Elegant and Expensive Looking: 25 Almond-Shaped Nail Designs We're Wearing This Month

Choosing a nail shape is the first step in any manicure, whether that's at home or the salon. You can go for round, square, oval, or any iteration in between. However, we'd argue that almond-shaped nails are the most classic. They're also the most elegant, sophisticated, and expensive looking. They're the epitome of the quiet luxury aesthetic, which explains why celebs like Sofia Richie Grainge and Hailey Bieber often opt for them.

Since we're in the mood to switch up our manicures but not our nail shapes, we spent an inordinate amount of time scouring social media to find the ultimate almond-shaped nail inspo. (What can we say? We're beauty editors, and we take our manicures seriously.) Keep scrolling to see all 25 editor-approved designs.

1. Butter Yellow

Person wearing butter yellow almond-shaped nails.

(Image credit: @nailartbyqueenie)

There's no doubt about it: Butter yellow is the color of the season. Turns out, it looks just as chic on your nails as it does hanging in your closet.

2. Beach-Bound

Person with a gold and pink beach-themed manicure.

(Image credit: @gieos.room/@m.u.s.e.thesalon)

The pre-vacation nail salon visit is almost as important as the trip itself, and we've never seen anything more befitting of the beach than this mermaid-esque manicure.

3. Dipped in Dots

Woman wearing a baby blue French-tip manicure with black polka dots.

(Image credit: @nailartbyqueenie)

The coolest fashion people we know can't stop wearing polka dots, so we're trying them out on our nails for a trendy twist.

4. Summer Aura

A woman wearing white-rimmed gradient nails.

(Image credit: @nailartbyqueenie)

Aura nails have been on the rise this year, and we're loving this sorbet-inspired color scheme for a cute, summery set.

5. Molten Metal

Molten metal silver nail art against a natural nail base.

(Image credit: @pink_oblivion)

Molten-metal nails have been making a splash for the past few years, and we love how these organic shapes look against short almond-shaped nails.

6. Midas Touch

A person's nail with a milky base and gold-rimmed micro-French tip.

(Image credit: @iramshelton)

Nothing screams elegance like this understated gold-rimmed manicure. Simply ask for a milky base and gold micro-French tips to achieve this elevated nail art at the salon.

7. Milky Manicure

A person wearing a milky white manicure.

(Image credit: @themaniclub)

Try switching out your regular polish for a sheer, milky shade. This cloudlike color is like a slip for your nails, and we can't get over how elevated it looks.

8. Tortoiseshell Tips

Tortoiseshell nail design.

(Image credit: @nailartbyqueenie)

Mixing a tortoiseshell design with brown French tips? Stunning. Bring this reference picture to the salon, or if you're a fan of at-home manicures, use the Static Nails Reusable Pop-On Manicure ($18).

9. Spotted French

Tortoiseshell French manicure.

(Image credit: @leatngu)

For a subtler take on tortoiseshell, opt for this French manicure version.

10. Jade Green

Jade green nail art.

(Image credit: @nailartbyqueenie)

Jade gemstones are said to have soothing energy. We think this mani does too.

11. Confetti Popper

Glitter nails.

(Image credit: @iramshelton)

Who says glitter can't be elegant? This is the grown-up way to do it.

12. Color-Blocked

White and burgundy nails.

(Image credit: @paragonnails)

We're big fans of color-blocking in our outfits and on our manicures. Excuse us while we buy OPI's Alpine Snow ($12) and Got the Blues for Red ($12) to re-create this look.

13. Swirly Set

Pink nail design.

(Image credit: @leatngu)

This swirled pink-and-white design feels fresh and romantic.

14. Fine-Tipped French

Dark red French manicure.

(Image credit: @raelondonnails)

These simple, merlot-colored French tips are a subtle way to incorporate color into a manicure. We'll use Essie's Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish in Spiked With Style ($13) to achieve a similar effect.

15. Double-Lined

Cherry red almond nails.

(Image credit: @iramshelton)

We're also eyeing these cherry-red negative-space French tips.

16. Inkblot

Black nails.

(Image credit: @iramshelton)

Glossy black polish looks so elegant and elevated on almond-shaped nails. We recommend Chanel's Le Vernis Nail Colour in Le Diable en Chanel ($33) for the inkiest pigment.

17. Negative Space

Dusty purple nail design.

(Image credit: @iramshelton)

We need this muted purple on our nails ASAP. If you ask us, it looks a lot like Essie's In Pursuit of Craftiness Nail Polish ($10).

18. Classic French

French manicure.

(Image credit: @iramshelton)

A French manicure design on almond-shaped nails? It couldn't get more classic.

19. Dainty Diamonds

Oxblood nails.

(Image credit: @iramshelton)

Burgundy nail polish is made even more sophisticated when you add nail gems.

20. Glazed Donut

Chrome pearl nails.

(Image credit: @iramshelton)

Whatever you call it—chrome or glazed donut nails—this manicure is so sleek.

21. Rock-Star Glam

Black star nails.

(Image credit: @nails_of_la)

These black, diamond-studded stars really pop on a base of neutral nail polish.

22. Two-Tone Twist

Black and brown nails.

(Image credit: @leatngu)

When you can't decide between black and brown, why not use both?

23. Hard Candy

Multicolored nails.

(Image credit: @themaniclub)

We love these multicolored nails, and they'd be so easy to re-create at home.

24. Tied With a Bow

Bow nail design.

(Image credit: @oliveandjune)

This manicure is proof that a simple bow design can add so much. You can paint it yourself, or you can snag the exact Olive and June Super Stick Press-On Nails ($8).

25. Hearts on Fire

Powder blue nail design.

(Image credit: @nails_of_la)

Mark our words: This powder-blue "hearts on fire" design will be our next mani.

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Kaitlyn McLintock
Beauty Editor

Kaitlyn McLintock is a Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. She has 10 years of experience in the editorial industry, having previously written for other industry-leading publications, like Byrdie, InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, and others. She covers all things beauty and wellness-related, but she has a special passion for creating skincare content (whether that's writing about an innovative in-office treatment, researching the benefits of a certain ingredient, or testing the latest and greatest at-home skin device). Having lived in Los Angeles, California, and Austin, Texas, she has since relocated back to her home state, Michigan. When she's not writing, researching, or testing beauty products, she's working through an ever-growing book collection or swimming in the Great Lakes.

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