Choosing the right nail shape for your hands: our valuable tips
Round, square, squoval, almond... It's hard to navigate through all the different nail shapes. To help you out, here are our tips for choosing the right nail shape for your hands!
We want to remind you that your hands are perfect just the way they are, and there's no need to "correct flaws" as we might read in some articles. Don't let yourself develop complexes; we all have different hand morphologies. Here, it's simply about enhancing them and enjoying your manicure experience.
With that clarified, let's get started!
Which shape to choose for your nails?
First, you need to observe the shape of your hands, your fingers, and the anatomy of your nails. With all the characteristics you've noted, you'll find it easier to determine which nail shape suits your hands best.
So, what nail shape should you choose? Below, you'll find a review of the different nail shapes that exist, with indications of their advantages and disadvantages, which hands they flatter best, and how to achieve them.
But that's not all; also consider your preferences (most importantly), your activities, your profession, and the arrangement and nature of your nails. In other words, what is most practical and aesthetic for you: long nails or short nails?
The different nail shapes
The round nail shape
Round nails have a free edge in an arc shape. This shape is ideal for short nails, as the roundness takes on an oval appearance and creates a harmonious look. However, it is much more suitable for hands with long, slender fingers and a fairly long nail bed, as round nails can make short fingers and small nails appear stubby.
It can also suit you if the edges of your nail bed are parallel or not perfectly straight.
Confused? The nail plate refers to the part of the nail attached to the finger, while the white part is the free edge of the nail. Also, it's entirely possible to have short nails with a long nail plate. Specifically, you have a short nail where the nail plate makes up a very large part of the nail and the free edge is a tiny part of the nail.
This round shape is easy to achieve; you can round it more or less and accentuate the natural oval of your nail or, conversely, soften it. Note that if you have brittle and fragile nails, this round shape is ideal.
The square nail shape
Let's move on to square nails now. The square shape is considered sophisticated and is particularly suitable for a French manicure. It suits most hands because it elongates the fingers, but it's true that it's more appropriate for nails with perfectly straight sidewalls. It can be worn on both short and long nails. But be aware that on long nails, sharp corners can more easily cause damage.
For this reason, this shape is not recommended if your nails are fragile or if you frequently engage in manual activities. But if you're set on it, then opt for a squoval shape or file them very short, as the square shape can make nails more prone to breaking.
How do you file your nails to get a square shape? Well, you need to file them so that the tip of the nail and the corners are quite clean.
This nail shape has two variations:
- the squoval: a square with more or less rounded corners, it's a good compromise if you want a less strict and more wearable square. You'll also gain comfort.
- the oval square: a smart alternative for nails whose sidewalls are not parallel. These are then filed towards the center of the nail while the tip is filed straight.
The oval nail shape
As for oval nails, the sidewalls are straight, then curve to form a rounded tip. This shape is easy to wear and suitable for all nails.
To achieve this shape, a minimum length is required, otherwise, it will be round. In fact, after some time, your round nail will take on this shape.
The almond nail shape
The almond shape is a more pronounced oval. The sidewalls move towards the center of the nail more sharply, and the tip is still rounded. This shape looks very pretty on long nails (have fun with the length), and it's perfect for nails that narrow as well as for nails with non-parallel sidewalls, as it brings harmony.
In addition, almond-shaped nails elongate the fingers and are very well suited for nail art.
The pointed (or stiletto) nail shape
The stiletto nail shape brings a truly original look to your manicure, but be aware that it can only be achieved on very long nails. Unlike other nail shapes, this time, the sidewalls converge towards the center to meet and form a point. It is more suited to long hands and slender fingers, but it can also flatter smaller hands.
Before shaping, know that it is recommended to either:
- opt for a gel or resin application to make it stronger;
- work directly on your nails only if they are long and healthy.
To achieve this shape, prefer a stone file and file each side of the nail to form a point. Be careful not to hollow out the edges too much, otherwise your nails risk breaking at the slightest impact. Finally, finish by slightly rounding the tip to avoid scratching yourself.
Shapes for artificial nails
And what about artificial nails?
Well, several choices are available to you:
- the edge shape: the nail's sidewalls converge towards the center of the nail, forming a point, like the stiletto shape, with the difference that there is a ridge on top of the nail. It's a very original shape and perfectly suited for nail art.
- the pipe shape: this time the sidewalls are straight and the tip is rounded. It's a good compromise between square and almond for very long nails.
And don't leave so fast!
How to properly file my nail shape?
First of all, make sure you have the right equipment and therefore choose your nail file well.
Know what shape you want to give your nail before you start. Always file according to the shape of your nail and not that of your finger, as the latter may be slightly deformed.
Regarding length, you can decide based on whether you plan to wear your nails bare or with polish most of the time. If you opt for nail polish, consider the length of your free edge relative to the edge of your finger, as the length of the nail plate can vary between fingers.
To do your manicure, never file back and forth; always go in the same direction to avoid splitting or weakening your nails.
Which nail shape did you choose? Did you choose according to the silhouette of your hands?
