This is a general rule of thumb — the shape of your nail alters the mood of your manicure. Imagine crowding your bitten-to-blunt nails with rhinestones. Now — imagine attaching these itsy-bitsies to stiletto-shaped nails instead. Yeah — that’s it. That explains why understanding nail-shapes matters. Did you know that square-shaped nails are a no-no for stubby, short fingers? Or that an oval-shaped nail plays into the illusion of narrow nail-beds? This story is a masterclass in nail-shapes, and how to pick one that’ll flatter you the most. Ahead — a breakdown.
This Is The Only Way You Can Truly Nail The Nails
Round
This is a low-maintenance nail-shape that features a curve around the tip — like the arch of a circle. It’s perfect for those with shorter and wider fingers. This shape elongates — making your digits look narrower and thinner. It works for those with wide nail-beds too. It makes the fingers look longer and thinner. If you work with your hands a lot, you’ll find compatibility in a round-tipped nail because it’s snag-free, short, classic, and versatile. You don’t have to frequent the salon to maintain the shape — a filer does the job.
Oval
This one’s a lot like round-shaped nails — just that it features a more accentuated egg-like slope around the edges that elongates the fingers even more — making shorter look longer, and wider look slimmer. This one’s feminine, and ideal for those who want a little bit of length on their nails without having to commit to blunt, sharped-edged tips. Remember that your nail has to grow past your fingertip to be able to achieve this shape — stick to round-shaped tips until they grow longer.
Almond
An almond-shaped nail looks a lot like an oval-shaped nail; but the tip is slimmer than the base, and the edges, though rounded, are pointy and slim. This one’s modern and sexy, and lengthens shorter fingers and slenderises wide nail-beds instantly. This chic nail-shape will not work on short nails though.
Square
A square-shaped nail flatters long, slender fingers, narrow nail-beds, and thin hands — it displays straight, precise edges along with squared-off tips. If you’re looking to elongate, this isn’t the shape for you because it widens the nail, and can make your fingers look stubby; but if you prefer an edgy, neat aesthetic more, you can try shaping your nails like this. Since this shape is a little more durable than the rest, it’s low-maintenance too.
Squoval
Take a square-shaped nail, and round it off around the edges — you end up with the ‘squoval’. This shape mimics the shape of the cuticle, and for most people, this is the way in which their nail grows naturally. And that’s why it flatters all fingers — though it does look best on nails that aren’t longer than the fingertip. You can maintain the shape at home easily.
Coffin/Ballerina
Coffin is popular among long-nail lovers. It bears a resemblance to a coffin or ballerina pointe show, and is long and narrow in appearance. It’s tapered on the sides, and features a squared-off tip. If your nails and weak and brittle, you might want to avoid this shape — or recreate the look with acrylics instead.
Stiletto
The Stiletto displays the sharpest tip ever — much like a talon. It’s noticeable and obvious — so if you want to make a statement, you know the stiletto will help you make a point. You will need gel or acrylics to wear this shape. Remember that this shape is the toughest to maintain, and it’s most susceptible to breakage. You can play the shape up with gems and rhinestones.
Which one are you choosing this time?
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