A Complete Guide To All Nail Shapes 2025 in The UK
Posted on Jun 5, 2023
With so many nail trends being shared on social media and different nail shapes constantly gaining traction, how do you decide which one to request at your next nail appointment?
What You Will Learn
We'll look at the different nail shapes and show you some examples of common nail shapes, along with some tips to help you decide which nail length and shape is right for you.
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How to Choose the Best Nail Shape For You?
Gone are the days when nail shapes were limited. Customers are no longer limited to round or square nails. Instagram content now showcases a variety of options, including edgy nails, lipstick nails, almond nails, and even tubular nails.
With all these options, choosing the best nail shape for yourself can be challenging. While there are no hard and fast rules about what type of nail shape you should choose (you should always choose what works for you), here are some guidelines to help you.
Natural Nails
If you insist on a natural nail shape, your nail technician will unlikely recommend a nose pin, flare, or stiletto shape.
These shapes work best with acrylic nails or require filling the nail bed for extra support. Instead, consider rounded or almond-shaped nails to add length.
Lifestyle Factors
Specific nail shapes work best for you if you use your hands or are looking for easy-to-care-for nails.
Rounded nails or square or rectangular shapes are some of the most common nail shapes for this reason. Close to their natural shape, short square or round nails don't get in the way of your work. They also tend to always be stylish and long-lasting.
Nail Length
Right angles or dramatic points, like those stiletto nails you've seen on Instagram lately, may look great on screen, but they can break more easily than rounded edges.
If you're trying long nails for the first time, we recommend sticking to rounded nails, oval nails, square-shaped nails, or almond nails. In fact, even short almond-shaped nails or round nail shapes can create the illusion of length.
However, some variations of square nails, such as ballerina nails (also known as 'coffin nails'), flared nails, and lipstick nails, all require a longer length to create the look of the nail. If you've ever seen a stiletto nail, you'll know that they are incredibly long.
Popular short nail shapes include round, oval, and square nails with soft edges. If you prefer square nails but want them to be short, ask your manicurist about square nails - this square shape can be made as thin as you want.
Finger Length
So, what nail shape looks best on people with long or short fingers?
Rounded or oval nails add length and give short fingers an elegant shape; almond shapes also have this effect. Avoid blunt or sharp edges if you want to lengthen your fingers.
On the other hand, square or rectangular nail shapes can make long fingers look more flattering. In general, longer fingers are better suited to more dramatic shapes like stiletto nails, flared nails, and ballerina nails.
If you're looking for the best nail shape for long fingers, try almond, round, or oval nails (or tubular nails if you're feeling adventurous). They can add length and thickness to your nails.
Nail Beds
Nails of different shapes should reflect or complement the client's nail bed. Choose a round or oval shape if your nail bed and cuticles are round or narrow. An almond shape or a soft square will work well if you have a long nail bed.
Nail Design
Maybe you've been browsing tubular nail Instagram content or into bright nail polish, nail art, or stiletto nails with pointy tips. You may want to get a classic French nails tip the next time you visit a nail salon.
Your nail art and colour will also influence your chosen nail shape. If you're going for a bold colour block or funky nail art, you'll want a round or oval nail shape, and if you're going for a delicate design, you'll want a nail shape with tapered edges or a square tip.
Of course, you can also wear stilettos, lipstick, or tubular nails with bright, bold designs. The important thing is to think about how your nail polish and art choices will work with your other nail shapes.
Different Nail Shapes to Choose From
You might need to figure out where to start with so many different nail lengths and shapes - short nails, long nails, thin and pointed nails. Here's a guide to shape your nails and the shapes you'll see most often.
Almond Shaped Nails
Almond-shaped nails take the oval further, trimming the edges into a dramatic almond shape. Because they require extra support at the edges, they typically use shapes for acrylic or gel nails.
Popular almond-shaped nail designs are often simple or two-tone, drawing attention to their length and elegant shape. Of course, almond nail Instagram content gets creative, adding swirls of colour or bold designs.
Oval Nail Shapes
Oval nails are a classic choice because their edges are filed into a more pronounced curve, giving the effect of appearing longer than round nails. Oval Nail Instagram content is full of colourful art, and for a good reason: it's a slightly larger canvas, and the simple shape allows the art to stand out.
Coffin Shaped Nails
The coffin nail is a nail shape that was popular in the early 2000s and has recently returned. Coffin nails are long nails that taper slightly in the front and have a square tip. One of the most popular acrylic nails shapes right now, the coffin nail shape can be difficult to wear and maintain.
Round Nail Shapes
This is a classic round shape that literally follows the natural curve of the fingertip. This round tip makes the nail look longer and looks great on people with shorter nails. It's also easy to maintain and a very practical choice.
Accessorize with a bold manicure or art - tons of round-nail Instagram content shows off fun colour trends.
Ballerina Nail Shape
The ballerina nail shape is almost the same as the tubular shape, but the edges are slightly rounded instead of square. Therefore, ballerina-shaped nails look softer but not as dramatic.
Square Nails
Square nails are nails with a flat top and sharp edges. They can be worn as long square nails or short nails and are an excellent choice for offsetting narrow nails.
As with any sharp point, square corners are more prone to breakage than round or oval, so stick to shorter nails if you still need to get more comfortable with the length.
Squoval Nails
A combination of square and oval nails, this shape works well with broader and longer nail beds, which means anyone can pull it off, and it's an exquisite, feminine, yet practical choice for those who work with their hands or want something low maintenance.
Stiletto Nail Shape
This is an acrylic nail shape with a pointed tip that requires a lot of support to create a dramatic look. Similar to an almond nail but sharper, these nails are affected and unforgettable. They are also very bold and require regular care.
Lipstick Nails
If you search for lipstick nail content on Instagram, you'll see that this trend has recently exploded in popularity with fun colours and bold art. The non-traditional shape pointed at one end like a lipstick tube, lends itself to a playful, trendy aesthetic.
Edge Nails
This a nail that celebrity manicurists would be proud to tackle, with edge nails filling in the centre of the nail and filing the ends into a sharp, angular shape like an actual arrowhead. These nails are dramatic and glamorous but require regular fillings to keep them looking great.
Flared Nails
Unlike other nail shapes, acrylic flared nails (which must be acrylic to achieve this look) protrude beyond the nail bed, appearing wider. If this nail shape works for you, you can make it stand out with bright colours or colourful art.
Arrowhead Nails
Another pointy nail style, the arrowhead nail combines the best of the stiletto nail and the almond nail. They're much shorter than stilettos but still add a dramatic point, which is excellent if you want to try a new look.
Conclusion
Whether scrolling through square nail Instagram content, searching for tubular nail designs, or looking to update your look with a classic circle manicure, picking your next nail upgrade can be fun.
One of the best things to remember when choosing a nail look is that changes don't have to be permanent - manicures can be updated and undone relatively quickly, so why not experiment?
Citations
Nail anatomy
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article
Finger nail plate shape and size for personal identification–a possible low technology method for the developing world-Preliminary report
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajhs/article
Physics of nail conditions: why do ingrown nails always happen in the big toes?
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088