Ever wonder what nail shape you should ask for at the salon? Does the length of your fingers or the width of your nail bed matter? Getting a manicure is one of the ultimate self-care activities, but that's not to say it doesn't require some hard decision-making.
Aside from which color to choose, your nail shape can significantly impact the final look of your mani. Some shapes tend to make your fingers look longer, while others make them look wider or more natural. According to experts, your nail shape should follow the natural shape of your cuticle line and accentuate your natural finger shape. Here's what nail artists and manicure experts shared with us.
Mary Lennon is the president and co-founder of Côte, a company that specializes in a nail polish line that's free of the toxins and allergens often associated with the most popular brands.
Amy Lin founded sundays, a New York City-based nail care brand based on the values of individuality, simplicity, andwellness.
Chelsea King—a licensed manicurist and nail artist in Long Beach, California—is a member of VaultBeauty, an online network of cosmetic professionals nationwide.
Deborah Lippmann is a celebrity manicurist and founder of an eponymous line of award-winning products for nails, hands, and feet.
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Round
Round nails mirror the contour of the nail with a circular edge at the tip. If your fingers are short, round nails should be your go-to shape. "It softens and slims the look of wide nail beds and helps shorter fingers look elongated," says Amy Lin.
To achieve this shape, take your file and follow the natural shape of your nail. For best results, make sure the sides are straight and the top edge is rounded.
The oval shape is similar to an almond, but the tip is filed to mimic an egg-like appearance. This elongating shape works well for small hands with shorter fingers. "It tends to make the nail look longer since it's filed in on the sides," says Mary Lennon, "which adds length and subtle drama."
To achieve an oval shape, file how you would for a round shape but make the shape taller and more narrow on the sides.
Ideal for: Small hands with short fingers
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Square
Square nails are straighter on the sides with a blunt top edge. With square nails, you run the risk of your hands looking shorter and stubby because it gives "the illusion of a wider nail bed," says Chelsea King, "but if you have narrow nail beds and long fingers, square nails look very chic because of their sharp edges."
Get the nail shape by filing in a straight line.
Ideal for: Long fingers with narrow nail beds
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Squoval
"A squoval [square-oval] shape is the easiest shape to maintain," King insists. "For most people, it's the way their nails naturally grow, so the upkeep is just about evening out the shape,"
"To get this shape, trim nails [with nail clippers] to the length you want in a square shape, and then use a nail file to round the corners," adds King. This shape is flattering on every finger type because it's the most natural, but it looks best on nails that are not longer than the fingertip.
"An almond-shaped nail is slim on the sides and wide on the base, coming to a rounded peak," says Deborah Lippmann. "This shape will lengthen and make short fingers look slim."
To get the look, file the sides and make sure the tip is narrow, so the free edge mimics a peak shape.
Ideal for: Short, wide fingers
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Stiletto
Stiletto nails are dramatic, long, and filed to a pointed tip. According to Lennon, it's the toughest to maintain because it's the most susceptible to breakage and requires longer, stronger nails.
To create this look, file the sides into a tapered point on the free edge. This shape looks best on long nails, but to maintain it, you need gels or acrylics to reinforce the nails.
Ideal for: Long fingers
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Coffin or Ballerina
Mimicking the shape of a coffin or a ballerina pointe shoe, this shape is tapered on the sides. For this shape, nails "are narrower than your typical square shape with a squared-off tip," Lippman says.
This shape works well for those with naturally strong, long nails and slim fingers. To create it, simply square off the free edge.
Ideal for: Slim fingers with strong nails
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Lipstick
The lipstick shape is one of the most popular among Instagram influencers due to its Insta-worthy ability to make fingers look longer. This shape is flattering on long and short nails.
To achieve this look, try filing "your nails at an asymmetrical angle and creating a diagonal slant that looks like a lipstick bullet," says Lin. "The shape was originally made popular by artist Park Eunkyung of Unistella Nails."
Ideal for: Short fingers with long or short nails
How to Keep Your Nails Shaped at Home
As for keeping one's nail shape at home—whether they're polished or not—Lennon offers these tips:
Use a finer-grit nail file that is less aggressive as the nails grow out, and you touch up the initial shape.
"Make sure when shaping with a file to keep all motion in one direction and to avoid a 'sawing back and forth' motion," advises Lennon. "This gives more control and minimizes tearing at the raw edge, which can actually make the nail jaggedand cause polish chipping." Lennon adds that one-directionswipes allow for sealing and smoothing the edge as you file.
Once nail filing is done, apply an additional coat of a Quick Dry Top Coat ($21, coteshop.com), "with that all-important swipe across the tip edge to seal," Lennon continues. This refreshes the shine and protects your nail shape and manicure for days to come.
If you have short palms and short fingers, it's best to opt for rounded oval and almond shapes. For longer palms and fingers, consider dramatic stiletto or coffin (or ballerina) shaped styles. Almond shaped nails tend to suit everyone.
If you have short palms and short fingers, it's best to opt for rounded oval and almond shapes. For longer palms and fingers, consider dramatic stiletto or coffin (or ballerina) shaped styles. Almond shaped nails tend to suit everyone.
The best nail shapes for your long and wide fingers:
Almond – The slimmer sides, gentle tapering, and rounded tip of this style make the hands and fingers appear slimmer. The overall effect is more feminine, elegant looking hands.
Oval – This softer, blunter shape makes the fingers appear to be slimmer.
OVAL. The oval shape is considered to be a more traditional shape. It features straight-filed sides with softer, rounded edges towards the top. This shape offers a natural and feminine look.
when choosing a nail shape, there are a few things to keep in mind: your natural nail width, your nail length and your style. if you're unsure where to start, choose a shape that most closely resembles the shape of your cuticles, ie: if you have straight cuticles, choose a square shape.
Nail Shape: Consider the shape of your nails as well. Opt for a slightly rounded or oval shape, as it can give the illusion of longer and more youthful-looking fingers.
According to our trio of manicurist sources, the almond-shaped manicure is the must-have nail look to covet this year. For those new to the nail shape, it features narrow sides and a rounded tip with a subtle point. It's a favorite among fans of lengthening enhancements such as acrylics or gel extensions.
Coming in as one of the most popular nail shapes out there is the squoval nail shape. A blend of the square and oval nail shapes, squoval nails make for an elegant look. Keeping the straight square edge with soft rounded edges, this balanced shape might be your new favorite staple.
When it comes to nail shapes, the latest trends for 2024 are all about making a statement. From the sharp and bold stiletto and coffin shapes to the elegant almond and deep square silhouettes, elongated nails are taking center stage.
If your nails are prone to breakage, it's best to keep them short and round. “You still have options,” Tuttle says. “Think round, oval, squoval or even almond. Round and squoval nails are most resistant to breakage because there are no sharp edges that can cause weak points in the nail.”
The most feminine nail shape is widely considered to be the almond shape . This shape mimics the natural curve of a woman 's nail bed and gives the illusion of longer , more delicate fingers . It is also versatile and can be worn in a variety of lengths and designs .
Red conveys a direct attraction and is associated with sensuality and erotic interest. Black, one of the favorite colors, is considered particularly trendy and is therefore also associated with attractiveness.
Almond. "An almond-shaped nail is slim on the sides and wide on the base, coming to a rounded peak," says Deborah Lippmann. "This shape will lengthen and make short fingers look slim." To get the look, file the sides and make sure the tip is narrow, so the free edge mimics a peak shape.
Whether you're wearing it as a nude or a neutral, brown nail polish is an elegant and classic shade that goes with anything, regardless of the time of year.
The bold and vibrant nature of red nails instantly grabs attention and adds a touch of glamour to any look. Whether it's a romantic date night or a formal event, red nails are a go-to choice for many. The allure of red nail polish lies in its ability to make a bold statement and convey a sense of power.
Surprisingly, after talking to multiple experts, we learned that most say that red is actually the most youthful shade (perhaps that's why we saw so many classic red manicures at the recent SAG Awards). "Nudes and sheer hues bring all the attention to your hands," says Ji Baek of Rescue Beauty Lounge.
Squoval. This is a universally flattering nail shape being a hybrid shape of square and oval. It is one of the most commonly requested styles - squoval nails flatter all fingers and because of this, they never go out of style.
Almond. As the name suggests, an almond-shaped nail has a tip shaped like the narrow side of the popular nut. Slightly longer like an oval nail shape, it starts to get slimmer the closer you are to the tip without it being too pointy. “This is a flattering shape on anyone and probably the most popular,” says Falcone.
"An oval-shaped nail helps fingers look longer and, in turn, makes hands look younger," she explains. Another grooming tip from the pro: pay attention to your cuticles and use regular cuticle oil to prevent dry skin. "Be sure to keep your fingers well-manicured," she says.
100%. “The Russian almond nail shape is a variation of the classic almond shape but with a more pronounced, elongated, and tapered tip,” says Walton. Think of it like a marriage of almond and stiletto nails.
A bluish shade indicates a cool complexion, while a greenish one shows you have a warm complexion. This makes matching easier, since cool complexions ask for cool shades (any tone of green, blue and purple), whereas warm complexions obviously require warm shades (all tones of yellow, orange, red and violet).
Nude and pastel colors are a great choice for short nails, as they actively make them look longer. Because they visually appear like they're continuing your finger line, they make your fingers look thinner and slimmer. For best results, use a color that's a shade lighter than your skin tone.
Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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