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Published on 10 September 2026

Nail shape guide: square, oval, ballerina

The three shapes that come up most often in our gallery — how to tell them apart, what French has to do with it and how we find your shape.

Nail shape guide: square, oval, ballerina

The shape decides more about the impression than the colour does. The same tone on a short square nail and on a long ballerina nail — those are two different hands. Here are the three shapes that come up most often in our gallery.

Square

A straight edge, straight sides, the corners softened a little. A calm, clear shape that looks good even short — short and square is the shape you will see most often in our gallery.

Oval

The sides taper towards the tip, which is rounded. A soft shape without corners that lengthens the finger visually. It is the classic choice if you like things understated.

Ballerina

Like a coffin shape with a straight tip: the sides taper, the edge stays flat. The shape needs length to come into its own; in our gallery it sits on an extension.

And French?

French is not a shape but a way of colouring: a pale tip on a quiet base. It works on all three shapes and looks different on each, because it traces the edge.

How we find your shape

At the start of your appointment we look at your nails: how the nail bed sits, how much length there is, what you are wearing now. And we ask what you do with your hands. Out of both comes a suggestion — not a verdict. You decide the shape.

If a picture is easier to choose from than a description: in the gallery you can filter by style and colour, and every picture leads straight to the matching service.

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