Shape guide · 4 min read · 5 August 2026
Choosing the right nail shape for your hands
Almond, oval, square or arrow - how finger length, palm width and nail-bed shape change what flatters you.
The short answer
Short fingers and wide palms suit oval or almond; long fingers and narrow palms suit square or squoval; wide nail beds suit almond or coffin; narrow nail beds suit square, squoval or coffin.
- · Short fingers, wide palms
- · Long fingers, narrow palms
- · Nail-bed width matters too
Short fingers, wide palms
Reach for oval or almond. The tapered tip draws a vertical line that lengthens the finger. Very short square shapes do the opposite and emphasise width.
Long fingers, narrow palms
Square or squoval balances slender hands - a blunt tip adds visual width. Extreme stiletto or arrow shapes can look disproportionately long.
Nail-bed width matters too
Wide nail beds look slimmer under almond or coffin, where the sides taper inward. Narrow beds gain presence from square, squoval or coffin edges.
If you are unsure, our AI Stylist reads your hand proportions from a photo and scores each shape family for you.