Insights
Nail Shapes 101: Finding the One That Suits Your Hands
Colour gets all the attention, but shape is what makes a manicure feel right on your hands. Here is the plain guide to the five shapes you will hear about in the chair, and how to pick.
Square is crisp and graphic: straight sides, flat tip. It reads modern and holds nail art beautifully, and it is strongest at shorter lengths where the corners are less exposed to knocks.
Round follows the natural curve of your fingertip. It is the lowest-maintenance shape, the most durable for busy hands, and it quietly makes shorter nails look neat and elongated.
Oval softens everything: tapered sides, rounded tip. It flatters wider nail beds and makes fingers look longer, which is why it has never really gone out of style.
Almond and coffin are the statement shapes. Almond tapers to a soft peak and looks elegant with length; coffin tapers then squares off at the tip and loves bold colour and art. Both suit stronger nails or gel builds that add structure.
The honest answer, though, is that your lifestyle picks the shape as much as your taste does. Tell us what your hands do all day, how long you want to grow, and what you want the set to say, and we will land on the shape you stop thinking about because it just works.