Nails

Nail art is a cool way to show off your personality and personal style. Some women prefer the natural look, while others prefer to add tips and created different shapes. Below are some of the most common nail shapes you will come across.

 

SQUARE

Created by allowing the nail to grow out straight and then filing the tip straight across at right angles with the rest of the nail plate. This is again quite a strong nail shape but is not particularly flattering. Short square shaped nails can make hands look blunt and heavy. This is best for drawing attention to long nails.

SQUARE WITH ROUNDED CORNERS/ SQUOVAL

As per square nails but followed by rounding off the corners of the nails. A softer look than severely square shaped nails and less likely to catch on clothing etc. This is also very flattering on long nails.

ROUNDED

Ideal for shorter nails, the nail is allowed to grow out straight at the sides for approximately 1.5mm and then the tip is filed into a rounded shape. This is a strong shape which is great for those who keep their nails short.

ALMOND

Thought of as the classical nail shape the nail is filed away at the sides and softly pointed at the tip. This shape is not very strong and if the nail is damaged some of the length will have to be filed away to rectify. Although attractive, this shape does not allow nails to grow to their maximum length, if this is what is desired.

OVAL

File the tip of the nail into an egg shape, and file away some of the side of the nails, this does weaken the nails to some extent but is ideally suited to nails that are thick or wide as it gives them a more delicate appearance.

SQUARE OVAL

As the oval shape but followed by squaring off the tip, this gives the nail tip strength over the oval shape.

POINTED/STILETTO

Nails are filed away at the sides to a point at the tip; this shape is very weak as the sides of the nail (which provide the strength) are totally lost.

Source: Sally Hansen