It’s the best accessory one can flaunt. You may try and deny it, but the moment you see a pair of filthy, unkempt-looking nails, you aren’t exactly going to jump at the possibility of signing a partnership with this person! So, having perfectly manicured nails is your new beauty goal. However, the variety of nail shapes that you can opt for may plague you. Square? Oval? Squoval? To the uninformed, it could be very complicated, but worry not! We have got you covered. Here’s a comprehensive rundown on the various nail shapes. Let’s check them out, shall we?
Round Shaped Nails
This is probably the easiest shape to maintain. If you want something low maintenance but still want your nails to look great, this is probably the shape for you. This is also very easy to do.
Just shape them square initially, and then follow the natural curve of your fingertips. This is the best look for those who find it difficult to grow out nails.
Oval Shaped Nails
This is considered to be a more traditional shape. It was extremely popular in the late 1900s and early 2000s. This nail shape gives your nails a very elegant appearance. To achieve this nail shape, file around the sides to get an egg-like shape. It is great for those with short fingers as it makes the fingers look longer.
Square Shaped Nails
These nails are squarely shaped at the tips. This is probably one of the most prevalent nail shapes. It’s a good choice as far as nail shapes go as the risk of it breaking is less since it follows the natural width of your nails. To get these nails, trim them, and using a nail filer, shape them straight across. Clean up the edges in case of any roughness.
Squoval Shaped Nails
A variation of the square and oval, the squoval or the soft square, is another popular choice in the world of nail shapes. While it is easier to manage because of its rounded edges, the classiness of the square shape remains as is. For these nails, shape your nails in an oval as you normally would, and then shape it across the tip to square it out a little.
Almond Shaped Nails
This one is much like the oval shape, except that it’s a little more pointed at the top. It is wide at the base and slender along the sides. Come to think of it, it takes the appearance of an actual almond. To achieve this, find the centre spot at the tip of the nail and shape both sides so that it makes a peak at the centre point. Then, smoothen it out, so that there aren’t any sharp edges.
Stiletto Shaped Nails
You need some guts to pull this one-off. It’s not very common, but celebrities like Rihanna go for this look all the time. This nail shape gives your nails the appearance of being long and slender. Same as in the case of almond nails, find a centre point and start filing from each side to meet the point. This nail shape may cause the nails to break off quickly so it’s best to use acrylic or gel nails for this one.
Ballerina Shaped Nails
This is a more subtle version of the stiletto nail shape. It follows the same shaping technique. Find a centre point and file the nails along the sides to that point. After that, square out the tips. Doesn’t it look like a ballerina slipper? This one is a good choice if you want to go for something bold, but still keep it comfortable. Due to how long the nails have to be for this type of nail shape, it is recommended that you use acrylic or gel nails.
