A Guide to Different nail shapes for Different Clients

As a professional Nail Technician, part of your job involves doing a client consultation and understanding various nail shapes in order to create personalized looks for your clients. Each individual client will have unique preferences and hand shapes, making it essential to be confident in different nail shapes. In this blog post, we will explore the most popular nail shapes, including the trending almond shape nails as well as the versatile classics. 

Nail shape chart of different nail shapes

Image from The Nail Tech Diaries

Understanding the Impact of Nail Shape

Nail shape plays a crucial role in defining the overall appearance of the nails and can either work with or against the client's hand shape. As a skilled Nail Technician, being knowledgeable about the various nail shapes empowers you to offer your professional opinion on what will best suit your client, and of course allows you to offer a wider range of treatments opening you up to more clients.

Almond Nails

One of the most sought-after nail shapes is the almond shape. This style elongates the fingers, creating an elegant and sophisticated look. The almond-shaped nails are suitable for clients who desire a classic yet modern appearance. On the whole, this nail shape works for almost any client, as small hands and short fingers will be elongated and longer fingers will look slim and elegant - it’s a win/win!

Almond nails with Miss Dolla gel nail polish

Round Nails

Round nails are a popular choice for clients with shorter fingers or those who prefer a softer and more natural look. This classic shape is achieved by filing the nails in a gentle curve along the edges. Round nails can create a very natural-looking nail shape for clients who do not like extreme or dramatic shapes. For clients with longer fingers who do not want to further elongate and emphasise their shape, this would be a suitable choice of nail shape.

Square Nails

Square nails will never go out of style, they give off a simple yet sophisticated vibe, making them a timeless choice for many clients. As a Nail Technician, you’ll probably find that clients that opt for square nails are die-hard fans and will never stray! This shape is achieved by filing the nails straight across and maintaining the sharp corners, and is usually the most popular choice for a French manicure. Square nails are usually better suited for people with longer hands, as they can actually emphasise already short hands which is not the look such clients will want.

Square nails with a colored french tip

Coffin Nails

Coffin nails, also known as Ballerina nails, are a bold and dramatic choice. This shape features a tapered end resembling a coffin or pointe ballet shoe. This shape can be either a subtle coffin with softer edges or a sharper coffin if your client wants to make a statement with their nails. This is another nail shape that suits pretty much any client!

Squoval Nails

Squoval nails strike a perfect balance between square and oval shapes, making it a versatile option for a wide range of clients. The gentle curve on the edges makes squoval nails flattering for most hand shapes, however, if your client has short fingers, try to avoid this shape when working with short nails.

Squoval shape nails with blue nail polish

As a skilled Nail Technician, your understanding of different nail shapes is vital in delivering exceptional service to your clients. From the trending almond nails to the classic square nails, each shape offers a unique style that can be tailored to individual preferences. Mastering these nail shapes and customizing them for different clients will set you apart as a top-notch nail technician, ensuring your results stand out every time! If you have any questions don’t hesitate to send us a DM to @miss_dolla_nails.