Welcome to summer 2026… or is it actually summer 1999? If you’re looking to musician Zara Larsson and her nails for answers, it’s definitely the latter. Apparently we’re not done embracing all things Y2K in our beauty aesthetics; if Larsson’s square-tipped French manicure is any indication, we’re just getting started!
The “Midnight Sun” singer took the stage for the Radio 1’s Big Weekend concert in England in her now go-to manicure: a classic French mani with major Y2K vibes. Her nails were long and filed into a squared-off shape with a thick white tip and milky pink base, just like the French manicure you probably got for prom back in the day. Instead of a straight-across or rounded white tip, Larsson opted for a subtle “V” shape.
The French manicure is a bonafide forever kinda classic. It’s never going away, and why should it? It always looks great, and legions of celebs are faithful fans of the salon style, including Larsson, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato. As Allure previously reported, the French was “invented” back in 1975 for Hollywood movies and became popular in the ‘80s and ’90s, though it did briefly dip in popularity in the nail art-heavy 2010s. “When I was a kid, I spent every waking minute trying to figure out how to do a French manicure,” manicurist Miss Pop told Allure. “I’ve spent so much of my career reimagining it—it’s hard not to. It’s the most natural shape you can possibly do.” Plus, it’s endlessly customizable: play with color, add texture, decorate the tip with rhinestones, get creative! Or, in Larsson’s case, celebrate the classic French in all its old-school goodness.
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Of course, we can’t talk about Larsson without mentioning the other signature element of her glam: her bright, Lisa Frank-esque eye makeup! She teamed up once more with makeup artist Sophia Sinot, who applied a bright turquoise shade to Larsson’s inner corners, blending it out into a true party girl pink and covering the entire lid with rhinestones. We’ve been saying it’s time for a “fun” makeup revival—including body glitter tattoos, like the ones Larsson recently wore, and frosted eyes and lips—so why not go time traveling this summer?