Our article provides detailed instructions for the process of creating a square nail shape at home, as well as important recommendations and advice when such changes are inappropriate.
Advantages of “square” nails
Neil - the design of using a rectangular shape has always been popular to one degree or another since its inception. This is due to the fact that such a model is extremely convenient and provides unlimited scope for excellent design ideas.
There is a so-called “soft” square, when the outer corners are slightly rounded, and a “sharp” one, in which this is not allowed.
Soft square example
Soft square , of course, deserves the closest attention, because such a manicure is distinguished not only by its excellent appearance, but also by its practicality.
The edges of the nail plate will not interfere with everyday activities, and accidental damage can also be avoided.
A sharp square is a little more difficult to perform, and is also only suitable for strong and strong nails. Otherwise, accidental chipping cannot be avoided, which means the loss of attractiveness of such a manicure.
Pros of using square nails:
- Stylish and modern look.
- An ideal combination with any type of nail design.
- Practicality in real life.
- Possibility of execution even on short nails.
- Maintaining the health of the nail plate.
- Easy to do it yourself.
Owners of long and thin fingers should pay special attention to a square manicure. This design will make them incredibly beautiful, but girls with chubby and short fingers are better off using a different type of manicure.
Some recommendations
The creator of “nail contouring” is considered to be the American designer in the nail industry, Jin Soon Choi, the author of the famous brand of decorative varnishes “Jin SOON”. According to her, she “borrowed” this coloring technology from young girls who don’t really “bother” with whether the varnish is evenly distributed along the edges of their nails; they simply run a brush along their center.
A classic French jacket will undoubtedly help to visually elongate short plates, but here you need to place the “smile” line a little higher than its natural border. But if the plates are not only short in length, but also wide, then the white “smile” on the square shape will highlight the unattractive dimensions of the plate much more. If you have this problem, you need to take a closer look at an unconventional version of the French coat - use dark varnish to draw a “smile”. This technique will undoubtedly contribute to the visual narrowing of the plates.- There is also another option for short plates - painting the “square” using the ombre technique. A soft transition of color along the length of the nail will give the illusion of a stretched plate. For plates that have a wide shape, ombre should be done using a vertical technique, marking the center with a light-colored varnish, and making the shades of the edges darker.
- Still short and wide plates will improve the design with vertical lines. They will visually give the desired length and narrow the nails. And horizontal stripes are strictly prohibited.
Simply put, even such a common shape as a “square” requires taking into account many aspects. However, despite the numerous limits , the “square” leaves a huge field for experimentation, so fashionistas will not have to get bored.
Originally posted 2018-03-29 08:49:26.
How to make square nails yourself
A big advantage will be the ease with which you can master a square manicure. Professionals will make this design in a matter of minutes, but you can quickly master this technique at home.
To create a square nail shape you will need:
| Tool | Purpose |
| Knipsers are manicure tweezers with a fairly wide cutting surface. Can be replaced with scissors with straight and sharp blades or special nippers | Trimming the nail plate should occur quickly enough and in one motion to avoid chipping and damage. |
| Nail file. | With its help, you can evenly and accurately cut out the cut edges. |
| A disinfectant, most commonly used nail polish remover. | With its help, you can not only remove the old coating, but also optimally degrease and wipe the nail plate. |
| Nail buff or file with fine abrasive. | Ideal for polishing the nail plate and provides reliable adhesion to the new coating |
Table of tools for creating square nail shapes
Recommendations for creating a home manicure are simple and understandable to everyone. First of all, you need to take care of the health of the nail plate in advance, because any coating on weak and brittle nails will look sloppy. You also need to grow your nails long enough to give them a square shape.
How to make a square shape at home from scratch:
- Remove the old coating , apply a moisturizer or take a nourishing bath with sea salt to strengthen the plate as much as possible.
- Trim the edge of the nail in one motion at the selected distance. The cut should be parallel to the base.
- File the edge of the nail with a fine file. Hand movements should only be in one direction, otherwise the edge will subsequently begin to peel off.
- To create a “soft” square, you also need to trim a little and round the corners . This should be done at an angle of 45º to the base.
- Polishing the cut corners must also be done using a file with a fine abrasive.
- A standard manicure also includes processing and trimming cuticles , as well as polishing the surface of the nail plate with a buff.
- Before applying a new coating, you need to degrease your nails and use a suitable base to strengthen the layer.
It is best to entrust a manicure to a professional who will show you how to correctly and step-by-step carry out this procedure and sharpen your nails correctly.
There is also a little trick that allows you to quickly and easily learn this manicure. To do this, you need to visit the salon several times and carefully watch the movements of the stylist. In between procedures, you can try on your own, and if unsuccessful, come again. This way you can gradually learn how to create a square shape, taking into account the individual characteristics of your nails.
Difficulties that may be encountered
Useful tips for proper manicure and healthy nails:
- You should not get nail extensions if yours are badly damaged. To apply extensions, the nail plates must be completely healthy.
- It is better not to cut the cuticle, but to push it back and lubricate it with special preventive agents: the cuticle protects the nails from infections, lesions, and allergic reactions.
- When filing nails, the movements of the abrasive file should be directed in one direction. Movements of the file in 2 directions provoke splitting of the nails.
- It is better not to use metal files when working on nails. Glass, wood, and ceramic are more suitable.
- To work with natural nails, choose a file coated with a soft abrasive material. A coarse file is more suitable for extended nails.
- Avoid manicure products containing formaldehyde: it negatively affects the structure of the nails and threatens the body as a whole with serious diseases.
- When shaping nails and painting them, rushing is not welcome.
- The degreasing stage cannot be excluded: the working material for extensions and varnish last longer on degreased nails.
- Staying in water for a long time at high temperatures leads to rapid peeling of the varnish.
- It is better not to apply any coating to the nails in one thick layer. Let there be several thin layers: the secret of a proper manicure.
- In order for varnish or any other coating to last longer, it must be sealed during application: the brush with the product is brought to the edge of the nail and grabs the end.
- Acetone is harmful to nails, so it is better to choose liquid nail polish solvents without acetone.
- The process of proper polishing of nails: rub in the healthy oil using finger movements in a circle, continue to rub in the oil with a polishing file until shiny. Do not use the polishing pad on live nails without applying oil. This is allowed on unnatural nails.
- Nail extension products are not beneficial. Vitamin-mineral complexes (the presence of B vitamins), polyunsaturated fatty acids, salt baths, healing and restorative coatings will help strengthen your nails.
- After removing artificial nails, it is advisable to give living nails a rest for 2-3 weeks and carry out a set of therapeutic and restorative measures.
- Before applying colored polish to your nails, use a base coat.
- It is not safe for living nails to wear artificial nails for more than 2 weeks: the gel product hardens, and aggressive liquids are used to remove it.
- When cutting nails, it is better to use clippers. Unlike scissors, clippers do not deform the edge of the nail. The short length is removed with an abrasive file.
- You cannot tear off extended nails yourself: the top layer of the nail is damaged.
How to reshape your nails
In addition to the square shape discussed above, there are also many varieties of equally attractive manicures. Oval or almond-shaped manicure is very popular. It won’t take much effort to change the shape from an oval to a square; in general, the algorithm of actions will remain the same. The main thing to consider is that the edge trim should cover the widest possible surface of the nail plate so that the corners of the nail remain small. Sawing should be done carefully.
The main feature of a square manicure will be the need for regular correction. At least once a week, the edge of the nail plate is carefully filed so that the geometry becomes more clearly defined. If your nails are not varnished, this procedure can be done every three to four days.
You should also not limit yourself to using a square manicure exclusively for your hands, because a pedicure with such a design is no less impressive. A pedicurist will help you create the most attractive shape, after which all you have to do is regularly file and renew the edges.
Beautiful design options for a soft square
Another common short length configuration. A soft square has similar outlines to an oval. It is great for experimenting with nail designs. The combination of a soft square and velvet covering looks elegant. Matte texture and muted dark shades make the manicure discreet and luxurious.
The combination of matte and glossy finishes looks interesting. Make glossy patterns in the form of stripes and polka dots on a matte background. The velvety nature of the nail is emphasized by gold and silver colors.
Volumetric patterns look impressive on a soft square. Multi-colored varnishes look advantageous on a soft square. Another interesting design is the creation of a marble pattern. If you create a pattern on all fingers, then it should occupy no more than half of the nail surface. And if there is only 1 or 2 designs, apply to the entire surface.
Nail design styles for square shape
Depending on the chosen design, any type of manicure is suitable for square nails. This season's fashion trends allow the use of this form for both very short and long nails. A French manicure looks especially good on long nails.
Lunar manicure
Moon manicure will highlight the beauty of long nails and can be performed in various variations. The use of nude shades looks as natural as possible. This design is ideal for everyday life, office style and discreet makeup. If you use rich shades of purple and lilac, fashionable this season, for your manicure, you should also pay due attention to the style of clothing.
Gradient
Gradient on a sharp square
The gradient looks appropriate on nails of different lengths.
The main feature of this manicure is that the use of shades from light to dark should occur towards the edge of the nail. This means that the tip of the nail plate is always darker than its beginning.
You can choose the most incredible colors for the gradient, because diversity is in fashion now.
Floral motifs
Floral motifs will help create an incredibly touching and attractive design. In this case, a suitable design can be applied in a variety of ways, from stickers to artistic modeling.
This manicure is in great demand for special events and wedding ceremonies.
Geometric patterns
Geometric patterns are now at the peak of popularity; they look especially appropriate on square nails. The variety of modern techniques will allow you to choose the best option for yourself. You can easily learn such techniques from video tutorials or videos on the Internet. Contacting a salon will give you even more opportunities, because sometimes such a design is a real work of art.
French
A French manicure will look great on long nails, and for some variety you can use a technique where one or two fingers are highlighted using sculpting or an original design.
Square nails are always in trend, because their shape helps to perfectly highlight the beauty and grace of the nails. It is quite possible to create such beauty on your own, but it is best to entrust this task to professional manicurists.
The advantages of this form will allow you to use any type of coating and decorative elements, while the length of the nail plate can be not only long, but also short. This will help make your nail design practical and incredibly stylish.
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Necessary tools and equipment
Any procedure, regardless of where it is performed - in the salon or at home - begins with the preparation of consumables and tools. Be sure to pay attention to their quality, since the result of the correction largely depends on this parameter.
For rough processing of square nails, you need few tools:
- File (it is recommended to use cardboard-based files of different abrasiveness);
- Metal pusher or orange cuticle stick;
- Nail scissors or clippers;
- Pusher for polishing surfaces.
If you will be applying a decorative coating in the form of gel polish on your nails, prepare it, as well as a primer, base, top coat and an ultraviolet/LED lamp to dry the pigment.
To properly remove cuticles, you need to use a special liquid – remover. It will soften the keratinized epidermis, preventing accidental damage to the upper stratum corneum of the plate during manicure.
It is necessary to first treat all instruments with an antiseptic in order to eliminate pathogenic microflora. So, if you accidentally damage the sensitive periungual area, you will reduce the likelihood of infection or dirt entering the body.
Also, before starting work, make sure that the work surface is clean, since the presence of unnecessary objects may interfere with your processing.
