Nail Care

How to Find the Best Nail Shape for Your Hands

Looking for ways to give yourself a makeover? Instead of reaching for the scissors and attempting a haircut, why not reach for a file and try a new nail shape? We’ve scoped out the best nail shapes for your hands, with a few tips to guide you along the way. 

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The world has more nail shapes than we have fingers, but we’re on hand to help you select the right angles for your nails, so you really can enjoy your perfect mani. Before we get started, take a good look at your hands. To flatter those tips, you’ll need to find the best nail shape for your hands by figuring out the shape of your cuticle and nail bed. Simply push back your cuticles with a cuticle stick to look at your true cuticle shape, then get started.

Start shaping by filing the sides down and narrowing them out a bit. Depending on the shape you're going for, you will go more or less narrow. For best results, file in one direction to lessen the fraying of the nail. Once you get the sides down, start to refine the tip to get your final shape.

Short Fingers

Best nail shape for your hands: Round Nails. This nail tip shape elongates your fingers and makes them look slender. Round nails also make wide nail beds appear thinner. Start by filing and following the natural shape of the fingertip. Then, flip your hands and check the symmetry of the curve.

Wide Nail Beds And Long Nails

Best nail shape for your hands: Oval Nails. This runway favourite elongates nails in both width and length. It’s similar to an almond shape but a tad more blunt. File each side of the nail, and slightly curve your file toward the centre of the nail to create an egg-like shape.

To Lengthen & Slim Fingers

Best nail shape for your hands: Almond Nails. Slender at the sides and slim at the base, this is an instantly flattering nail tip shape. File each side of the nail, and shape the tip by narrowing the free edge to create a peak.

Low Maintenance

Best nail shape for your hands: Square Nails. If you have long, narrow nail beds and like a short length, this is the shape for you. Looking for extra length? Acrylic fans rejoice, long square nails are the perfect canvas for trending shades and nail art. Achieve this nail tip shape by filing in a straight line across the free edge.

The Universal Shape

Best nail shape for your hands: Squoval Nails. It looks good on everyone! This universally flattering nail shape looks good on short and long fingers. Part-oval and part-square, this nail tip shape is super easy to maintain on short nails. Start by filing straight across, then round the corners in one long stroke, connecting the free edge together. Flip your hands towards you and adjust as needed.

Short Fingers and Long Nails

Best nail shape for your hands: Stiletto Nails. This is a shape made for long nails (we recommend with acrylics) that ends with a sharp statement point. This is like an almond shape, but more pointed. Find the centre of the nail tip, then shape both sides by filing into a slight taper towards the nail tip. Next, begin shaping the tip by narrowing the free edge to create a peak.

For the Acrylic Enthusiasts

Best nail shape for your hands: Ballerina Nails or Coffin Nails. This shape requires salon maintenance. Long, slim, and squared off at the tip, this suits long, slender fingers and angled cuticles. They’re called ballerina nails (or coffin nails) as the tip resembles a pointed shoe. Looking for something with a bit more edge? Try a related shape with coffin nails, this nail tip shape is slightly more angled than ballerina nails and is less rounded when it comes to the sides of the nail.

The Influencer

Best nail shape for your hands: Lipstick Nails. Be a trendsetter! Like your favourite shade, this squared nail style slants diagonally for a seriously unique nail shape.

The Diva

Best nail shape for your hands: Long Square Nails. If you have long, narrow nail beds and prefer a long length or acrylics, this is the nail tip shape for you. Trending shades and nail art like an ombre look well on long square nails. Achieve this shape by filing in a straight line across the free edge and parallel to the sidewall. Perfect for filing down into other shapes when wanting to switch up for something different. This shape is also one of our fave nail tech @chaunlegend's signature shape for the Kardashians.