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."

If you're looking for colour inspiration for your next almond-shaped manicure, scroll down, we have plenty.

1. Sheer White

There's something about the pairing of a sheer white finish and a perfectly-shaped almond nail that looks so expensive. "I think it's the super glossy, clean finish that you get from a sheer white polish," agrees Bamber. "That plus, a really neat and symmetrical almond-shaped tip is just a match made in heaven."

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2. Baby Pink

"Some people think that pink nails always look tacky," Bamber says. "But honestly, I think it's all in the length." She recommends an elongated almond shape to give a pink manicure a more grown-up, sophisticated effect.

3. Warm Red

"Red is another colour that can look tacky when worn with the wrong shape," says Bamber. "But opt for an almond shape rather than a squared-off or pointed tip and choose a warm or muted shade of red and it will look so much more elegant and sophisticated."

4. Chocolate Brown

"While I do think brown looks really cool with a short, rounded nail, I love it just as much on an elongated almond shape too," says Bamber. "It looks much more chic and expensive."

5. Deep Burgundy

"Burgundy nails with an almond shape was one of my most requested combinations this winter," says Bamber. "I can see why—it's a great colour to opt for if you normally wear black, but want to try something different yet still quite neutral."

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6. Classic French Tips

Granted, it's not technically a colour, but I really do think that a classic French tip looks its very best when paired with an almond-shaped nail, and Bamber agrees. "Any manicurist will tell you that an almond shape is the best to wear with a French tip design," she says. "I also think that am ombré tip works really well for the same reason."

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