How to choose a nail shape that suits you perfectly

It is difficult to imagine at what point humanity began to pay attention to the beauty of nails. It’s unlikely that during the breaks between collecting roots and berries and hunting mammoths, anyone thought about caring for their hands, so it’s logical to assume that it was only when there was time for it. However, science knows the oldest manicure set - it dates back to 3200 BC, is made of pure gold and most likely belonged to a Babylonian priest.

Over the past millennia, much has changed in the world of manicure, fashion for certain nail shapes, varnish colors, rhinestones, stickers and thousands of other little things came and went. Only one thing remains unchanged - the shape of our hands and fingers directly affects what nail shapes suit us. In order to figure out what to choose for you, it is not necessary to have a specialized education or extensive experience. Let's find out!

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Natural nail shape

Each of us has a natural nail shape. It persists if the nails are cut short and will affect the appearance of the free edge as the nail plate grows without filing or trimming. Of course, important factors here will be the absence of nail diseases, general health problems, as well as injuries that can affect the condition and appearance of the nails.

Some of us were lucky enough to be born with a naturally beautiful and harmonious nail shape. In this case, even when they grow back a little without additional care or filing, the result is quite aesthetic. However, as soon as you pick up the scissors or file, you inevitably introduce a certain shape - the question is which one!

Folk remedies and recipes

Many people ask: “What should I do if my fingernails and toenails are deformed and look sick?” In the repositories of traditional medicine there are recipes for almost all diseases. But all of them treat nail deformation only as a result of fungus or lack of vitamins.

So the recipes look like this:

Apply kombucha to the nail, treat with onion juice or spread with tar soap.
Horseradish compress. Horseradish root needs to be crushed to a porridge state. You should steam your hands, trim your nails and apply a compress until the morning.
Garlic compress. You will need to mix 2 g of salt, 1 liter of water and chopped garlic. Apply the resulting mixture to the affected areas.

Also in folk medicine there are methods such as:

soak your feet in a solution with wine vinegar for 30 minutes;
chop mint, add salt and apply the resulting porridge between your toes;
mix vinegar (70%) and vegetable oil in equal proportions, lubricate the affected areas with the mixture.

The use of traditional medicine is dangerous and can only worsen the condition.

Recipes for healthy baths

You can use baths to prevent and treat nail deformation. And it’s quite easy to prepare them yourself:

With salt (sea). To prepare, you will need 500 ml of water and 4 g of salt, which must be dissolved. Hands must be immersed in a bath with the resulting solution for 20 minutes. Then apply nourishing cream or oil.
With iodine and table salt. To prepare, you will need 200 ml of water, 4 g of salt and 3 drops of iodine. All ingredients are mixed and nails are immersed in the prepared solution for 15 minutes.
With honey, vegetable or olive oil, and lemon juice. Honey and oil are mixed in a water bath, followed by the addition of lemon juice. Some also add iodine and vitamin A. The resulting mixture is applied to the nails for half an hour.

Oval nail shape

The oval shape is considered the most universal and close to naturalness. It follows the shape at the base of the nail (the part where the cuticle is located), and at the same time does not provoke increased fragility, since we do not interfere much with the natural shape of the nail. Regardless of the length of the nail, the oval looks quite elegant and visually slightly stretches the fingers. In addition, the oval shape requires minimal effort to maintain, so it is not surprising that it is considered the most popular.

Who is suitable for oval nail shapes:

This option is suitable for the vast majority, regardless of how long the fingers are and how wide the palm is. If you don’t have free time for regular shape correction, or if, due to your profession, you don’t have the opportunity to grow long nails, you can safely opt for an oval nail—you can’t go wrong.

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Fashionable manicure for extended nails

For nail extensions, materials such as acrylic and gel are mainly used. With their help, nails take on a natural look, and a strong nail plate allows you to give it the most unusual shape. Long nails also lengthen your fingers, giving your hands a graceful and well-groomed look.

Extended nails are the most popular among those who tirelessly follow fashion. This season, the pursuit of naturalness has determined the most popular shape of nails extended using acrylic or gel, namely rectangular nails.

And we note that it is recommended to select nail design in accordance with your image and preferences. Don't experiment too much with colors. Remember, a neat and discreet manicure is more in line with the fashion trends of 2022 than a bright and provocative one.

Almond shaped nails

The almond shape is distinguished from the oval shape by the pointed, slightly elongated tip of the nail. Some people believe that in order for the proportions to be ideal, the length of the free edge should be equal to the length of the nail bed. Maintaining this shape is not so difficult, but strengthening the nails comes to the fore - given the length, it is worth taking extra care to ensure that they are strong and do not break.

Who is suitable for almond-shaped nails:

This option is an excellent choice for those who have naturally wide palms (regardless of finger length) and/or full hands. Almond-shaped nails will visually “slimmer” your fingers and make them appear longer and more graceful.

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Arch modeling technology

Arch modeling is carried out in four stages.

Preparation for extensions is a set of measures aimed at cleansing and degreasing the nail plates.
Applying the base material ( primer ) in a thin layer. After this, it is dried under a special lamp.

When applying the primer, you need to make sure that it does not touch the cuticle, otherwise the main gel may later be rejected.

Modeling the required shape using special devices. First, the most accurate shape of the nail is formed and applied to the plate.

Arch modeling process
There should be no cracks or gaps between the form and the nail; they should fit each other perfectly. After applying the required amount of gel, the nails are dried and the forms are removed.
Then they are fixed with special clamps and the desired silhouette of the plate is created. Nail modeling requires significant experience and skills; this can only be entrusted to a specialist.
Completion of extension . At this stage, the master removes the sticky layer of gel, dries and files the uneven edges, making the shape perfect.

Watch the video master class on arched modeling, where the whole process is shown step by step and in detail:

Square nail shape

This shape should not be confused with the similar, but much more rounded “soft square” shape, which we will talk about later. The square shape always has clear sharp corners and straight lines. To create it, you will need at least 2-3 mm of free edge, and most importantly, the shape must respect the natural width of the nail. When filing, it is important that you do not touch the “growth points” of the nail (the places on the right and left sides of the nail plate from which the free edge of the nail begins to grow).

Who is suitable for square nail shape:

The square inevitably adds some angularity. Therefore, if you have short fingers and a wide palm, most likely, the square shape of your nails will not add grace to your hand. This shape will look quite good if you have a narrow, elongated palm (even if your fingers are not particularly long), but it is ideal only for those with narrow hands with thin, long fingers.

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Not every lady can boast that she has perfectly shaped nails. At the same time, each of them wants her hands to look beautiful and well-groomed. First of all, a well-done manicure can help with this.

It is not at all necessary to resort to acrylic or gel extensions - especially since such manipulations do not have a very good effect on the health of the horn plates. In how to correct the shape of nails in order to hide its shortcomings and emphasize its advantages, visual illusions will serve well. The same optical principles work here as in the selection of clothing. For example, when a representative of the fair sex wants to appear slimmer, she wears things in dark colors or with vertical stripes.

The same is true with nails. When deciding what kind of design to make on them, you should always take into account several rules. So, if you do not paint the entire nail plate, but only draw a wide vertical stripe along its central part, slightly retreating from the edges, this will create a lengthening effect. By the way, for such an illusion you should use varnish in dark shades.

Often women with short nails make the same mistake - they paint them light colors, thinking that in this way they simply will not attract attention to them. However, by doing so they only make things worse. Pastel or transparent colors only visually expand the nail. In addition, any patterns using horizontal lines are strictly contraindicated in this situation.

A good solution in this case would be a French manicure (including a corner one), because its white edge creates the effect of an elongated, regrown tip of the nail. However, on very plump hands, a French jacket is undesirable - it will do a “disservice” to the woman. Its mandatory element - the square corners at the end - will make her fingers look much shorter than they actually are.

The method by which visual correction of the shape of the nails will be made depends on what geometric figure they most resemble. As a rule, there are round, oval, rectangular, trapezoidal and square horn plates.

In the last two cases, horizontal stripes are prohibited. Because of them, the nails will look even more “angular”. For a square shape, a large pattern in the center will create the same effect, and for a trapezoidal shape, a diagonal line.

Any vertical stripes will look most advantageous. For a “square”, this option is ideal: cover the entire surface of the nail with some dark varnish, and draw a rounded shape on top with a light shade. Then you will get an amazing optical illusion: the eye will “snatch” only the image that is made in pastel colors, and perceive the rest as the background.

For a “trapezoid”, a good solution would be small patterns along the top edge of the nail or a vertical rectangle. Any “drawings” at the base should be avoided.

To the question: is it possible to correct the shape of nails if they are round? - the answer will be in the affirmative. Horizontal and diagonal lines will not help in this, or, as in the case of the “square,” a large pattern in the central part of the plate. Otherwise, many of the techniques used for other “irregular” nails will be useful. In particular, a pattern in the form of a vertical rectangle or oval in the central part, with small indentations from the edges. In addition, any longitudinal stripes are considered an excellent option - either a solid line or made in the form of a small ornament.

Owners of oval or rectangular nails can rightfully consider themselves rare lucky ones. They are virtually unlimited in the choice of manicure options. The most important thing is to keep your natural gift intact, without exposing it to stress factors that negatively affect the health of your nails. For example, it is best to use nail polish remover that does not contain acetone, since it is more “friendly” to the horny plates on the fingers than other solvents. It is also worth periodically “pampering” your fingers with useful procedures - in particular, baths with special compositions that are easy to purchase in cosmetic stores.

When choosing the type of manicure for yourself, you should first of all be guided not by fashion, but by common sense and how suitable this option is for a particular woman. She should listen to the advice of professionals.

Soft square nail shape

Same as a regular square, but the corners are softly smoothed. Due to this, the result looks more delicate, but just as impressive. Both the regular square and the “soft” one are suitable for those who have rather fragile nails, but the “soft” one is considered a little more reliable in terms of fragility.

Who will suit the “soft square” shape:

It may seem that such a small thing as slightly more sloping corners will not make a difference, but nevertheless, this type of square can be tried even by those who naturally have rather short fingers. True, in this case it is worth growing your nails longer - “soft squares” on short nails will not have the desired effect.

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Design features

In fact, wide nails are not as big a problem as it might seem. Of course, long and narrow nails look sexier and more attractive, but don't think about it. Enjoy your natural features and highlight their uniqueness with a harmonious manicure.

Enjoy your natural features and highlight their uniqueness with a harmonious manicure

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Square-oval nail shape

Another variety of the square: the corners are again soft, only the edge of the nail is not completely straight, but with a slight bend, which gives the output something between a square and an oval. Oddly enough, maintaining this shape is not so easy. You will definitely need a good eye - it is important to maintain the proportions and at the same time not go either into the usual “soft square” or into a full-fledged oval.

Who is suitable for square-oval nail shape:

There is no fundamental difference from the “soft square”, so the recommendations are exactly the same.

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Adjustment by extension

A modern and effective way to correct the appearance of a trapezoid is extensions.

Salons often recommend adding plates to the form. But for home use, acrylic coating is better, as it is easier to do.

This method has several significant disadvantages, the main one of which is the thinning of the nail. After regular, even well-executed, acrylic coating, the nail becomes thinner over its entire surface. This spoils the appearance of the weakened ends, which bend downwards as they grow.

Ballerina nail shape

This shape is similar to an almond, but has a smooth, straight edge and resembles the outline of a pointe shoe, which is why it got its name. It looks good on long nails and requires diligent care - not only to maintain shape, but also from a strengthening point of view. Suitable only for the lucky owners of a strong nail plate: if the nail is thin and weakened, the “ballerina” can literally turn into a cone. In recent years, the popularity of this nail shape has noticeably decreased, but if you like it, why not!

Who will suit the “ballerina” nail shape:

In the case of the “ballerina”, the restrictions are associated not so much with the shape of the hand and the length of the fingers, but with the natural shape of the nail plate - it is best if it is narrow enough.

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Treatment at home

If nail deformation occurs due to deep grinding, interaction with chemicals, or injury, it is possible to correct the situation yourself.

If waves or roughness appear on the nail plate, then it is enough to sand it with a file and cover the surface with nourishing varnish. If it is due to exposure to household chemicals, then you should avoid direct contact with the skin of your hands and wait until a new one grows. Shallow sanding and the use of nourishing, restoring varnish or oil will also help at this time.

Special diet

When nail deformation occurs due to a lack of nutrients in the diet, then the doctor may prescribe special vitamin complexes and diet. It is based on foods rich in Ca, A, C, D, H, and B vitamins.

Special diet for deformed nails

The diet should contain:

seafood;
dairy products;
non-fatty meats;
porridge;
fruits;
vegetables;
olive oil;
nuts and dried fruits.

The diet is selected based on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body.

Adjustment by extension

A modern and effective way to correct the appearance of a trapezoid is extensions.

Salons often recommend adding plates to the form. But for home use, acrylic coating is better, as it is easier to do.

Cat claws are a popular and bold shape.

Cat's claws appeared a few years ago, and since then they have not lost their popularity. This option is characterized by a sharp narrowing of the free end towards the edge until a sharp corner is formed at the end. As the name implies, these nails are shaped very much like cat claws tapered to the end.

In order to make cat claws for yourself, you need to have strong and fairly hard nail plates, but it is best if they are extended or secured with acrylic.

They are presented very advantageously, boldly and a little daringly, so with this form you need to be careful not to look vulgar.