Wearing These Colours With This Nail Shape Made My Manicures Look So Expensive

Until I started writing about manicure techniques and nail trends for a living, I never really gave much thought to different nail shape and nail colour combinations. The thing is, once you do start thinking about it, you realise that some pairing just make total sense. A short rounded nail with a glossy black finish, for example—so chic! And others really don’t… A case in point, long, squared-off, and opaque white.

When it comes to nailing (pardon the pun) a sophisticated, elegant, and above all expensive-looking manicure, an almond-shaped nail wins every time. There’s something about the elongated length and softly rounded tip that looks so classy and pretty. “I genuinely think that an almond-shaped nail suits everyone,” says manicurist Ashleigh Bamber. “It can be worn at different lengths but always has the effect of making fingers look longer.” What’s more, even a long almond-shaped nail can be a more practical option than a pointed or squared tip since it’s less likely to catch or snag and break.

Now that we’ve settled on almond being the most elegant and expensive-looking nail shape, it’s time to consider colour. “Truthfully I think that an almond-shaped nail looks good with any colour,” says Bamber. “However there are a few that I would consider to be my favourite and my most-requested shades for almond nails.”