Almond Nails: 15 Almond Nail Designs, from Short to Long

Almond nails have slim sides that taper to a rounded peak, like the nut that gives them their name. The taper draws the eye along the finger, which makes hands seem longer and slimmer at almost any length.

Below are five steps for filing the shape, then 15 almond nail designs with the shades and technique for each.

How to shape almond nails

Shape the nails before cuticle work or gel, while they are dry, because wet nails are softer and split more easily. On natural nails, use a fine file, 180 grit or higher, with light pressure.

1. Check the length. An almond needs about two to three millimetres of free edge; with less, file an oval instead.
2. Even out the tips. File straight across until all ten free edges are the same length.
3. Find the centre. The peak sits on a line from the middle of the cuticle to the tip. Follow the nail rather than the fingertip, as some nails sit slightly off-centre.
4. Taper the sides. Hold the file at a slant and work from each side towards the peak, switching sides every few strokes. Start where the nail leaves the finger, as filing into the sides of the nail weakens it.
5. Round the peak and check. Take the sharpness off the point with light strokes across the tip, then smooth the underside of the free edge. Turn your hand over: from the palm side, any difference between the two sides is easy to spot.

Short almond nails vs oval nails

On short nails, an oval curves evenly from side to side, while a short almond keeps straighter sides that angle in towards a narrower peak. As you file, keep the sides straight and round only the very tip, or the almond turns into an oval.

15 almond nail designs and how to do them

Every design below starts on prepped nails and ends with a no-wipe top coat such as Diamond Top Coat, capped over the free edge. Cure each thin layer under a UV/LED lamp for the time in your gel's instructions.

1. Almond French tip nails

On almond nails, a French tip with a deep smile line makes the nail bed appear longer. Start with a thin layer of B009 Rose Ballerine, a ballet-pink builder gel that strengthens the nail underneath. Paint the tip in white gel polish with a fine liner brush: pull one stroke from each side up to the peak, then fill in and cap the free edge. Our modern French manicure ideas include coloured tips and other variations.

2. Micro French almond nails

A micro French replaces the usual tip with a line of white, black or gold about a millimetre wide. It suits short almonds better than a full French, as it outlines the edge without shortening the nail bed. Load a long striper brush with very little gel and rest it along the free edge. Keep the brush still and turn your finger slowly beneath it for a steadier line.

3. Milky almond nails

Milky nails are a semi-sheer white that lets a little natural pink show through and hides regrowth well. As a builder gel, B003 Milky White also strengthens the slender tip of a natural almond. Cure a thin first layer, then place a small bead of gel in the centre of the second layer and let it level into the apex. Milky shades turn whiter where the gel is thicker, and any bump in the apex shows as a white patch.

4. Baby boomer almond nails

The baby boomer, a French ombre from pink to white, needs a medium or long almond to give the fade room. Over a cured layer of Rose Ballerine, apply Rose Ballerine again on the cuticle half and Milky White on the tip half. Blend where they meet with short, light strokes of a clean flat brush, then cure. Practise on a plastic nail tip first, as a seamless fade takes a few attempts.

5. Nude almond nails

A nude close to your skin tone blends the nail into the finger and extends the line of the hand. On fair skin, a light nude such as 017 Silk has this effect; medium and olive skin suit a warmer beige, and deep skin a caramel shade. To stop a pale nude streaking, apply two or three thin coats with the brush almost flat, letting each settle before curing.

6. Chrome almond nails

Pearl chrome over a milky or nude base creates a glazed shine along the curve of the nail. Cure a layer of Diamond Top Coat over the colour, rub a little chrome powder onto it with a silicone applicator and brush away the excess. Seal with a second layer of top coat wrapped over the free edge, because powder wears first at the tip.

7. Cat eye almond nails

A cat eye line from cuticle to tip follows the taper and lengthens the nail further. Over a sheer nude base, 001 Golden Veil has a champagne glow; over black, the gold line looks sharper. Paint a thin coat, hold the magnet just above the uncured gel for a few seconds until the line forms, then cure straight away, before the particles drift. Our cat eye nails guide shows other magnet positions.

8. Red almond nails

Red almond nails are a favourite for evenings, weddings and the festive season, especially with gold jewellery. Blue-based reds flatter cool undertones, and orange-based reds flatter warm ones. With B021 Rouge Capucine, a vibrant red builder gel, colour and strength come in one step, so a longer almond keeps its shape. For a lighter take, wear red as a French tip drawn with a liner brush.

9. Burgundy almond nails

Burgundy is the autumn and winter alternative to red, and it goes well with dark wool coats, camel and grey. On short and medium almonds, B014 Amarante, a deep bordeaux builder gel, gives a crisp outline and a sturdier tip. Because dark shades show regrowth sooner, plan an infill as soon as a gap appears at the cuticle.

10. Black almond nails

Black makes the outline sharper than any other colour, which shows off a well-filed almond and exposes an uneven one. Check that all ten nails match before you apply 001 Black in two thin coats. Dense black pigment lets less light through, and a thick coat can wrinkle or stay soft underneath.

11. Short dark almond nails

If you type all day or wear gloves in winter, a short dark almond is the most practical choice. Keep the free edge just past the fingertip and the peak a little blunter, so it doesn't catch on knitwear. Navy, forest green and espresso brown are good alternatives if black feels too severe. Leave a hairline gap at the cuticle and wipe away any slips before curing, as dark gel on the skin is obvious and causes lifting.

12. Lilac almond nails

Pale lavender suits cool undertones and silver jewellery, and it works all year, from spring weddings to grey winter knits. Like most pastels, 022 Lilac can go on patchy, so keep the first coat very thin and let the second even out the colour. A subtler option is milky white nails edged with a fine lilac French line, drawn with a striper brush.

13. Aura almond nails

Aura nails have a blurred glow of colour in the centre that fades towards the edges. Over a cured coat of 017 Silk, dab 022 Lilac into the centre with a piece of make-up sponge blotted on paper. Cure, then repeat until the glow is as strong as you want. Sponging leaves gel on the skin; clean it off with a brush before each cure, as uncured gel on skin is the main cause of gel allergy.

14. Almond nails with a gold line

A single gold line dresses up a nude or black almond, from cuticle to tip or along the curve of the free edge. Gold gel paint on a long striper brush makes the thinnest stroke. Striping tape is easier for beginners: press it onto the cured colour, trim it just short of the edge and seal it under top coat. Cover one accent nail per hand in B030 Or Solaire, a golden builder gel, for a bolder finish.

15. Almond nails with a flower accent

One flower on the ring finger adds interest without crowding the slim nail. Place it near the cuticle or slightly off-centre, where the nail is widest, and leave the tip clear. The simplest flower for beginners is five white dots around a gold centre, made with a dotting tool over 017 Silk or 022 Lilac. Cure as soon as the dots are placed, before they spread, then seal under top coat.

Short or long almond nails: natural nails or extensions?

Short almond nails on natural nails

Short almond nails are the easiest to keep on natural nails, provided the free edge can hold the taper. A thin builder gel overlay protects the tip, especially if you cap the free edge with each layer. If your nails bend or peel, our guide to strengthening natural nails compares rubber base and builder gel.

Long almond nails with builder gel

A long almond puts a lot of strain on the tip, and most natural nails break before reaching that length. The reliable route is a builder gel extension sculpted on a nail form and filed into an almond once cured. Build the apex, the highest point of the gel, over the stress area where the nail leaves the finger, because that is where a long nail bends.

Sculpting takes practice, so start at a medium length; our step-by-step guide to using builder gel covers the details. Builder gel is removed by filing, not soaking, and an infill moves the apex back into place as the nail grows.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most attractive nail shape?

Almond is usually the most flattering shape, because it lengthens the fingers on short and long nails alike. It is also easier to live with than a sharp stiletto or a flat-tipped coffin. The classiest version is a short almond in a nude or milky shade.

Almond or oval nails: which is better?

Oval is the safer choice for very short or weak nails, because its wider tip is stronger and less likely to break. Almond needs a little more free edge, but it slims the fingers more. If you can't decide, wear an oval while your nails grow, then file it into an almond.

Do almond nails suit short or chubby fingers?

Yes. The taper makes a wide nail bed appear narrower and the finger longer, so almond suits short or fuller fingers well. Keep to a medium length with a slightly rounder peak, as over-filing the sides can make a wide nail seem pinched.

Are almond nails still in style?

Yes. Almond has been a salon staple for years because it works on most hands and lengths. Short and medium almonds in milky and nude shades are especially popular now, often with a micro French or a chrome glaze.

Start your almond set with our builder gel, gel polish and cat eye collections, and find more designs in our 30 gel nail art ideas.