Nail shape inspiration is everywhere, but you're probably wondering – which nail shape suits me? The answer is right in front of you - all you have to do is look at your hands and we'll tell you how to choose the right manicure for them!
Which nail shape suits me – what you should know
Whether you're looking at your girlfriends' nails, scrolling through curated Pinterest feeds, or flipping through a glossy magazine, you're sure to admire an array of Instagram-worthy models. But perhaps the answer you're looking for is a little closer – at your own fingertips. By playing with the shape of your hands, you'll find the best tricks to accentuate the good sides and minimize the not-so-good sides. So what works for which hand types? Well, we'll tell you. But first, let's familiarize ourselves with the wonderful world of shapes you can choose from.
Visual guide to the variety of nail shapes
Which Nail Shape Suits Me – While there are more nail shapes than you can count on both hands, here are a few of our favorites to check out.
- Naturally:Whether straight, wide or slightly unevenly shaped – natural nails grow the way nature intended them to.
- Oval: The oval is a medium to long shape with straight sides ending in a soft semicircle. You don't necessarily need long nails for this, but a few millimeters of free edge that extends past the fingertip is very helpful.
- Square: Another low-maintenance style for both long and short nails, it features straight-filed sides and a straight-filed free edge. The square nail shape is known to visibly widen the appearance of your nails, so you should use it wisely.
- Mandel: Also known as our favorite shape because it looks good on everyone. The almond shape is achieved by maintaining a wide base and filing the sides to a point at the free edge.
- Square Round:The Square Round Nail or Soft Square is just that – a square shaped nail with softer corners. This is a great, low-maintenance shape for growing your fingernails. You can achieve them by filing the sides and top of your nail straight before gently softening the corners.
- Squoval: Imagine a rectangle with soft corners. Very nice. Meet the Squoval, a shape that combines the elegance of the oval with a flatter tip. First file straight across your free edge and then file around the corners in one go.
- Ballerina: The ballerina shape, also known as coffin, is the perfect mix of edgy and feminine. You can achieve this look by filing the nail into a tapered shape with a flattened tip.
Danger! You need long and sturdy nails to achieve the ballerina shape. - Stiletto: For the eye-catching stiletto shape, file your nails into a dramatic point. Although this is usually done with acrylics, you can also achieve this look with bold natural nails.
What is your hand type – This guide will tell you
You don't have to be a palm reader to realize that all hands are unique. The proportions of your palm and the length of your fingers play a role when it comes to finding the best nail shape for your hands. Let's take a closer look at what kind of hands you have:
Long palm, short fingers
- Best Nail Shape: Oval. This shape makes your fingers appear longer and slimmer to balance the length of your palm. File the sides of your nails straight and taper the free edge slightly into a semicircle.
- Best suited for: Dramatic texts and even more dramatic selfies.
- Not so well suited for: A casual game of volleyball.
Wide palm, short fingers
- Best Nail Shape: Almond and Oval. Tapered shapes like almond elongate shorter or wider fingers. We recommend that you generally opt for round shapes, especially if you have a wide nail bed.
- Best suited for: Practical, easy-care clothing.
- Not so well suited for: play guitar or piano.
Wide palm, long fingers
- Best Nail Shape: Ballerinas. The angular ballerina shape is enhanced by long fingers and balanced by a square palm. The nails must be robust and cared for regularly so that they do not break.
- Best suited for: To attract attention.
- Not so good for: Weak nails or short nail beds.
Long palm, long fingers
- Best Nail Shape: Square. You can wear this blunt look at any length. And they are one of the most practical and easy-care forms for work.
- Best suited for: nail art. These little squares are the perfect canvas for your creativity.
- Not so well suited for: To get the last bit of product out of the tube. Excuse me.
Which nail shape suits me – summary
Before you randomly choose nail shapes, we strongly recommend that you:
- Find out what type of hand you have by looking at the proportions of your palm and the length of your fingers.
- Improve and lengthen the look of your nails by combining your hand type with an appropriate shape.
- Check out the full range of shapes before you decide.Tipp: Almond-shaped nails generally suit everyone.
- If you have short palms and fingers, it's best to opt for round, oval, and almond-shaped nails.
- For longer palms and fingers, consider dramatic stiletto or ballerina shapes.Tipp: Short stiletto nails are one of the most attractive nail shapes in 2023! You can choose which designs are sure to delight youfind out here!
Tipp: Incorporate nail care into your beauty routine to strengthen your nails.
