How do I know what nail shape is best for my hands?

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.

What nail shape suits mature hands?

Opt for a slightly rounded or oval shape , as it can give the illusion of longer and more youthful-looking fingers.

How do I choose my nail type?

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.

What is the most feminine nail shape?

Oval-shaped nails are considered classic and feminine, being similar to an almond but a bit more blunt. They have softly rounded edges that follow the natural shape of the fingertip, helping elongate nails in both width and length. Square-shaped nails have straight, flat edges and sharp corners.

What nail shape is the classiest?

If you prefer a classic and elegant look, you may want to choose a round or oval shape . If you prefer a more edgy or dramatic look, you may want to choose a square, stiletto, or coffin shape.

What nail shape is in style in 2024?

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.

What is the most attractive nail?

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.

What is the healthiest nail shape?

Pointed (Arrow Head) Best for short, stubby finger, this shape elongates and slims. Of all of the shapes, round and square are best for nails that are sturdy and healthy.

What is the most youthful nail shape?

I recommend keeping your nails short and in a squarish oval shape – “squoval” – in order to keep your hands looking youthful.

What do healthy hand nails look like?

Healthy fingernails are smooth, without pits or grooves . They're uniform in color and consistency and free of spots or discoloration.

What nail shape is least likely to break?

Round Nails This style keeps the natural shape of your nails and can help strengthen your nail beds. If you want healthy nails that are less likely to break, then round nails are a must-have style.

What does your nail shape say about your personality?

If your nails have circular edges with rounded tips, you have a round nail shape. If you have Round Nail Shape Personality, your unique personality traits may be being calm and collected . You are not easily flustered or stressed. You tend to take things in stride.

How to Pick the Best Nail Shape for Your Hands, According to Manicurists (2024)

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

How to Pick the Best Nail Shape for Your Hands, According to Manicurists (1)

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.

Ideal for: Short fingers with wide nail beds

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Oval

How to Pick the Best Nail Shape for Your Hands, According to Manicurists (2)

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

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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

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"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.

Almond

How to Pick the Best Nail Shape for Your Hands, According to Manicurists (5)

"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

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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

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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

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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.