Nail shapes explained: almond, square, stiletto, duck and more

Every full set on the menu is “any shape”, so the shape is your call. It changes how the nails look, how they feel on your hands, and what kind of art has room to breathe. Here’s what each shape is, who it suits, and where you can see it in the gallery.

Square

Straight sides, a flat free edge, sharp or very slightly softened corners. Square is the classic long-nail shape and the one with the most surface to paint, which is why so much detailed art lands on it. It’s strong along the sides, so it holds up well at length. The trade-off is that sharp corners catch on things, and on narrow nail beds a wide square edge can look heavy.

Good for: bold designs that need space, French tips with a hard line, anyone who wants length without a point.

See it: the turquoise tips with pink blooms, strawberry lemonade, and the XXXL blue freestyle.

Almond

Tapered sides that meet in a rounded point, like the nut. Almond makes fingers look longer and works at almost any length, from a short overlay to a full extension. Because it narrows toward the tip, the strongest part of the nail is near the base, so it’s more forgiving than stiletto for daily wear.

Good for: an elegant everyday shape, French variations, art that runs along the length of the nail.

See it: the polka-dot French with gold crosses, the fine china set, and the Corpse Bride Halloween nails.

Stiletto

Almond taken to a sharp point. Stiletto is the most dramatic shape on the menu and it’s a favorite for character work, because the long taper gives a painted face or figure an obvious focal point. It’s also the shape that needs the most respect: the point is the weakest part of the nail, so it’s best built in polygel, and it isn’t a shape for hands that do heavy work.

Good for: statement sets, character and freehand art, occasions.

See it: the Patrick Star set, the paisley stilettos, and the violet and gold stilettos.

Duck

Also called flare. The nail widens toward the free edge instead of narrowing, so the tip fans out. Duck nails are unmistakable, they photograph well, and the wide tip is a big canvas for a French line or a cluster of stones. Leah sculpts them often enough that they have their own following on the channel.

Good for: a shape people notice, bold French tips, bling at the edge.

See it: the gold 3D flower duckies, the opal and green duckies, and the pink French tip duckies.

Short and round

Not every set is long. A short square, a soft round, or a short almond over the natural nail gives you color and a little art with none of the adjustment period. Short sets suit hands that type, cook, or lift, and they’re the natural choice for an overlay or a basic manicure.

Good for: everyday wear, first-time enhancements, growing your natural nails out underneath.

See it: the elegant shorties, the short green Miffy nails, and the simple blue gel manicure.

Choosing between them

Three questions usually settle it:

1. What do your hands do all day? The more you use them, the shorter and rounder you’ll want to go. Square and almond wear better than stiletto for work.
2. How long do you want them? Length and shape go together. Stiletto and duck need length to read as the shape; almond and round work at any length.
3. What art do you want? Big designs want square or duck. Character faces love a stiletto point. Delicate line work looks best on almond.

If you’re still unsure, send a reference photo by Instagram DM before you book. Shape and length are set when the base is sculpted, and it’s much easier to decide beforehand than in the chair. Base services and their lengths are on the services page, and you can line one up with an art tier in the estimator.