included Gelish’s Danny Haile and the staff at NAILS Magazine.
In no particular order, the top 3 are:
BUDDY SIMS
JUDGES’ COMMENTS:
Gelish’s Danny: Innovative take on a French manicure! Wonderful design.
Orly’s Jeff: A good combination of the trendy hourglass shape and the classic French. Nice to see a contribution from our male technicians.
NAILS’ assistant editor Brittni: Buddy’s hourglass French has a very sexy, boudoir feel, which elongates the nails and lends itself nicely to either a day or evening affair. The slight fade on the shimmering pink base and the single Swarovski crystal are very contemporary as well. But of course, Buddy’s commitment to technique and tradition really shines through in this design. He’s truly a nail tech’s nail tech!
NAILS’ production manager Carla: What an elegant twist on the French manicure! It’s so elegant that it might be hard to “dress down” but I’d certainly give it a try!
NAILS’ managing editor Sree: Buddy stayed with the classic French color choices but made the look his own. I feel it would have better complemented the nail widths if the hourglasses had been larger.
NAILS’ graphic designer Kim: I love the thought that went into Buddy’s design. It completely embodies a reinvention of the French manicure.
LEXI MARTONE
JUDGES’ COMMENTS:
NAILS’ senior editor Beth: I am a huge fan of Lexi’s French manicure. I agree that black and white are a smart choice that is both timeless and trendy. I love that the color seems to fade but not in a soft way; the contrast gives it the right amount of pop. I think when it comes to styling you definitely had the best photos for day and evening wear. All your photos showed off the nail art at different angles so we could see this mani in all its glory. You never stated what the design element was exactly that you drew on the nail, but I thought it was so fitting because it reminds me of a fleur-de-lys. Well done!
NAILS’ art director Danielle: Fantastic! I really like your color palette and your design reminds me of hounds tooth. This is a look I could see myself wearing all the time. It’s easily a fun wear for day and a dressy design for the evening as well.
NAILS’ graphic designer Kim: I love the idea of Lexi’s design. However, although the lines are clean, the shapes from nail to nail aren’t consistent.
NAILS’ managing editor Sree: Such a funky French — I love this! The color choice clues me in that this a Lexi Martone-original.
NAILS’ assistant editor Brittni: What awesome detailing on the tips! This design is crisp and fittingly evokes the fleur-de-lys, making it an even more French version of the French manicure. When looking through her dual photos, I thought it was amazing how much the white pops during the day and the black pops at night.
RYOKO GARCIA
JUDGES’ COMMENTS:
NAILS’ graphic designer Kim: I love Ryoko’s frosted tips and intricate design. It may not be a complete reinvention of the classic French, but it surely is the classic French infused with imagination!
Orly’s Jeff: Elegant interpretation of a classic, the use of lace and paisley is a modern, sexy look.
NAILS senior editor Beth: I can’t believe you hand-painted these intricate details! This design is so light and lace-like that it looks like you embedded lace. Your artistic abilities and attention to detail always wow me. While this is far more interesting than a traditional French, I do feel that these nails look too bridal for me. But I do love your day and evening images. They are so crisp and show your point of view perfectly.
NAILS’ managing editor Sree: This would be a perfect bridal look. The lace is intricately designed — not that I’d expect anything less from Ryoko!
NAILS’ assistant editor Brittni: The paisley-lace combo pattern is wonderful! It’s so feminine, and as always, Ryoko’s brushwork is breathtaking. I felt like she could have been a little more daring with her interpretation, but this is certainly a French twist.
NAILS’ production manager Carla: This design is pretty and feminine but instead of reinventing the French it seems like a nicely accented version of the classic design.
The following tech can breathe again. She is in the middle of this week’s pack and is safe. Congratulations to:
LAUREN WIREMAN
JUDGES’ COMMENTS:
Gelish’s Danny: Great color contrast! Excellent way to show all of the different angles of a French mani.
Orly’s Jeff: Combination of matte and shine is on trend, but a bit heavy of a look.
NAILS’ senior editor Beth: Bravo to you Lauren! You literally turned this challenge and design on its head and still made it work. You went with the opposite of white and shiny (black and matte) and it still goes with anything. I love the homage to the traditional French manicure by including the clear glossy strip across the top. The dots are another design element that are contemporary and add just the right amount of detail. I also appreciate that your day and night photos are both done with shoes to show continuity. And kudos to you for taking a chance on a bold color to pop the accent nail. Well played.
NAILS’ production manager Carla: You’ve chosen just the right elements to make this trendy look work for both day and night. The black matte moon mani is made French with a shiny line to create a smile line, which is perfect for the evening, while the dots and pops of color make it day-ready.
NAILS’ graphic designer Kim: I love the black matte and shiny lining. However, I feel the black overpowers the natural moon and creates an unbalance “in the force.”
NAILS’ editor Hannah: Love your day to night shoe propping. And I like that you jumped away from the traditional pink-and-white look. Overall this is very modern and smart. I like the matte and shiny mixture of lines, as well as the added pop of color on just a few nails. My only thing (and it’s a personal taste thing) is that I don’t love the bare moons…it almost feels like your smile line is out of proportion.
Unfortunately, there always has to be a bottom group. The bottom 3, in no particular order, are:
WINNIE HUANG
JUDGES’ COMMENTS:
NAILS’ production manager Carla: The subtle nude color balances out the flash of the glitter nicely and makes it wearable day-to-night but ultimately, this design looks more like a moon manicure than it does French.
NAILS managing editor Sree: Glitter makes everything better, and I think Winnie did a great job of implementing some sparkle without letting it go over the top.
NAILS’ graphic designer Kim: I’m not sure I would associate Winnie’s design as a French design, however, the white paisley accents kind of resemble a cool funky side French or angled French that I think is brilliant.
NAILS’ assistant editor Brittni: Winnie’s nails are stunning! It’s almost an upside-down French manicure. The two accent nails add just the right amount of detailing to this elongated design. The nude is definitely wearable for day or night, but the sparkle is what kicks it up a notch.
NAILS’ editor Hannah: I love your nude base color. And your upside down French really works to create a new classic. The paisley elements are nice since they aren’t on every finger and they differ from nail to nail. I still want you to work on your nail shape consistency. Some are pointier than others.
JANE WEINER
JUDGES’ COMMENTS:
NAILS’ senior editor Beth: While geometric nail art is certainly on trend, the evening styling of the manicure makes the look feel old. I respect Jane’s desire to resist temptation and put away her brushes and crazy colors, but I actually would like to have seen something more out of the ordinary from her. Some of Jane’s strengths are her quirkiness and out of the box thinking, and I would have liked to have seen that more in this challenge.
NAILS’ editor Hannah: I know this type of nail art is a little subdued for your sensibility, so I like that you practiced restraint. The colors are awesome and I’d totally wear this look. It is definitely one of my favorites this week. I also love your beverages day-to-night take.
NAILS’ art director Danielle: This is a good design and color palette. It is very simple and pleasing to the eye, but there is no “wow” factor. It feels a little safe.
NAILS graphic designer Kim: Jane’s cool mod design is versatile for any environment, but outside of the competition, I’m not sure I would associate it with a French design.
NAILS’ production manager Carla: This is a wearable design that it ultimately too subtle in its attempt at redefining the French manicure. It’s missing a significant twist on the classic French design that makes it looks much like the V-shaped nail art that it is currently popular.
JULIE VENTURA
JUDGES’ COMMENTS:
Gelish’s Danny: Beautiful fading. I love the chain accents.
Orly’s Jeff: Glow In the dark ombré …very unique.
NAILS art director Danielle: You “nailed” this challenge with a beautiful, updated design and your sneaky surprise! This is so pretty and creative. What a great surprise for night!
NAILS’ editor Hannah: Extra points for the glow-in-the-dark nighttime look! What a great way to make this perfectly formal French transform for a night out. I wish you’d have pushed the boundaries of the traditional French a little more. To me, it’s still a pink-and-white look with a pretty standard smile line (even if that smile line is made of chains!).
NAILS’ senior editor Beth: I love the edgy take on the French that Julie did. The chains and ombre effect both rock these nails. And yet, the look is still classy. It is such a fabulous and modern French manicure; it’s not your mother’s French. Any young girl would want these nails. I feel like the glow-in-the-dark element takes away from the elegance of the nail art though. This look would have been appropriate for evening without glowing.
NAILS’ assistant editor Brittni: I love the second chain on the accent nail — nice touch! The chain links are strikingly precise and look great when the nail is glowing. One thing that caught my attention was that the ombre smile line isn’t very consistent from nail to nail. On some nails it’s whiter and on other nails it fades sooner. I think since this design is French-inspired, uniformity would have been better.
Check back tomorrow to find out who won this week’s challenge and who’ll be packing up their paintbrushes.
