Yeah, almond tips break so easily. I switched to squoval. You get that squared-off look but the corners don’t snag on everything.
Yes, and I’ve come to think of it less as a flaw and more as a measurement. Mine snap at a fairly predictable point, so I started paying attention to where the breaks actually happened rather than just how long the nail looked. It was always the same spot every time, just past where the nail stops being supported underneath.
Once I knew that, filing back before I got there stopped feeling like giving up and felt more like maintenance.
Squovals held up better than I expected. Had them at my longest length and they lasted a while before they finally broke.
Squoval or rounded shapes are your best bet since square corners snag on everything.
Just try different shapes. Square and squoval kept tearing at the edges for me, so I switched to oval and it’s been way better. But that’s just my nails. It’s super personal.
Squoval for me. I only use it if I really want something durable, though.
Square’s a close second, don’t get me wrong, but that slightly rounded edge just works better somehow.
Squoval actually has some science behind it as the strongest shape. The corners distribute stress better than rounded shapes, which is why almonds tend to snap so easily.
That skin you’re oiling is your proximal nail fold, which protects where your nail grows from and keeps out bacteria and gunk.
Keep up with the oil though. I tell all my clients the same thing. Consistent care will tighten that skin up over time, and you’ll notice it stops looking so overgrown.
Almond shape for me. Went from super square nails that snapped constantly to almond, and the difference is kind of unreal.
Reminds me of when I switched from gel polish back to regular for at-home manis. Sometimes the thing you assume is stronger just isn’t. My nails are holding up way better now. Might never go back to square.
Rounded square. There’s something about that shape that just refuses to chip. I’ve had square nails for about a month now and only lost one, which feels like a small miracle.
Rounded shapes seem to be the secret to longevity.
I leave a tiny bit of extra width near the tip. It stops the nail from twisting when I’m working around the house. I check the edges every couple of days and smooth any rough spots right away before they catch on anything.
Any shape can be durable enough if you prep and treat it right, so I wouldn’t let it put you off taking a size you actually want.
Also noticed that matching the shape to how the nail grows naturally cuts down on peeling at the layers.