Kelsea Ballerini’s Soft French Manicure Is a New Take On a Beloved Classic

As the latest glam girl to grace the cover of Byrdie, it’s evident Kelsea Ballerini knows a thing or two about beauty and charm. And if you don’t know more than a thing or two about the country star—allow us to introduce you by way of her take on a classic French manicure.

Though she stormed onto the country music scene in the early 2010s, Ballerini is one of those celebrities who feels like she’s been around forever. Which isn’t to say her energy isn’t fresh, there’s just something comfortable about her appearance on a red carpet. Thus, when she showed up for our cover shoot, she needed a manicure with a similar classic-yet-intriguing aura.

Kelsea Ballerini’s Classic French Manicure

Ballerini’s Classic French manicure was the work of nail artist Aki Hirayama, who put a lot of thought into the soft almond shape.

“While French manicures are a well-known design, the overall look can vary depending on the shape of the nails, their balance, and the base color,” she tells Byrdie. “For Kelsea’s French manicure, I carefully considered the balance between the base and the C-curve of the white tips to enhance the beauty of her hands.”

To get that perfect almond, the artist used Après Nails gel and extensions. The base color was a custom-made sheer beige-pink—another point for individualizing your manicure, no matter how simple a design.

How to Get the Look

If you’re looking to get the look yourself, Hirayama recommends taking things easy and going the press-on route.

“Doing a French manicure yourself requires some technique, but using press-on tips can make it easy to do a DIY manicure at home,” she says. Or… you could try it out. Practice makes perfect, so settle in, and add a new trick to your repertoire.

The ’60s-Inspired Looks

For the photoshoot, Ballerini dressed up in a number of retro outfits, posing on simple, carpet-covered sets that gave the shoot an energy reminiscent of promo stills from your favorite ’60s movie. For the cover, she gave the no-pants trend a spin with a turtleneck bodysuit and pair of sheer black tights. Her hair was swept back into a tight bun, while her eyes were enhanced with winged liner.

In other shots, she wore a black headband with her blonde locks sleek and straight. The tights, or a similar piece of hosiery like the humble tube sock, were also a constant. Classics are classics for a reason.