The nail shapes you need to know for the perfect mani

What do lipstick, coffin and stilettos all have in common? If you already know that they're all top-trending nail shapes, congratulations, you've completed to the final boss level in the Mani Olympics. Still confused? We hear you. Thanks to the proliferation of nail art trends breaking the internet, suddenly the humble options of 'round' or 'square' seem simply inadequate.

Previous years have largely been dominated by the "coffin" nail shape (a long nail with a squared-off tip) thanks to celebrity fans such as Kylie Jenner and Rihanna. And the hybrid “squoval” (which sits somewhere between square and rounded nails and can be worn long or short) remains a classic. 

But some of our fave nail art babes, like Megan Thee Stallion and our previous cover star, Saweetie, have made long square nails mega popular. Meanwhile, Hailey Bieber's almond-shaped glazed donut mani has picked up a whole fan-following of its own, thanks to the delicately round/pointed tips which help to elongate fingers.

As for those lipstick-shaped nails we mentioned earlier? Nail pro Park Eunkyung (better known as @nail_unistella) is the driving force behind so many of the mani trends that make there way to our fingers, and she's the originator of the lipstick shape currently picking up momentum for looking – you guessed it – like a lipstick, thanks to it's slanted lipstick bullet-shaped tip.

Amanda Lee Founder of Iris Avenue beauty salon tells GLAMOUR that ‘almond’ for long nails and a ‘soft square’ for short nails are amongst the most requested nail shapes at the moment. There are simply too many shapes to know about, but if Amanda were to advice on which shapes are a good starting point, she says: “Short nails look great as a soft square. This is straight across with rounded edges. It gives a clean, ‘put together’ look. Medium-length nails are pretty versatile but an oval shape will give a classic look. Long nails look amazing almond shaped. It makes the hands look slick and feminine.”

As for tips to maintaining your nail shape from home Amanda says: “If in doubt, go for the nail shape that mirrors the shape of your cuticles. Gently push back your cuticles with an orange wood stick to identify the shape then file the nails to match the shape. If the goal is to elongate the fingers, go for an almond (if you have some length) or oval shape. Look for the centre of the nail as a guide for where the tip will finish. File each side of the nail towards that centre. To achieve a soft square look, start by filing the nails straight across, then smooth out the corners.”

Still not sure which shape to go for? To clear things up so that you know what to ask for at your next nail appointment, we’ve come up with the ultimate guide to all the nail shapes you need to know about in 2022 — and asked experts about the benefits of each.

Natural nails

Natural short shape

Sometimes natural short nails are the moment. Sometimes they're just more convenient as nails can be brittle and break. Often times some of us do daily activities that don't allow much room for length. That's where the natural shape comes in. Spice it up by adding fun nail art, decals or even stick on 3D accessories.

Squoval nails

Somewhere between square and rounded, it has a straight free-edge that's rounded at the sides.

Go for this if you’re confused — it’s usually the beginner's shape of choice, a great middle-ground between the square and oval and looks great on most hands. Session manicurist Ama Quashie makes the very good point that with this nail, you get a sharper tip (aka the look of a longer finger), but “without the right-angled corners that often get caught and break more easily.”

Round nails

As it's name suggests this has a rounded, semi-circular free-edge.

If you’re all about practicality, this is the one to go for — this semi-circle is the ultimate “low-maintenance, understated look that’s tidy and lovely with or without colour”, according to Margaret Dabbs, Founder of global health and beauty brand, Margaret Dabbs London. If you type a lot or find long nails always break, this is the ideal shape for you.

Almond nails

Elongated and filed into a soft, rounded point like the tip of an almond.

You’ll need a bit more length for this — but if you have it, it’s a universally flattering option that elongates the hand for an elegant finish. Unsurprisingly, Ama Quashie refers to it as her favourite and claims it works wonders if you have “short stubby fingers like me”. Apparently, she’s not alone: at Townhouse's nail bar in London, it’s one of their most-requested nail shapes.

Oval nails

Medium length rounded edges.

On an oval nail shape a fingernail is rounded on the top and then tapers to a point at the tip. It is one of the most popular nail shapes as it provides a balanced and natural look. It's not too long or too short yet not too round nor too pointy. This shape also gives the illusion of longer looking nails that are relatively low-maintenance and serves as the perfect for a variety of nail art and colours. 

Stiletto nails

Elongated and filed into a sharp point like the heel of a stiletto.

This one’s a statement look that, according to Margaret Dabbs, works enormously well when paired with bold nail art or vibrant colours — though she warns that natural nails are more prone to breakage if you go for this shape, so draft someone in to carry the shopping/send your texts for you/do pretty much anything taxing in the hand department or check out our top tips for strengthening your nails. Alternatively, enrol in Cardi B's ‘how to function with long nails school’ where she will do virtual tutorials on how to do everyday tasks like changing a baby's nappies with those long and sharp talons.

Square nails

As it's name suggests this has a straight, squared-off free-edge.

Straight at the sides, and flat on the top, Ama calls this the “sportier look” and says it looks pretty damn great when juxtaposed with ultra-feminine pillar-box red. It’s a good choice if you’ve got narrow nail beds and Margaret says it’ll give the “impression of extra width”.

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Coffin nails

A long, tapered edges and a straight, blunt tip.

The length of the nail leaves space for nail art or experimental patterns, you should only go for this one if you a) wear fake nails, b) are willing to outsource anything you usually do with your hands as per stiletto nails.

Lipstick nails

Long with a slanted lipstick bullet-shaped tip.

These don't seem like the most practical, and could probably be as much of a hazard as stiletto nails, but either way, they deserve a spot on the best nail shapes. They're fun, quirky, and work for any nail length. They're shaped just like lipstick, hence the imaginative name and are right on trend.

Pointed nails

Round but elongated and filed into a sharp point

The pointed nail shape is the fraternal twin to the stiletto nails. They are filed into a sharp point but start out much more rounded as they build up to the edge of the nail and are likely shorter in length. 

Edge nails

Form a sharpe angled tip down the nail bed like a mountain peak

Edge nails are by far the most unusual out of this bunch as they are formed shaped to form a point down the nail bed as opposed to the edges of the nail. In fact, the nail bed (which should have some sort of gel or acrylic to avoid damage to the natural nail bed) are filed to create a ridge down the centre of the nail as if it was the edge of a cliff on either sides.

Now you've got your nail shape sorted, check out our pick of the best nail polishes, and the best nail art looks for 2022.