This Is The Best Nail Shape If You're Always Using Your Hands + How To Get It

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While some nail shapes seem to have a moment in the spotlight every few years, there are a few common shapes that are timeless, versatile, and for the most part, at-home friendly. Of course, each shape has pros and cons, but a rounded tip is an easy classic. 

Round nails are fool-proof for a few reasons: They’re simple to create, can be done on any nail length, and seem to hold up better compared to the more complex shapes. If you live a hands-on lifestyle but still want a polished look, this might be your holy grail shape. 

There are seven common nail shapes to choose from, all with a slightly different visual effect. Want to make your fingers look slimmer? There’s a nail shape for that. Are your nails on the thinner side? There’s an optimal shape for that as well.

First, we have square nails which are fairly self-explanatory: The tips are squared off on the edges to give a clean, sleek look. If you like the square shape but prefer something a bit more subtle, squoval may be a better option. 

Then, there’s almond and stiletto. Almond shaped nails are the softer of the two and much easier to achieve on a natural nail. Almond nails have a rounded tip but flare out toward the bottom giving the illusion of a point, without any harsh tip. 

Stiletto nails on the other hand do come to a point. This shape can technically be achieved on a natural nail, but that nail would have to be pretty long and strong to hold up. 

Coffin nails are another, edgier option. This shape consists of round sides with square edges and a flat top. It’s essentially a happy medium between almond and square nails. 

Now if you’re looking for something on the natural end of the spectrum, oval and round nails are the way to go. Especially if you like to keep your nails trimmed shorter but still want to shape them, a rounded tip is perfect. This shape isn’t too complicated to achieve and it’s certainly more practical than many of the other looks. 

“The round nail shape is rounded along the entire tip, and it works well on all nail lengths,” said Amy Lin, founder of sundays—a nail care brand focused on wellness. This is what makes the round shape so great. Whether you’ve been growing your nails out for a while, or keep them on the shorter side, a round tip is an easy go-to. 

Further, “Round nails don’t break as easily compared to oval or pointed nails,” Lin said. Oval nails are similar to round nails, but they have longer sides, which makes them more flimsy. So if you’re constantly using your hands and want to avoid snags, tears, or nail breakage in general, then round nails will be the best bet. 

Fun fact from Lin:

"In Chinese tradition, we turn our nails round as it is a symbol of good luck and good fortune."

For at-home manicures, prep work is essential. You’ll want to clean your nails of any residual polish or excess dirt. That's right—cleaning your nails is best practice to prep for your new manicure, whether they were painted previously or not. 

You can use nail polish remover on a cotton pad or cotton round and dip a q-tip in some remover to get those hard-to-reach edges if needed. Remember not to press too hard on the tip of your nails, especially if yours are on the thinner side. 

Now it’s time to grab your nail file. Here’s what Lin recommends: “You can start at the sides of your nail and file toward the center, switching back and forth between sides and moving in the same direction.” Continuously going back and forth between both sides will ensure your shape is even. 

“Then, put your file underneath your nails to check each side carefully to make sure it is evenly filed. It is very common when we file round shapes and overly file one side versus the other,” Lin said. 

When you step into a nail salon you’ll likely find a sanitizing station. This is where nail experts clean all of their tools to avoid spreading infection. Even though you may not be sharing your tools with others, it’s still best practice to cleanse your clippers, cuticle scissors, and any other tools in your at-home manicure kit that touch the skin. 

It’s easy to get small tears around the cuticle when you're filing, so you’ll want to keep that area as clean as possible in case that does happen.

If you do tend to get tears and cuts around the cuticles, you should invest in cuticle oil. If you already use a cuticle product and haven’t seen the desired result, you may not be applying enough. 

You can use cuticle oil a few times a day, especially when you’re washing your hands often. Not sure which oil to buy? Here are a few of our go-to cuticle products. 

Lin also noted the importance of omega-3 fatty acids when looking at nail health from the inside out.* While omega-3 fatty acids have not been proven to enhance nail strength or growth, supplementation has been shown to support a healthy skin barrier, which may keep the skin on your hands and around your nails looking hydrated.* (You can read more about how omega-3s support skin health here*).

Whether you want to grow your nails longer, stronger, or just want some extra support, nail supplements are a great way to ensure you're getting the nutrients you need.* Here's a list of the best supplements for nail health if you're on the hunt.