8 Types of Nail Shapes That You Need to Know Before Getting a Manicure

Attractive and neatly made nails speak volumes about the diva in you and the care and attention that you devote to the smallest details of your overall look. From soft round to sharp stilettoes, we have curated some of the best natural nail shapes for you to choose from if you are going for a manicure at a salon or want to file your nails at home.

Different Types of Nails

1. Round Nails

Neat and elegant, this is the classic style of nails. This is an excellent option for someone who wants a simple manicure. Free of ridged edges that catch on things, these nails are tough to break and last long.

Best suited for: Shorter fingers with short or narrow nail beds as this nail type gives an elongated appearance.

Style them with: Any shade of nail polish

2. Oval Nails

This nail style gives a slim, feminine look to long nails. They are filed at their sides in addition to the tips to give them the oval shape. They look appealing in bold and unconventional shades and are easy to file at home.

Best suited for: Shorter fingers or smaller hands with broad and stubby nail beds as this nail shape gives the illusion of length.

Style them with: Nail art, metallic and red nail polish

3. Square Nails

They look stylish with clean cuts and are low-maintenance. If you spend a long time typing on the keyboard, this practical nail shape is for you. Don’t go for this if you have short nails as it can make your hands appear stumpy.

Best suited for: Long or short fingers with narrow and long nail beds.

Style them with: Glossy, metallic and plain nail polish in solid dark colors, geometric and negative space nail art

4. Squoval Nails

This kind of nail is essentially square-shaped with rounded edges. The functional nail shape is pretty easy to maintain and anyone can pull off this look.

Best suited for: Any hand or finger size with wide and long nail beds.

Style them with: Geometric nail art, dark nail polish

5. Almond Nails

When filing your nails in this shape, take care to align the narrowest part of the nail tip with the center of your nail. Though it looks stylish, this type is not one of the most practical ones. If you do a ton of work with your hands, you are likely to end up breaking your almond nails.

Best suited for: Long or short fingers with narrow and long nail beds.

Style them with: Glossy, metallic and plain nail polish in nude shades

6. Coffin or Ballerina Nails

This unique type has a tapered end that is squared off. Though this nail shape looks glam, they are high maintenance. They turn the spotlight on you at special events, but they can be quite impractical to carry while you are going about your daily chores.

Best suited for: Any hand size with long and narrow nail beds. Go for a short coffin nail look if you have a short nail bed.

Style them with: Acrylic or gel nail paint in pale colors

7. Stiletto Nails

These pointed nails are a bit loud and are high maintenance. However, they can create quite a bold style statement. You need to have long nails to flaunt this style. Be careful with them as they’re easy to break.

Best suited for: Small hands or short fingers since they give an elongated appearance.

Style them with: Fancy and ornate nail designs, ice cream cone nail art, gem and glitter nail polish

8. Lipstick Nails

Shaped like a fresh tube of lipstick, these nails look gorgeous at weddings and proms. But they are not for routine heavy usage of hands. These unique nails are not the best candidate for nail art or fancy designs.

Best suited for: Long or short fingers with wide nail beds.

Style them with: Nudes and solid colors of nail polish

If you have chubby fingers and you want them to look long and slender, try out almond and stiletto styles of nails. The strongest and healthiest nails are those that are cut short and round. Oval, almond, stiletto and ballerina nails are for women with medium or long nails. So the next time you visit the nail salon, you would be in a good position to decide what type of nails you want to get done.