Nail Shapes Guide: Almond, Square, Coffin or Stiletto? How to Choose the Right Shape

Before the colour, there is the shape. It is the first thing a trained eye notices and the detail that changes everything: the same glossy red looks fresh and sporty on short round nails, polished and powerful on a square, dramatic on a stiletto. A well-chosen shape lengthens the fingers, balances the hand and makes even a nude manicure look deliberate.

Here is our guide to the seven classic nail shapes, from round to stiletto: what each one looks like, which hands and lifestyles it suits, the colours it flatters most, and how professionals file a perfect, symmetrical shape.

The seven nail shapes

Round

Short and softly curved, following the line of the fingertip. It is the most practical shape of all: strong, easy to maintain and perfect for people who type, cook or work with their hands. Round nails love fresh, bright shades like 004 Coral Pink.

Oval

Longer than round, with gently tapered sides and a curved tip, like an egg. The oval is the great classic: it elongates the fingers, flatters almost every hand and goes with every colour, from a sheer nude such as 017 Silk to a deep red.

Almond

Slimmer at the tip than the oval, with a softly pointed free edge, like the nut it is named after. It is one of the most requested shapes of the moment, and one of the most flattering: it makes fingers look longer and hands more delicate. Almond nails were made for milky and nude shades like B003 Milky White.

Squoval

A square with softened corners: the best of both worlds. It has the clean line of a square without the sharp corners that catch and chip, which makes it one of the strongest shapes for everyday life. Squoval nails look chic in a soft neutral like 015 Taupe.

Square

Straight sides and a flat tip with defined corners. Square nails look graphic and confident, and they are the natural home of the French manicure; our modern French manicure ideas show many ways to wear it. The shape needs a little care, as the corners are the first place to chip.

Coffin or ballerina

Long and tapered like an almond, but finished with a flat tip, like the shoe of a ballerina. Coffin and ballerina are two names for the same shape. It is spectacular on long nails and needs a strong structure, usually builder gel. It loves nudes, such as B010 Beige Trench, and soft gradients.

Stiletto

Long and tapered to a fine point: the most dramatic of all shapes. The stiletto needs length, a solid structure and a certain lifestyle, but on an evening out it is unforgettable, especially in a glossy 001 Black.

How to choose the right shape for your hands

• Short fingers or wide nail beds: oval and almond shapes create the illusion of length and slimness. Avoid very wide squares.
• Long, slender fingers: almost everything works, and square or coffin shapes are especially striking.
• Small nail beds: a soft oval or a short almond balances the proportions.
• Active hands, typing, sport or cooking: round and squoval shapes are the strongest and the easiest to live with.
• Brittle or soft nails: keep them short and rounded, and add a flexible strengthening layer; our guide to strengthening natural nails explains how.

A simple rule of thumb: the shape of your cuticle is a good guide. Rounded cuticles pair naturally with oval and almond tips, straighter cuticles with square and squoval.

How to file the perfect shape

1. Start with the length. File the free edge straight across to the length you want before shaping anything.
2. Work from the side to the centre. File each side in one direction only, from the outer edge towards the centre of the tip. Sawing back and forth weakens the free edge.
3. Check from every angle. Look at the nail from above, from the side and from the fingertip. The two sides should mirror each other.
4. Use the right grit. A fine file for natural nails; a coarser file only on gel.
5. Finish the edge. A light pass of a soft buffer under the free edge removes any roughness.

Long coffin, almond and stiletto shapes need more than a file: they are usually built in builder gel for strength. Our builder gel guide explains how to create a balanced structure.

Frequently asked questions

Which nail shape is the most flattering?

Almond and oval flatter almost every hand: they lengthen the fingers and soften the silhouette.

Which shape makes fingers look longer?

Almond, oval and, on long nails, stiletto. The tapered tip draws the eye upwards.

What is the strongest nail shape?

Round and squoval: without sharp corners or a thin point, they resist daily knocks best.

What is the difference between coffin and ballerina nails?

None: they are two names for the same shape, long and tapered with a flat tip.

Which nail shapes are in style?

Soft almonds, short squovals and short ovals lead the way, for a polished, natural look. Long coffins and stilettos stay the choice for bold occasions.

Whatever your shape, find the right colour in our gel polish and builder gel ranges.