Essential Nail Shapes You Should Know

Nail shape is a critical factor that nail technicians need to pay special attention to when creating nail designs. Achieving beautiful shapes not only requires skilled hands but also demands a keen eye to select the perfect shape. To gain a better understanding of nail shapes, readers can refer to the information provided by Mytour below.

Why Should You File Nail Shapes According to Hand Shape?

Having stunning nails depends not only on color and style but also heavily on technicians shaping the nails correctly. The more precise the shape, the slimmer, more harmonious, and balanced the hands look. However, achieving the perfect shape is not something everyone can do. It requires skill, experience, and aesthetic judgment of the nail technician.

Choosing the Right Nail Shape

During nail cutting sessions at salons, customers can choose from various nail shapes that suit them: round, square, oval, square oval, pointed, almond, coffin, and stiletto.

1. Round Nail Shape

The round nail shape is the simplest and most common type, suitable for those who regularly do household chores, play musical instruments, or type frequently. The nail tip is filed round, embracing the fingertip to create a tidy, sleek feeling. This shape is perfect for individuals with chubby hands and short fingers as the protruding nail tip helps elongate the fingers, making them appear more delicate.

To enhance the sharpness of the nails, you can opt for nude tones, pink, or peach. Avoid drawing horizontal lines as they can make the fingers appear shorter.

2. Square Nail Shape

Square-shaped nails are perfect for those who already have naturally long and narrow nails, slender hands. With this nail shape, your fingers will appear elongated, especially for those with chubby hands. When shaping, pay attention to filing the nails straight, ensuring square edges to make the nails look more feminine. Some nail polish colors you should choose are geometric patterned, faux marble to create a modern, elegant look.

3. Oval nail shape

Oval nails, also known as egg-shaped nails, have a similar shape to round nails but the nail bed is usually longer. The nail tip and the nail bed together form a complete oval shape, which not only shows a unique charm but also exudes a strong personality. This nail style is perfect for people with wide or square nails, flat fingertip. If you want to create a perfect set of nails, opt for nail polish instead of regular gloss. Avoid letting the nails grow too long if you engage in heavy work daily.

4. Square oval nail shape

The square oval nail shape combines the features of square and oval nails, also known as horizontal egg-shaped or square egg-shaped nails. This nail style helps your hands appear longer, showcasing modern, youthful, and individualistic vibes. If you have slender hands, this is definitely the nail set you should try. Square oval nails are perfect with unique matte-tone nail polish.

5. Pointed nail shape

Pointed nail shape is also a classic nail style, inspired by women's sharp high-heeled shoes. The nails are usually of moderate length, with the sharpness adjusted according to individual preferences. This nail style often requires intricate and eye-catching decorations to create freshness. You will look naturally feminine and confidently radiant in any situation. However, the sharpness of the nails may sometimes hinder your activities. Adding glitter or metallic glossy colors will make your nails stand out, captivating everyone's attention.

6. Almond nail shape

Named after the almond nut due to its resemblance, this nail shape looks very much like an almond. A new, beautiful set of nails will make you look truly feminine and alluring. The only drawback of this nail style is that it requires a certain length, so it's suitable for use with fake nails or with powder or gel overlays. Nail experts suggest using nail polish shades close to your skin tone to make your fingers appear slimmer and more delicate.

7. Coffin nail shape

Coffin nail shape is a modern nail style, very popular in Western countries. With the nail tip rising upward, creating a rounded shape, while the nail head is drawn into a square shape. This nail style suits those with long nails, portraying elegance and power. The coffin nail shape is suitable for every girl, whether applied to natural nails, nail tips, or with powder or gel overlays.

8. Stiletto nail shape

The stiletto nail shape features a square-shaped tip that is cut diagonally on both sides and filed straight along the rounded nail shape. This nail style accentuates modern, youthful, and elegant vibes, currently highly favored in Western countries. Stiletto nails are suitable for both long and short nails, and can be adorned with delicate floral patterns or glitter polish.

Guide to shaping nails for the perfect form

To achieve the perfect nail shape, understanding nail filing techniques is extremely important. Below are some nail filing methods you can refer to.

How to file square nails

The process of filing square nails is as follows:

• Step 1: Trim the nails neatly. Use specialized clippers to remove excess nail by cutting in a straight line to create a basic shape. If the nails have already been neatly trimmed, you can skip this step.
• Step 2: File the nails straight. Use a 240 grit nail file to file the upper edges of the nails straight. If the nails are too short and close to the skin, be careful not to damage the skin underneath.
• Step 3: Check the length of the nails. Turn your hand upside down, with the palm facing upwards, and check the length of the fingers to see if they are even. If not, file them again following the above steps.
• Step 4: Round the corners of the nails. Hold the file at a 45-degree angle to the edge of the nail and file to shape. Pull the file up on the upper part of the nail corner to create a rounded nail shape. Be cautious when using force to file the nails to avoid tearing the skin or damaging the nail surface.

With just a few simple steps, you can easily achieve beautiful square nails. As for decorative patterns, you can choose according to your own needs and preferences. To keep your nails beautiful and long-lasting, wear gloves when working, supplement with biotin-rich foods, and avoid strong impacts as nails are prone to breakage.

How to file round nails

To file round nails, you need to follow these steps:

• Step 1: Trim the nails neatly. Use specialized clippers to remove excess nail by cutting diagonally on both sides to create a basic shape. If the nails have already been neatly trimmed, you can skip this step.
• Step 2: File the nails into a round shape. Use a 240 grit nail file to file the upper edges of the nails in a C-shaped motion to create a round form. Repeat the same on both sides of the nails.
• Step 3: Estimate the middle part of the nail to ensure the deepest part of the C shape is in the center. Continue filing until the nails are perfectly rounded as estimated.
• Step 4: File the entire nail to ensure smoothness, evenness, and a rounded nail shape. This way, you will have simple yet elegant round nails.

How to file oval nails 

For oval nails, follow the video below to learn how to file nails correctly.

Above are details related to nail shapes that Mytour wants to share with you. Hopefully with this information, you will choose a nail shape that suits you and achieve the perfect form. Follow Mytour regularly to update more best beauty care knowledge!