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The Ultimate Guide to 12 Different Nail Shapes

We'll help you choose the perfect nail shape.

closeup of one woman filing another's fingernails
Close up of beautiful female hands having manicure treatment.svetikd

Seconds after you sit down in the nail salon, you're forced to make a decision: square or round? While those are perfectly respectable options, your nail tech knows just as well as you do that it's not that simple anymore. The world has more different nail shapes than you have fingers, and it can be tough to keep track of all the nail shapes, let alone choose one! We've broken down 12 of the most popular (and Instagram-worthy!) options. Read on for the ultimate guide to different nail shapes.

12 Different Nail Shapes

Nails can be filed into so many different shapes.


1. Square Nails

The square nail shape is pretty self-explanatory. Square nails are square—they're flat on top with straight, sharp corners. They neither flare out nor taper in and are a popular shape for those with short nails or long, narrow nail beds.

2. Round Nails

The classic round shape is another favorite for those who prefer to keep their nails clipped short. Like square nails, round nails start with straight sides but curve at the edges to follow the natural shape of the fingertip.

3. Squoval Nails

Square oval or squoval nails are perfect if you're into the flat edge of the square but hate sharp corners. Squoval is your best option. This universally flattering shape has softened corners for the best of both worlds.

4. Oval Nails

Yes, round nails are different from oval ones. Here's how: Oval nails are filed down on the sides in addition to the tips. The curvature is more extreme, so it tends to make fingers look more slender.

5. Almond Nails

Like oval nails, almond nails are filed along the sides. The nail wall is tapered to end in a round peak, similar to the shape of an actual almond. Natural nails are often too weak to hold this structure on their own, so most almond manicures are reinforced with gel or acyclic.

6. Stiletto Nails

Stiletto nails are all about the drama. Shaping this spiked look starts off the same as it's nuttier counterpart, the almond, but ends at a much sharper point with a wider base. (Stiletto nails are also perfect for ice cream cone nail art, as seen below.)

7. Ballerina Nails

Ballerina nails (also known as coffin-shaped nails) are Kylie Jenner's signature nail shape. Ballerina nails are essentially the stiletto nail, but with a square rather than pointy tip. They're called ballerina nails or coffin nails because the shape resembles both a coffin and a ballerina's slipper.

8. Lipstick Nails

The inspiration behind this one is the cut angle of a fresh tube of lipstick. Like your favorite shade, this squared nail style slants diagonally for a seriously unique nail shape.

9. Flare Nails

As their name suggests, this nail shape flares upward and out. This shape is also known as the duck bill shape, given that exceptionally wide flare nails can resemble a duck bill.

10. Edge Nails

Edge nails form a point, but the point is less aggressive than that of a stiletto, arrowhead or mountain peak nail shape, as it extends straight before the top edges are filed. When being created with acrylics, the edge nail also forms into a ridge through the center of a nail, mimicking an edge.

11. Arrowhead Nails

Arrowhead nails are a less severe version of a stiletto nail. The point is shorter and softer.

12. Mountain Peak Nails

The mountain peak nail shape is just like a stiletto nail as well, except shorter and pointier. (Mountain peak nails are a favorite of Lady Gaga).

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