Swirly French Tips with Blooming Gel Flowers: Full Client Set with Meg

Recreating a client's inspiration picture is a big part of salon life, and in this tutorial Meg does exactly that on a fresh full set. She creates pale pink swirly French tips with plum-berry accent lines and blooming gel flowers, finished with a gem in the centre of each bloom. It's a summery set with a little hint of autumn.

Swirly French tips are a playful update on the classic French manicure. Instead of a straight smile line on every nail, some tips swirl from a higher point on one side down to a lower point on the other, adding movement and flow. Paired with soft blooming gel flowers and berry-toned linework, the set is pretty, feminine and easy to wear.

This set balances clean lines with soft, diffused florals. Cherry Blossom, a very pale pink, creates a delicate base for the deep and swirly French tips, while Damson In Distress, a plum berry shade somewhere between pink, purple and red, adds contrast. The combination works beautifully as summer turns to autumn.

The blooming gel flowers are the perfect partner for swirly French tips. Placing three petals into uncured Blooming Gel lets the colour spread softly, giving a watercolour effect that contrasts with the crisp tips. A small gem in the centre of each flower finishes the look with a touch of sparkle.

The client's full set was built with Soft Beige underneath. Meg then applies Matte Top Coat as a base, as she finds it gives crisper finishes.

Outline the French with Cherry Blossom, a very pale pink, creating a deep smile line on the little finger and index finger.

On the middle finger and thumb, create a tip design with a swirl: go higher at one end, then swirl down to a lower point on the other side.

Add a second coat of Cherry Blossom to all of these nails and cure for 60 seconds. It's not always needed thanks to the pigment, but it gives a really good contrast with the next colour.

Use Damson In Distress, a plum berry shade somewhere between pink, purple and red, as the contrasting line in the set.

Apply one even layer of Blooming Gel all over the ring finger. Before curing, use a liner brush to pop three Damson In Distress petals on one side of the nail, then repeat lower down on the other side. Repeat on the pinky and index fingers, with just one flower as they already have tips.

Cure everything for 60 seconds. Then use Brush-On Nail Glue to pop a gem in the centre of each flower.

Finish with Top Coat.

• Try matte top coat as a base. Meg finds it gives crisper finishes for her linework.
• Don't cure before adding petals. Place the colour into the Blooming Gel while it's uncured so the flowers can bloom.
• Use a strong glue for gems. Meg relies on the brush-on glue because it holds extremely well.
• Add a second coat for contrast. A second coat of Cherry Blossom makes the Damson In Distress line stand out more.

Swirly French tips are a lovely next step if you're confident with a classic French and want to add movement to your tips. The swirl simply starts higher on one side and finishes lower on the other, and blooming gel flowers are a forgiving way to add florals without detailed painting.

For nail techs, this is a great example of recreating a client's inspiration picture. The mix of deep French tips, swirly French tips and blooming flowers across different fingers makes the set feel considered and personal.

Using the same products and techniques, you could:

• Swap which fingers have deep French tips and which have swirly French tips.
• Add blooming gel flowers to more nails, or keep them to the ring finger only.
• Place one or two flowers per nail, as Meg does across the set.
• Leave out the gems for a softer, more minimal finish.

A little aftercare helps any gel set last. Apply cuticle oil regularly, wear gloves when cleaning or washing up, and avoid using your nails as tools. Don't pick or peel at the gel or gems, as this can damage the natural nail underneath, and keep up with maintenance or have the product removed properly when it's time for a change.

Swirly French tips also benefit from a gentle approach day to day. Because the design mixes clean tip lines with soft blooming gel flowers and small gems, try not to knock or catch your nails on hard edges, and take care with the gems when pulling on tights or brushing your hair. If a gem ever comes loose, resist the urge to glue it back at home and ask your nail tech to reattach it instead. Keeping your hands moisturised helps the pale pink tips and berry linework look fresh for longer.

Start higher at one end of the tip, then swirl down to a lower point on the other side.

Apply one even layer of Blooming Gel and, before curing, use a liner brush to pop three petals of colour into it. Then cure for 60 seconds.

Meg finds it gives crisper finishes for her linework.

Use Brush-On Nail Glue to pop a gem in the centre of each flower, as it holds extremely well.

With pale pink swirly French tips, plum-berry accent lines, soft blooming gel flowers and sparkling gem centres, this set is pretty, seasonal and fun to recreate. Watch Meg's full video tutorial above, gather the products listed and try swirly French tips for your next set.