According to celebrity nail manicurist and brand founder Deborah Lippmann, almond-shaped nails are very French-esque. And when has French-inspired beauty ever led us astray? Our point exactly. Below, find everything you need to know about the almond nail shape, including how to get it and expert-approved tips for a salon-level manicure. And finally, we have more daring, modern choices, like stiletto- and coffin-shaped nails. Stiletto nails are similar to almond, just way more bold and edgy: Imagine an almond-shaped nail filed down to a sharp needlepoint. Coffin nails, on the other hand, are squared with a tempered end. These nail types may make a statement, but they’re harder to sport if you work with your hands a lot—not to mention, they are not so easy to achieve on a natural nail. Lippmann says this nail shape is finger-slimming and quite sexy. “You can use an almond nail shape with any color and it’s flattering on most hands,” she notes. The good news is anyone can sport an almond-shaped nail: The only requirement is a nail bed that is longer than the base of your finger. Lippmann also says almond nails can be hard to accomplish if the nail is too short since you want the tapered edge to reach beyond the fingertip. Elle Gerstein, a celebrity nail tech, agrees: “[The nail] will never reach an actual almond if it’s too short, because you’ll be filing in the sides and it’ll just collapse,” she previously told mbg. If you’re new to shaping your nails at-home, remember to go slow. No need to speed through it! If you’re rushing or working too aggressively, achieving the perfect shape on all 10 fingers can become quite the feat. OK, in reality, it’s not that simple—who else among us has splatter-painted their fingertips?—but if you’d really like to master the at-home mani, we have a full guide for that here.
