How to choose the best shape for your nails

“My hands are so big, how should I shape my nails?” or “What’s the best shape for short nails?” Questions like these are those most asked at the manicurist table. When it comes to shaping your nails the best answer is “What do you like and feel comfortable wearing?”

If you have large hands squaring off your nails will make them look shorter and bigger so round them slightly at the ends to give the illusion of longer fingers. For shorter nails square works well to give them a fresh look. If you have really long nail beds (the pink part of the nail) then you can get away with almost any shape or length. However, nails that are too long tend to look fake and a bit tacky.

Square is the overall best shape for strength and preventing breakage.

Never file your nails oval, here’s why. Back in the ‘50s, or even earlier, oval nails were the style. They looked elegant filed almost to a sharp point with an almond shape but this put your nails at a very vulnerable state because all the strength is on the sides of the nail plate and if they are filed in too narrow your nails will break quite easily. If you wish to wear oval shaped nails then start the inward filing slightly beyond the nail bed to preserve some strength on the sides.

How to choose a nail color

Choosing a nail color can be one of biggest decisions one can make in a day but it doesn’t need to be so hard. If you tend to always use the same color or colors and want to make a change here’s a suggestion. Put a piece of clear tape on the back of your hand and apply a few different colors on the tape to see how they look with your skin tone. For most of them you’ll know right away which ones are no and reduce it down to one or two. The best thing about nail polish is that you can remove it and start over if you don’t like it.

Over the years I’ve been asked hundreds of times, “What’s the best color for my skin tone?” There is no standard answer to this question because someone with fair skin might really like bright red but another fair skinned person might prefer nude tones, or a dark skinned person might like dark reds but another dark skinned person may prefer clear. It all depends upon personal preference.

Here’s a challenge: try a different color every week for one year and keep track so you know which ones were your favorites and those that you’d never want to see again.