Water Droplet French: 3-in-1 Nail Art Tutorial with Meg

Why settle for one design when you can have three? In this tutorial, Meg turns one nail into three different looks, starting with a water droplet French, and you can stop at whichever stage you like best. The nail begins as a water droplet effect with a clear tip, becomes a soft pink jelly nail, and finishes as a funky outlined design in bright pink and purple.

A water droplet French is a subtle, modern take on the classic French manicure. Instead of a solid white tip, the free edge stays clear and little droplets of Top Coat create a dewy, glassy texture across the nail. From there, Meg builds the design up with colour and outlines, so you get three finished options from one set of steps.

The beauty of this tutorial is its flexibility. Each stage works as a finished design on its own, so you can choose the look that suits your mood, your outfit or your client. The first stage is soft and minimal, the second adds a gentle pop of pink jelly colour, and the third turns it into a bold, funky statement.

The techniques are simple too. Flower Girl builds coverage with each coat, so you control how sheer the base is. Droplets are just little dots and circles of Top Coat, or Clear As Day if you want them more concentrated. Once you've mastered the water droplet French, the outlines in the final stage are an easy way to practise liner work.

Use Flower Girl from the nude range, a slightly transparent colour that's great for French, to draw on the base for your French tip. Cure, then add a second and third coat, curing in between. The more layers you use, the more coverage you get, so stop when you reach the sheerness you want.

Pop little circles and dots of Top Coat over the nail. If you want the droplets more concentrated, you can use Clear As Day instead, as it won't move around like Top Coat does. Cure. This water effect with a clear tip is the first finished look.

Take Pink Grapefruit and apply it over the rest of the nail. The water effect under a slightly pink nail is the second finished look.

Take Flamingo Fizz and outline the smile line, starting with a little dot where you want to begin.

Using the same Flamingo Fizz, paint a cut-out design on the edge of the nail.

Once the sides are done, use Spill It, a bright hot pink, to add the next part of the design, and finish with a little extra line.

Use Glastonbury Nights, a super bright purple, to outline the inside of the pink.

Top Coat over the whole nail to finish the funky third design.

• Control sheerness with layers. Flower Girl builds coverage with each coat, so choose how many layers to use.
• Use builder for tighter droplets. Clear As Day holds its place better than Top Coat if you want concentrated droplets.
• Stop at any stage. Each step of this nail works as a finished design on its own.
• Start outlines with a dot. Placing a little dot where you want the smile line outline to begin helps you control the line.

A water droplet French is great for anyone who loves a natural, understated nail but wants something a little different from a classic French. The first stage is simple enough for beginners, while the outlined third stage gives more experienced nail artists a chance to practise liner work with bright colours.

For nail techs, this tutorial is a handy way to offer clients three options from one technique. Clients who prefer something subtle can stop at the water droplet French, while those who want more colour can carry on to the pink jelly or funky outlined finish.

Using the same products and techniques, you could:

• Stop at the first stage for a minimal water droplet French with a clear tip.
• Finish at the second stage for a soft pink jelly nail over the droplets.
• Use Clear As Day instead of Top Coat for more concentrated droplets.
• Mix the three stages across one set, with different nails at different stages.

A little aftercare goes a long way with any gel manicure. Apply cuticle oil regularly to keep the skin around your nails hydrated, and wear gloves when cleaning or washing up to protect the finish. Avoid using your nails as tools, and don't pick or peel at the gel, as this can damage the natural nail underneath. When it's time for a change, have the gel removed properly rather than peeling it off.

Pop little circles and dots of Top Coat over the nail, then cure. For more concentrated droplets, use Clear As Day instead, as it won't move around like Top Coat.

Meg uses three coats, curing in between. The more layers you use, the more coverage you get, so stop when you reach the sheerness you want.

Yes. Each stage works as a finished design on its own: the water droplet French with a clear tip, then the soft pink jelly version.

Flamingo Fizz for the smile line outline and cut-out edge, Spill It for the hot pink details and Glastonbury Nights to outline the inside of the pink.

From a minimal water droplet French to a soft pink jelly nail and a funky outlined finish, this tutorial gives you three looks in one. Watch Meg's full video tutorial above, gather the products listed and choose your favourite stage of the water droplet French.