{"id":306,"date":"2025-05-02T12:53:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T12:53:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/?p=306"},"modified":"2025-05-03T14:40:07","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T14:40:07","slug":"does-my-nail-shape-bother-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/02\/does-my-nail-shape-bother-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Does My Nail Shape Bother You?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TikTok is my guilty pleasure, where I go to zone out from the world and feel a little moment of joy<\/a>. I\u2019ve trained the algorithm well; 99% of the time, I see videos that inspire me to spend money, but every so often, it serves me something more thought-provoking. That\u2019s exactly what happened when I stumbled upon a video by nail content creator Shana, aka @vintage_dusties<\/a>, which was posted to Instagram by <\/a>Allure<\/a><\/em>. Shana\u2019s account is dedicated to reviving vintage nail polish and painting her nails with it. A harmless pursuit, right? <\/p>\n

It seems not. The comments section on that now-viral video is flooded with unsavoury remarks about the shape of her nails, a distinctive short stiletto inspired by 1930s Hollywood. <\/p>\n

For a moment, I was astounded. How could hundreds of people feel so strongly about the shape of someone else\u2019s nails?\u00a0Instead of scrolling past onto someone\u2019s latest clothes haul, the journalist in me was intrigued \u2014 so I kept digging. It turns out that there\u2019s an entire world of nail shape hate on TikTok. Square nails? They\u2019re pass\u00e9<\/a>, apparently. Almond nails? So millennial coded<\/a>. While my search didn\u2019t exactly lift my mood, it did get me thinking: Who gets to decide which nail shapes are in \u2014 and which ones are out?<\/em> And why do other people\u2019s nail shapes provoke such strong reactions?<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Which Nail Shapes Are Hot \u2014 Or Not?<\/h2>\n

I took to Instagram to poll my friends and followers on what they believe to be the current \u2018cool\u2019 or \u2018It\u2019 nail shapes, and overwhelmingly, they pointed to mine: the short, neat squoval popularized by manicurists like Harriet Westmoreland<\/a> and Julia Diogo<\/a>, aka @paintedbyjools<\/a>. One thing is clear: social media plays a huge role in shaping which nail styles become de rigueur. A quick scroll through Instagram serves up an abundance of evidence \u2014 thousands of close-ups of immaculate, short manicures like mine, with nail artists tagged as though they\u2019re fashion designers.<\/p>\n

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Kimberley Nkosi, once manicurist to multiple senior royals, says it\u2019s no accident that they tend to choose short, nude nails: \u2018It\u2019s a visual code; a quiet signal of restraint, tradition and \u2018appropriate\u2019 femininity within their class structure.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Trend forecaster Angela Baidoo<\/a> has been tracking this shift toward what she calls the \u201cminimal and micro,\u201d or as she also puts it, \u201cthe new \u2018demure\u2019 beauty ideal.\u201d It\u2019s no surprise, she says, given the fashion and beauty industries\u2019 obsession with \u2018quiet luxury<\/a>\u2019 and \u2018trad wife<\/a>\u2019 aesthetics. As fashion historian Suzanne E. Shapiro<\/a>, author of Nails: The Story of the Modern Manicure<\/em>, pointed out in a previous Refinery29 article<\/a>, well-manicured nails have long been associated with status across many cultures. Perfect nails and soft skin historically signalled that one didn\u2019t work with their hands. Still, individuals of all classes have taken pride in grooming, said Shapiro, turning to home remedies to buff, trim, and care for their nails \u2014 even while leading physically demanding lives. Maya Regan, assistant beauty trends editor at Stylus: The Trends Intelligence Business<\/a>, agrees: \u201cThe quiet luxury trend is driving a preference for elevated simplicity, which is steering softer and more wearable round shapes like almond and oval \u2014 styles that feel polished and effortlessly chic,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Kimberley Nkosi<\/a>, once manicurist to multiple senior royals, says it\u2019s no accident that they tend to choose a similar shape and style: \u201cThe royal family\u2019s signature nail look \u2014 short, neat, barely-there neutral tones \u2014 isn\u2019t just about personal taste,\u201d notes Nkosi. \u201cIt\u2019s a visual code; a quiet signal of restraint, tradition and \u2018appropriate\u2019 femininity within their class structure. There\u2019s an unspoken expectation here \u2014 an inherited standard of what is considered refined, ladylike and proper.\u201d <\/p>\n

Nkosi adds that lots of our nail choices are deeply rooted in class performance, where subtlety equals sophistication, and loud or extravagant nails can be read (unfairly) as \u2018tacky\u2019 or \u2018too much.\u2019 \u201cIt\u2019s the same reason we associate [short], neutral manicures with high society, even outside royal circles,\u201d says Nkosi. \u201cThat \u2018clean\u2019, unobtrusive look has been marketed to us as the gold standard of \u2018elegance\u2019\u2014 especially for white, upper-class femininity.\u201d<\/p>\n

When celebrity manicurist Harriet Westmoreland skyrocketed in popularity, so did her signature short, squoval nail. With a manicure costing upwards of \u00a3200 (approximately $265), this shape, length and distinct lack of cuticles has become the look du jour among the famous and wealthy who can afford it. Those who can\u2019t often seek to replicate the style elsewhere.\u00a0But the question remains: Are we coveting the look or the lifestyle of her clients? I choose my \u2018Harriet Westmoreland nails\u2019 because of what they represent: good grooming and a chic persona. They align with my job, the circles I move in and the direction I want my career to go. These nails have been culturally coded this way throughout history, and regardless of trends, they seemingly remain a timeless symbol of what\u2019s chic.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Too often, Black and brown women from a certain demographic, with extravagant nails, will be labelled as \u2018hood\u2019 or \u2018ghetto\u2019, until it is picked up by the mainstream and worn by, say, Kylie Jenner.\u2019<\/p>\n

Angela Baidoo, trend forecaster<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Beauty Editor and manicure enthusiast Tori Crowther<\/a> believes nothing in beauty is ever surface-level: \u201cEven if it\u2019s subconscious, attitudes towards manicures are deeply embedded in our culture, biases and experiences,\u201d she says. The opposite of short nail shapes is the long, square, typically acrylic nails often associated with \u2014 and popularized by \u2014 Black people. For Black nail artist Sadie J<\/a>, they evoke memories of \u201cCaribbean women who love loud nails with bright colors, bold prints and embellishments.\u201d Yet the judgments often cast on these nails reflect the longstanding double standards in beauty culture, where styles pioneered by marginalized communities are frequently stigmatized, only to be appropriated when accepted by the mainstream.<\/p>\n

Baidoo says that Black and brown people have often been the blueprint for several beauty trends like long square nails, before the masses catch on, rebrand them, and make them popular: \u201cThis often means a sanitization and erasure of the originators of these trends,\u201d says Baidoo. \u201cToo often, Black and brown women from a certain demographic, with extravagant nails, will be labelled as \u2018hood\u2019 or \u2018ghetto\u2019, until it is picked up by the mainstream and worn by, say, Kylie Jenner.\u201d Only then are these nails considered \u2018avant-garde\u2019 or \u2018bold\u2019, says Baidoo.<\/p>\n

While these judgements exist \u2014 and many people make nail choices shaped by privilege and bias \u2014 nails remain a simple form of self-expression for others. Black beauty journalist Aaliyah Harry<\/a> <\/strong>loves bold nail art and long lengths: \u201cIt\u2019s such a fun way to express myself,\u201d she says, adding that she tried short nails once, but felt they didn\u2019t authentically represent her. \u201cThese days, I always gravitate towards longer lengths, usually in a coffin or almond shape,\u201d she tells me. \u201cThere\u2019s something about those silhouettes that feels truer to my style.\u201d <\/p>\n

Where nail shapes are concerned, trends are cyclical and constantly shifting. As Regan notes, they\u2019re influenced both by who\u2019s popular on social media and what\u2019s happening on the runways each season. \u201cFor S\/S 25 and A\/W 25 we have noted a move towards much more striking shapes that focus on length to enable more play with color, patterns and embellishment,\u201d she explains. Celebrities also play a big role in steering these shifts. \u201c[There\u2019s a wave of] celebrities endorsing longer and more maximalist nail shapes to showcase individuality \u2014 think Chappell Roan, Doechii and Cynthia Erivo.\u201d<\/p>\n

What Your Nail Shape Says \u2014 At Every Age<\/h2>\n

As trends continue to evolve, age certainly plays a role in shaping nail preferences.\u00a0For Gen Z, short, natural, or sheer-toned nails<\/a> are perceived as effortless and modern thanks to trends like \u2018soap nails<\/a>.\u2019 Millennials, it seems, remain loyal<\/a> to almond or coffin shapes \u2014 versatile, elegant, and easy to maintain. Meanwhile, square nails \u2014 once the gold standard of the early 2000s \u2014 have become \u201cboomer coded\u201d on TikTok<\/a>, evoking memories of chunky French tips and thick acrylic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Digital creator Anniie Arif<\/a> \u2014 famous for her medium-length, squared-off almond nails \u2014 believes age certainly influences how we perceive nail shapes: \u201cI\u2019m 34, and I feel like this shape strikes that balance between stylish and mature,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s feminine without being too trendy, and it just works for where I\u2019m at right now.\u201d It\u2019s a reminder that our beauty choices often go deeper than just aesthetics, but is that how older generations think about their nails, too?<\/p>\n

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Nail shapes might seem like a small detail, but they carry the weight of who\u2019s allowed to take up space, express themselves and still be seen as \u2018appropriate\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

I asked my 70-year-old mom, who loves to get her nails done, but always opts for a short, rounded, nude-toned manicure. \u201cI\u2019ve nothing against long nails, they just wouldn\u2019t work for my lifestyle,\u201d she tells me. \u201cI do a lot of practical jobs around the house, and I prepare a lot of food. Long nails would just get in the way of that,\u201d she adds. \u201cAs for the color, I\u2019ve always been a shy and quiet person, so I will always try to minimize drawing attention to myself.\u201d She also mentions that it could be partly due to the way she was raised: \u201cNobody in my family ever wore anything too flamboyant or colorful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suzie Bonaldi<\/a>, a fashion and beauty vlogger and manicurist, says it\u2019s easy to assume one age bracket or class leans towards a certain type of nail shape or length. \u201cBut for the average person living their life offline, it really is a case of lifestyle over aesthetics,\u201d she asserts. We often forget that for many, social media doesn\u2019t play a role in nail choice, thanks to prioritizing practicality over trends. Individuals with busy or hands-on jobs might opt for shorter, more practical nail shapes, while others may prefer more classic or subdued colors for professional settings.<\/p>\n

Nail Creators Are Pushing Back On What\u2019s In \u2014 & Out \u2014 In Nail Shapes<\/h2>\n

It would be remiss not to talk with Shana, aka Vintage Dusties<\/a>, the TikToker <\/strong>behind the viral videos where this very debate exploded in the comments. Her nails are a short stiletto, but to her, they are 1930s Hollywood-esque \u2014 a deliberate choice that aligns with her videos in which she revives vintage nail polishes. She actively pushes back against narrow beauty standards by championing this unconventional nail shape and celebrating it as art, expression, and a nod to history. <\/p>\n

But I think Shana <\/strong>gives her haters more grace than they probably deserve: \u201cIt\u2019s just a very human response to be uncomfortable with the unfamiliar,\u201d she tells R29. \u201cI\u2019m very accustomed to negative reactions, so it doesn\u2019t bother me in the least.\u201d Her nails proudly challenge mainstream beauty norms: \u201cMany viewers will comment that they initially hated my nails, but they\u2019ve grown comfortable with the shape after repeated exposure.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the comments of her videos, she responds to those who call her nails \u201cgross\u201d or \u201cnasty\u201d, flipping the narrative and challenging the idea of what is beautiful. She\u2019s not alone: a growing wave of nail artists and creators are reclaiming space for aesthetics that have long been policed, offering a more inclusive vision of beauty that embraces difference rather than punishing it. Take content creator Blair McLurkin<\/a>, for example, who inspires her audience with her long and elaborately decorated press-on nails, proving that you don\u2019t need to be able to grow your own to express yourself. <\/p>\n

I used to think that short, barely-there nails were the gold standard of elegance, but I\u2019m rethinking what that even means \u2014 and who gets to define it. Nail shapes aren\u2019t just about what flatters your hands; they\u2019re tiny reflections of status, culture, and the unspoken rules we\u2019ve absorbed without even realizing. What\u2019s seen as stylish on one person might be labelled \u201ctacky\u201d on another, and those judgements are often drawn along lines of race and class. Nail shapes might seem like a small detail, but they carry the weight of who\u2019s allowed to take up space, express themselves, and still be seen as \u201cappropriate\u201d. In a culture obsessed with defining good taste, maybe it\u2019s time we stopped playing by the rules altogether.<\/p>\n

This story was originally published on Refinery29 UK.<\/em><\/p>\n

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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11 Butter Yellow Nail Ideas \u2014 & How To DIY Them<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TikTok is my guilty pleasure, where I go to zone out from the world and feel a little moment of joy. I\u2019ve trained the algorithm well; 99% of the time, I see videos that inspire me to spend money, but every so often, it serves me something more thought-provoking. That\u2019s exactly what happened when I…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":308,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=306"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":309,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306\/revisions\/309"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}