The Gray Nail Trend Is Still Going Strong With Gabrielle Union’s French Manicure

Although it might have not been quite as abundant as white and white-adjacent nails last year, gray nail polish was definitely one of the more neutral nail polish colors having a major moment in 2023.

The actor and entrepreneur posted a closeup of her hand to her Instagram Stories on Friday, March 1, welcoming the new month with a new French manicure. “When the nails match the coat,” she wrote, tagging her go-to nail artist, Thuy Nguyen. But don’t let the fact that it’s a French manicure fool you — the coat isn’t a sheer pink or white like a traditional French might suggest.

Instead, the base of Union’s French manicure is an unexpected shade of gray — rich enough to work for what’s left of winter, but also light enough to start welcoming the upcoming switch to spring. And yes, it’s a nearly perfect match for the gorgeous gray coat she’s wearing.

Just like a conventional French manicure, this relatively shortly, rounded take on the classic features white tips, but that gray base gives it such a fresh look — one that’s just as fun as some of the bolder, brighter versions of a French manicure, but still subtle and chic.

Looking for a gray like Gabrielle Union’s to give it a try yourself? We’re big fans of Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro in Grey Day, as well as Zoya Professional Lacquer in August.

About The Author

Hannah Jackson

Hannah is a fashion writer at Vogue. She wrote for in Elle, The Cut, Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, Architectural Digest, W, and elsewhere. She is based in New York.

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