When I was little, I knew of only two nail shapes: dagger (like that of my then mean older cousin — ouch) and bitten down to the nubs (like me — also, ouch). While you can wear your nails however you please, I've got some guidelines on choosing which nail shape might suite you best.
Generally speaking, try to match the shape of your cuticle to your free edge (the part you are filing). This will give you the most complementary finish. Another basic guideline is to shape the nail to give the illusion of elongated fingers. Remember to file nails in one direction, and check out some more tips below:
Oval — Looks good on most, particularly short, wide fingers.
Round — Great for short nails and those with very active hands, since round tends to break less.
Almond/Pointed — Elongates petite hands and fingers. It's also a very of-the-moment style, according to nail guru Deborah Lippmann.
Square — Works well to balance out long, narrow fingers.
Squoval — Softens wide nail beds. Also works well for short, wide fingers or long, big fingers.
Miu Miu
Too Faced
Juicy Couture
So what if all but my index finger's cuticle bed are shaped square-ish, and my index fingers' beds are oval?
1This totally helps me in picking my nail shape. I have short skinny fingers with long nails that grow really fast
2All my fingers are naturally shaped square except my thumb nail! That one shapes into an oval! So my thumbs are the only nails I ever work on!
3Good deal, I have the right shape for me already.
4Hi ladychaos, you could always do squoval. Let me now how it works out!
5Where can I find a picture of Almond/Pointed shape? I don't know what does that look like.
6when I've tried square, it always seem like I chipped/broke my nails. I'm pretty low maintenance these days, and so my nails are very short
7I have mine squoval. My finger nails never get very long because they break so easily, and this shape tends to break the least on me.
8i love my nails a regular lentgh and
9very square, it makes my polish
look prefect.
I like oval or sqoval on me best. I hate the really long, really square-shaped nails. They just look so fake.
10For my wedding I went with a traditional oval and the lady at the salon told me it made me look like an old lady!!
I usually go for the squoval otherwise. Or the square if the technician can't understand what that means.
11Nifty.. and useful! Thanks Bella!
12I've always loved oval/squoval but the daggone nail people always want to talk me into square! I HATE square. Now I know that my instinctive choice was right for MY fingers ... thanks Bella!!
13Nice tips
14I do square or squoval. I have very long, slender fingers so those shapes work best on me.
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