Nail shape inspiration is everywhere, if you’re looking. But when you look a little closer to home, you’ll soon realize that the best nail shape for you, lies in your hands!

When you play to the shape of your hands, you find the best tricks to accentuating the good bits and minimising the not-so-good bits. So, what works for which hand types? Well, we’ll tell you. But first, let’s familiarize ourselves with the wonderful world of shapes to choose from.

Round.

If you prefer a natural-looking manicure that’s easy to maintain, the round nail shape may be right for you. This shape is the most similar to the ends of your finger, with a rounded top and gently sloping sides. Round nails are for those who prefer to keep them shorter. They also make nail beds appear thinner, look great with any nail polish color, and pair well with most nail designs.

Oval.

If you want to keep the simple look of rounded nails but want them a little longer, oval is your best bet. This gently sloping nail shape will not only help your nails appear longer, but it’ll also help you achieve a more feminine style for your nails. In addition, oval-shaped nails can make your nail beds appear slimmer. This shape won’t take a lot of maintenance and can be used as a canvas for multiple designs.

Almond.

The almond nail shape is one of the most popular choices out there. It’s long, slim, and angular at the top, like an almond. This shape can help elongate your fingers and make them look slender. It’s also growing in popularity because of its chic look and ability to fit with whatever nail color or design you want to add.

Stiletto.

Stilettos taper into an extremely sharp point that could probably cut someone—or at least successfully spear through cheese cubes at a cocktail party. Like coffin nails, these elongate the fingers and are the fiercest shape you can get. Plus, a lot of celebrities wear them. But that's just it—they're made for people who have a glam squad on call and a team of assistants doing everything for them.

Square.

This shape, like round nails, is great for those who want to keep their nails shorter. The difference is that the square nail shape allows you to have a more edgy look you can show off. Square nails look flattering on people with long, slim fingers as the sharp angles highlight the length without overpowering them. As an added benefit, these nails don’t break easily because they aren’t thin at the top, unlike most other nail shapes.

Coffin or Ballerina.

If you love trying out exciting nail trends that bring attention, the ballerina shape may be just what you need. These nails are long, slim, and squared off at the top – much like the end of a ballerina’s shoe. Ballerina nails can be more work to maintain and usually work better for people with sturdier nails that don’t break as often because of their slim point. Although this nail shape requires a little more effort to maintain, it’s well worth it if you wish to achieve an elegant, eye-catching look!

What Nail Shape is in Style For 2023?

The stiletto & ballerina shapes have been popular throughout 2023, particularly on Instagram. Before you go choosing nail shapes willy-nilly, we highly recommend you:  

• Enhance and elongate the appearance of your nails by matching your hand type to a suitable shape.

• Review the full set of shapes before deciding.

• Almond shaped nails tend to suit everyone.

• If you have short palms and short fingers. it's best to opt for rounded oval and almond shapes.

• For longer palms and fingers, consider dramatic stiletto or coffin (or ballerina) shaped styles.

• Incorporate nail nourishment into your beauty routine for stronger nails.