What shape of nail is right for me ?
Beautiful, well-groomed nails perfectly adorn a woman’s hands. Nail polish and other types of permanent manicures play a large role, but the shape of the nails is also important. Nowadays, these shapes are very varied from the most basic to the most eccentric to stick to all styles. The choice of the right nail shape is quite complex, as it depends on several criteria such as the nature of the nail, its length and the shape of the fingers and hands. So, what shape of nail is right for me? Our answers in this article!
What types of natural nails and which hands for which manicure?
When going to nail shops, we are often asked if we want round, square or square nails with rounded edges. It is difficult to answer this question, because we often have no idea what shape will suit us best. However, just look in more detail at the type of hands and shape of our natural nails to answer them. Whether it’s to properly file your nails at home or help your nail prosthetist, here are the tips to choose your manicure:
Nail Health is the key to choosing the shape of your nails. Indeed, we will not choose the same manicure depending on whether they are resistant and thick or soft and brittle. In the first configuration, it is possible to opt for various shapes without limits. If your nails are weakened, it is better to stay careful and choose a simple manicure with nails that are short and rounded enough to avoid breakage.
Hand and finger morphology, it’s easy to see them again. If the lines of your nail are straight and parallel, all the shapes will be made for you, with a special mention for square manicure. If, on the other hand, your nail forms a trapeze (height more flared than the base), an oval shape will be preferred. Note that this latter configuration is the most common among women. Finally, if the fingers are long and thin, one can more afford the rounded and oval forms which, on the contrary, will give a puffy appearance to short fingers.
The last criterion to consider when determining the ideal nail shape is the personal situation. Watch out for long nails that can interfere with many professional and everyday activities, such as caring for children, gardening or tinkering. If you are rather active, choose mid-sized nails and a manicure with semi-permanent varnish, or gel, more resistant than simple varnish.
What are the different nail shapes?
Let’s now look at all the possibilities in terms of different nail shapes:
Almond
Named after the fruit of the same name, the almond shape and evenly rounded at the tip as on the sides. This shape makes it possible to give length to short fingers and visually thin the hand. This shape is flattering and will undoubtedly enhance your hands.
Sharp or stiletto shape
This form, long neglected, is now coming back in force. It is done on long nails and the sides are strongly and lengthily filed to create a tip comparable to a stiletto heel, hence its name of «stiletto». This manicure will significantly lengthen your fingers.
Natural
Ideal for the most pressed of us, this shape is based on the natural shape of the nail for a perfect look and without any surprises. The nail is shortened and filed at the same height everywhere. This allows your nails to look neat without frills.
Square
Popular with American women, the square nail shape is also popular with French women. Easy to maintain, it will magnify long and thin fingers. The sides will not be touched and only the upper part of the nail will be filed. Be careful, the square is not suitable on nails that are too long.
Rounded Square
This is the right balance between square and round and is a shape that has the advantage of going to everyone. As with square nails, the upper part of the nail is filed while slightly rounding the edges. Easy maintenance on short nails!
Rounded or Oval
The rounded shape is quite popular as it takes over the nail matrix while providing a smooth and soft appearance. To make it, just file the entire surface of the nail by creating a semi-circle using its nail file. It is perfect for women who like to have long nails.
Ballerina or Edge
It is an original shape, placed between the square shape and the «styletto». It will sublimate long nails and give them a little rock side. To do this well, you need to create a tip start like the “styletto” nail and then break the tip by filing the top of the nail straight. This shape is particularly good for those with thin and long fingers. On the other hand, it is quite complex to achieve oneself and requires the need to go to an institute.
Note that a new shape appears on beauty tutorials: the lipstick shape, or lipstick shape. It is inspired and resembles the shape of our lipstick for an original and elegant look.
We hope you now know what nail shape is right for you based on the different criteria we reviewed. If you need more information, do not hesitate to get closer to your nail prosthetist who will be able to carry out an accurate and complete assessment of your nail nature. Depending on the results, it will tell you the most appropriate form to give your manicure.
