ASK ANA
“I have recently subscribed to your (awesome) NAILS HQ Magazine and I was wondering if there is any benefits to any of the nail shapes around.
I much prefer oval tips but when I see (usually acrylic) others the majority are square.
So is there a benefit in strength or stability (less chipping/splitting) in any particular nail shape or is it just personal preference? Thanks in advance.” ~Marlene
ANSWER
Usually the most flattering nail shape the is the one that mirrors your cuticle line.
If you have very round cuticle lines, then you are going to do better with round or squoval.
If your cuticle lines are more square than you will do well with square or squoval.
Women who have a strong c-curve tend to have more trouble with square, because the sides start to curve in too much causing the corners to break.
They’ll start filing the corners off … and at the extreme, end up at the almond or stiletto shape.
Depending on the thickness, or thinness, of the nails, almond and stiletto shapes can suffer from more side tears.
In the example above, you can see that based on the drawn cuticle lines, the shapes that look best are Square Oval (often referred to as Squoval), Round, and Square with rounded corners, (which to me looks the same as Squoval.)
In the example to the left, you can see that the nail shape actually follows the shape of the cuticle line.
I find it fascinating that they determine which shape is correct vs. incorrect. We obviously see all of them in the nail world.
My favorite shape is squoval even though my cuticle lines are more on the rounded side, except for my thumb nails, which are very square shaped.
If you like the squoval shape, I wrote an article about how I shape mine.
In Conclusion
Ultimately, it’s personal preference and what works with your lifestyle.
If you liked this article . . . please share!
I found this article very interesting. My nail beds are quite rounded and although I prefer the look of oval nails, I often file mine square when one breaks as I believed it would help growth and strength. Also, I do have trouble with square as I do find that the edges of my nails curve in/under once the free edge reaches a particular length (around 2mm). I will definitely keep this article in mind when I do my next manicure.
I’m still trying to figure out my nail shape 🙁 I have had artificial nails for years and always had them square, but not severe, rounded off. I know, as well have been told that I have tiny nail beds which is why I found it hard to take care of my natural nails. I will be studying your nail guide and after learning so much on your site have made it a mission to baby my cuticles, even though the sides are always hard. Thanks so much for the great advice!