Square

You're a practical girl who'd choose comfort over couture any day. Maybe you work with your hands, maybe you find you can type on your phone easier with them, either way you prefer your nails short and simple.
 
Best for:          
Short nails with wide and stubby nail beds.

Pros:
Square nails are super low maintenance, practical and can be achieved with just a humble pair of nail clippers.

Cons:
As this is the least elongating style to choose it can make small hands appear stubby so works best on long, thin fingers.

Perfect with:
Just because your nails are plain and simple doesn't mean your manicure has to be. Go for something completely unexpected like a solid coat of shimmery gold. High-shine golden hues are big for summer and will give your nail shape a lift without looking too OTT.

Try Oy Another Polish Joke by OPI or Belvedere by Naillusion.

Rounded

Chic and sophisticated, you'd describe your personal style as Classic with a capital C. You're looking for a nail shape to perfectly complement your effortlessly put together look and the timeless elegance of the rounded nail ticks all the right boxes.

Best for:
Small hands with short fingers.

Pros:
All you need to maintain this fuss-free look is a nail file.

Cons:
Some say the classic rounded look is out-dated and have taken it to the next level: the Stiletto.

Perfect with:
You need fresh and pretty pastels to give your classic nail shape a gorgeously modern edge.

Try Smooth Op by Naillusion, Sally Hansen MiracleGel in B Girl or Essence Gel Nail Polish in Forgive Me.

Related Article:  9 of the Most On Trend Summer Nail Colours You Should Try
 

Stiletto

You are known for your creative and innovative beauty looks by friends and Instagram followers alike. You're not afraid to make a statement and even if it means everything takes you three times as long to do (namely typing on your phone) if it looks good it's worth it (and that's what autocorrect is for, right?). You want nails that will be the perfect match to your #OOTD posts.
 
Best for:
Because of the long length of the stiletto nails it's uber elongating and flattering for all hand shapes. If you have weak or short nails treat yourself to a set of fake stilettos.

Pros:
Stiletto nails are a serious statement and will gain you tons of compliments and comments, both online and IRL.

Cons:
This shape isn't usually only possible with fake nails (natural nails tend to break at this length) so this look takes a bit of commitment, be it regular trips to the salon or watching tutorials and mastering the techniques yourself.

Perfect with:
This shape speaks for itself so take a tip from Kylie, queen of the stiletto nail, and pair it with an understated coat of nude.

Try LA Girl Nude Nail Polish and try your hand at shaping false nails at home with the ImPress Press On Manicure.

Squoval aka the Soft Square

You don't want to lead the pack but you don't want to get left behind either. You find yourself in the middle of the crowd for most things and this shape, being a mix of square and oval, is the perfect compromise. A softened nail edge means no snagging or breaking and is great for a girl who is on the go but still wants to look cute.
 
Best for:
Wide fingers with long nail beds.

Pros:
By rounding the edges of your square nails you give a feminine touch to a practical look.

Cons:
This look needs a bit more length than a simple square shape as when filing you only want to file the white growth of your nail, not the part in your nail bed.

Perfect with:
Feel like you want to try a nail trend but anything too out there will make you uncomfortable? Pinks are very hot at the moment and you can choose how much of a statement you want to make depending on the shade.

Try a hot pink like Sally Hansen MiracleGel Nail Polish in Mad Woman, or a more subtle shade like this pretty pastel offering from Essence The Gel Nail Polish in Sweet as Candy.

Oval

Everything you do is carefully thought out and perfectly executed, from your crease-free monochrome outfit to your sleek and shiny ponytail. Everyone around you secretly wonders if you have a live-in professional hair and make up artist and you just smile sweetly and keep them guessing. Always one to put looking good over being practical, the choice for you is never heels or flats, it's which heels go best with your brand new handbag.
 
Best for:
Long nail beds

Pros:
Oval shaped nails elongate your fingers and create the illusion of bigger nail beds. The difference between oval and almond? Almond has more of a pointed tip while an oval shape is blunt and subtler.

Cons:
Sorry if you’re a nail biter, this shape is only achievable with long nails

Perfect with:
Reds are always on-trend and right now it's all about the deep red, matching everything in your already chic wardrobe.

Try Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Red Carpet or Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Enamel in Glastonberry.

Related Article: 11 of the Best Nail Art Trends for Summer
 

Almond

The Almond shape is best for the girl who likes to try something new but doesn't like to take risks. You're not one to try it yourself in case you get it wrong so head to the salon for a professional finish (and take notes of her techniques so you can try it next time!). This shape can be seen in the Instagram feed of every it-girl and is guaranteed to look good on anyone.
 
Best for:
Short fingers with long and wide nail beds

Pros:
The almond shape is all over the runways at the moment and will make anyone's hands look super fashionable and chic.

Cons:
The pointed tip of this shape makes it an easy target for breakages.

Perfect with:
Shades of blue are having a huge moment and suits someone like you who likes their trends tried and trusted. If you feel like spicing things up, try a French mani with blue tips for a twist on a classic.

Try Essie Neon Nail Colour in All Access Pass or Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy in Wild Card.

Related Article.  Insider Secrets to Guarantee Longer, Stronger Nails
 

Coffin aka the Ballerina

You're super confident and it shows through your ever-changing hair style/colour, wardrobe and beauty routine. While you love to change it up you also take sensibility into consideration, making the practical yet out-there Coffin shape ideal. Don't let the name put you off, the tapered rectangle shape of these just happens to look like a coffin and is suitable all year round, not just Halloween time!
 
Best for:
Narrow and short nail beds

Pros:
Although these nails are long the flat tip means they won't limit you; you'll still be able to open your laptop without breaking a nail or pull on a pair of tights without creating a ladder.

Cons:
These are hard to get with natural nails unless yours are super strong. Try Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle to get stronger nails!

Perfect with:
We're loving dark nail tones this summer, great for giving your look an edge on a sunny day.

Try OPI Nail Lacquer in I Don’t Give a Rotterdam or Revlon Colorstay Gel Enamel in Hold Em.

 

The squareletto nail shape has also been trending this year. It been spotted on the fingertips of celebrities such as Rihanna, Zendaya, and Adele - and now you can sport the look yourself. Check out Glamour's step-by-step guide to getting the mani of the moment in 'Here’s How to Get The Hottest Nail Trend of 2016'.
 

View Video. How To Get The Hottest Nail Trend of 2016 l Beauty l Glamour