Between the excitement of nail salons reopening and the promise of summer to come (hopefully), there has been a noticeable shift in the types of manicures that I've spotted on Instagram lately.

Gone are the neutral colours and basic shades that all the chicest women were stepping out in earlier this year and in their place, a riot of cute nail art and pastel hues. As someone that always has a saved folder that's bursting with nail designs, I have to say that I'm thrilled with this shift to embrace colour and pattern for the season ahead. That being said, I'm well aware that checkerboard nails and rainbow manis aren't for everyone, which is why I'm so excited about this emerging nail trend which I think even nail art cynics will adore: the colourful French-tip manicure.

Embracing all of the fundamentals of the timeless French mani (glossy finishes, perfectly groomed nail beds and a neutral base), the 2021 twist sees those classic white tips given a colourful makeover. I first spotted manicurist Harriet Westmoreland experimenting with tips slicked with shades of soft apricot or pretty lilac on her clients and since then have seen the coolest girls sharing everything from cerulean blue-topped manicures to mix-and-match tips. Let's just say I'm totally obsessed.