While the colour and pattern of your finished manicure is important, it’s also really important to consider what nail shape you’ll choose. Nail shape choice can be determined by trends but often the best nail shape for you will be determined by how much they suit your hands and the type of activities you generally do.
Why nail shape matters?
Obviously fashion and trends play a part in the nail shape you’ll want to choose. According to Cosmopolitan, extended square nails (or “square stiletto”) have been very on-trend in the second half of 2021.
Nail strength also plays an important role in your choice. This is especially true if you are shaping your natural nail as opposed to acrylic or Gel nails. Usually, the longer your nail shape you want, the weaker it will be. If you are looking for nails that are less likely to break, then you’ll want to choose shapes such as oval, natural and almond as these replicate the natural shape of your nails. Whereas nails with sharp edges will tend to catch and break more easily.
Different types of nail shapes
There is a huge variety of nail shapes around now and new, creative shapes crashing on to the scene all the time. The chart below shows some of the most popular nail shapes.
Nail shapes to suit your hands
This is a general guide for thinking about the types of nail shapes that will suit your hands.
Short fingers: Short, round nails help to elongate the look of your fingers.
Wide fingers: Almond shaped nails are great for elongating fingers and giving them an elegant look.
Long fingers: Oval shaped nails embrace the length of your fingers and are a lovely complimentary look.
It’s also worth taking into consideration the activities you’re generally involved in, whether that’s baking, gardening, using a computer all day, as more practical shapes such as oval, almond and square will compliment your lifestyle and help your nails last longer.
So start taking notice of the nail shapes you like, think about the activities you generally do and try out a few different shapes to see which ones suit your hands best. And have fun with it!
Chat to one of our nail technicians about the best manicure nail shape for you by booking a manicure or Gelish treatment in our salon.