Kendall Jenner's Tortoiseshell Tips Are an Updated Version of the French Mani

TORTOISE TIPSKendall Jenner's Tortoiseshell Tips Are an Updated Version of the French Mani And a twist on the American manicure as well. 

By Sara Miranda

December 28, 2021

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If you're looking to amp up your nail art game while still keeping it (relatively) simple, then Kendall Jenner's Christmas manicure may be the inspiration that you never knew you needed. She posted her holiday nail art look to her Instagram story on December 27. 

She paired the photo of her elegant mani with the caption, "tortoise by @lisa_kon_." Nail artist Lisa Kon has painted the model's digits before; in fact, she was also responsible for Jenner's star-studded holiday nails in 2020. Kon shared several photos of Jenner's nails to her Instagram grid as well, and explained the concept behind the design in the caption of one of her Instagram posts. 

"This nail design was a perfect match for her stunningly dramatic black dress from Carolina Herrera, which tapers to reveal her hourglass figure and then spread it out at her feet," Kon wrote. 

Jenner's tortoise tips bear a striking similarity to her zebra-striped manicure that she debuted a few days after Christmas last year. The concept remains the same — an elevated version of the classic French manicure — but last year, the tips were painted with black-and-white curvy lines to mimic the pattern of a zebra's coat.  

Kon also revealed the roster of nail polishes that were used to create the tortoiseshell pattern. All of the nail polishes are from Lisa Kon, her own namesake nail polish brand. She used the colors Coffee Color, Black, Beach Mood, and Mimosa Plant for the tips and Jenner's "always favorite" Builder Gel for the base. 

Courtesy of Instagram/@kendalljenner

This trendy twist on the French manicure shares a similarity with the American manicure, another take on the French mani that's been favored by nail artists everywhere this year. The model's clear base coat is a common characteristic that is shared by the stateside version of the French mani.

Rather than calling the model's latest manicure an updated version of the French manicure, should we call it a new twist on the American manicure? It wouldn't be entirely inaccurate, considering that it was literally made in America. 

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