Do you happen to have a long palm with slim fingers? Good, since you are a perfect candidate for rocking square nail shape. It’s one of the most versatile nail shapes that are appropriate to wear in any setting and on any occasion. However, what makes our nails stand out is not their shape but nail designs tailored to the hottest trends. And here is our fresh collection of inspirations that are worth stealing for your next manicure.
Tapered Square Nails
The square shape is praised for the freedom it allows, as you can wear your natural nails short or long and be quite happy with the result, unlike with the more demanding stiletto shape. Yet, if you bother to grow long square nails, you can take it a step further and slightly narrow the sides towards the tip while keeping it flat. You will arrive at square tapered nails that look daintier than the classic shape but remain wider throughout the length if compared with ballerina nails.
via @nailsglad
Short Square Nails
There is nothing wrong with clipping your nails short since you can always refine the shape, which may seem too simple in its skimpy version, with an exquisite design. Elegant nail summer trends include mirror effects, half moon mani, and mismatched full-on colors for different hands. Smiley faces, colorful swirls, or cute short nails with complementary pattern/color combinations are among the fanciest options. You can find more ideas for your next nail appointment by following the links.
via @safinailstudio
Square Acrylic Nails
We love acrylic nails for the enhanced strength, better durability, and extra length they grant to our mani. Although girls tend to use acrylics for getting dramatically long or at least medium-length nails, acrylic manicures can strengthen the plates of short square-shaped nails to allow for more daring designs, namely, massive gems or multidimensional sculptured flowers.
via @nailsbykatheryn
Long Square Nails
If short square acrylic nails don’t provide enough space for your creativity, it’s time to move to longer versions, be they natural or artificial. Square long nails are less likely to visually cut the length of your palm and can accommodate plenty of designs that would look overwhelming on less ample nail plates. The trendiest summer nail art offers 3D droplets made of gel, nail charms, and gradients.
via @nailsbymar__
Rounded Square Nails
Since rounded nails create an elongating effect, women with wide nail plates may find it more aesthetically pleasing to smooth out the corners of their nails. Moreover, it is the easiest nail shape to maintain because it’s less prone to breakage and you will need only to even it out as the nails grow. The shape goes well with various nail designs, including minimalist nail art with stickers and dotted patterns.
via @safinailstudio
Medium Square Nails
Square medium-length nails provide a happy middle ground for those ladies who seek wider opportunities for embracing stunning nail art paired with low commitment. The square shape looks more feminine and graceful in longer versions, yet the medium length is easier to achieve and retain. A stylish summer manicure for this length can vary from themed confetti glitter and asymmetric French tips to dimensional shimmery topcoats and lace patterns.
via @alisa.in_
White Square Nails
Is there something more classic yet refreshing than white nail designs? Despite the seeming simplicity of this approach to mani, white nail art is no less interesting than bright nail colors. You can play with various shades and choose between glossy and matte finishes while applying the color as a base or use it as a domineering color in an ombre or classic French manicure. If looking for a chicer design, give preference to square white acrylic nails with lavishly decorated accents.
Square French Tip Nails
Nail artists and their clients seem to go crazy over French manicure this year, inventing new and new renditions of the classic design. Some of them experiment with different colors of nail tips, for example, giving each finger a new shade or painting dramatic black against a nude base color. Others add texture and sparkle to an otherwise dull color scheme. Longer square nail designs can pull off colorful swirls or tips embellished with pearls.
via @vekodasha
Squoval Nails
The square shape can be easily transformed into a softer version that combines rounded corners and a flat tip. It’s the easiest shape for girls wishing to visually slim their fingers since it delivers the desired effect unfailingly on long and short nails. Actually, nail artists believe this shape is the most universally flattering, and you will find myriad square oval nail ideas for 2022.
via @nailshuney
Black Square Nails
Black is the right color for making a bold statement, which doesn’t prevent black nails from radiating a touch of class. Even ladies with a very dark skin tone can pull off this color in a glossy finish, while sophisticated matte black will give a luxurious appearance to nails sitting on a light skin. Besides, contrasting black French tip nails are widely popular nowadays, as well as everlasting black and white combos.
via @nails.by.zo_
Pink Square Nails
Bright summer nail art would be short of fun without our favorite pinks. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer gel polishes, press-on nails, or hand-painted art — make sure to incorporate this vibrant color into your looks. Think of pink nails with a highly contrasting yet simple black pattern to bring in glam rock vibes, or couple this yummy shade with bright orange and red for an eye-popping fluorescent effect.
via @amanda.sudolll
Square Coffin Nails
We can consider coffin-shaped nails part of the square family since they feature the same flat tip, although with more tapered sides. You will need long or at least medium-length square nails to rock the shape, but its stylishness is well worth the effort. Long coffin nails afford a nice canvas for offbeat abstract art, encapsulated decals, or foil French manicure.
via @staceymachin
Square Ombre Nails
Color transitions lend themselves well to both long and short square nails, provided that the scheme is chosen correctly. For instance, red-to-black ombre nails muted with matte finish look stylish even in shorter versions. However, hot and happening ombre choices are not limited to colors fading into each other within one nail plate. Other best nail designs for 2022 include placing a different tone of one color on each finger to create a bright-to-pale transition from Tommy Thumb to Baby Small.
Nude Square Nails
If you are after short nails with a simple design, look no further — neutrals are known for having a classy touch regardless of length, and they are on-trend. In their pure form, spiffy nude nail designs imply finding a perfect shade to complement your skin tone. However, neutral square nails can be beautifully decorated with crystals, glitter, or stickers, not to mention all kinds of French tips.
via @napaznokciach
Red Square Nails
Classic red nails never go out of style, and this dramatic color works fine for the square shape, dressing it up and making the nails pop. Trending red square nails are colored with burgundy matte, wrapped in a black & red ombre, or adorned with glittering details. Getting bright-color nails is a nice way to lift your spirits and own an edgy look throughout 2022.
via @knot.nails
Matte Square Nails
Matte nails create a striking focal point on their own, so you don’t even need to reinvent the wheel — just take a trendy color, such as dark green, black, blue, or wine red, and be ready to catch envious looks. Mixed textures are also going strong this year, and you can easily highlight your accent ring finger design by adding a matte effect to it. Solid dark colors chime well with the square nail shape, but it doesn’t hurt to blend a piece of nail art into the matte base.
Blue Square Nails
According to A-list nail artists, blue is declared the shade of the moment for 2022, so you’d better go for your new royal blue nail polish. As square nails may look chunky in full-on bright colors, especially when the nails lack length, you are welcome to weaken the blue by pairing it with negative space or mixing it with pastel blue shades. A checkboard design, French tips, and multi-tone swirls are just a few ideas to borrow.
via @magdula.es
Skinny Square Nails
Short square nails may look stubby, but longer nails with the totally straight sidewalls of a single width may seem too heavy. Where is the way out? Source inspiration from ballerina-shaped nails with the sides going a bit narrower towards the tip! The elongation is guaranteed, and the choice of designs is endless, from simple nail stickers to detailed hand-painted art.
via @thehotblend
Summer Square Nails
Current trends please us with a bright summer manicure that boasts a blend of gold foil with showy colors, funny 90s patterns dressed in neon hues, and attention-getting animal prints. Your season-matching nails can reflect the blue of the summer sky with floating white clouds, or you may get inspired by the hot sun and go for yellow square nails with the different designs.
via @yana_chumicheva
Spring Square Nails
The year 2022 is lavish with different spring nail designs, ranging from butterfly-inspired nail sets to heart-shaped acrylic accents and floral stickers. The floral nail art comes with realistic flowers or, quite the contrary, pictogram-like daisies blooming on bare nails or neutral backgrounds. Implanting a flower bud in light green is another way to go, the more so that the color is closely associated with the season and green nails are in vogue.
via @pippypolish
Square Fall Nails
Fall square nails are expected to sparkle with reflective metallic shades and pearly decorations embedded into neutral bases. Matte nude nails and solid colors are also on the rise, offering a nice setting for a fresh trend — monogrammed mani. Other booming fall colors include periwinkle, rich brown, and crimson red. And don’t miss your chance to get a skinnier version of acrylic square nails since the elongated coffin shape will soon be everywhere.
Square Nail Design with Glitter
Not only are glitter nails fashionable but also highly doable on the square shape. Moreover, a tiny piece of gold foil placed on a clear or beige base can make a huge difference, as even short nails look much more elegant with such a delicate and luxurious design. You can also combine a monochrome color pallet with glitter on two nails to create an eye-catching accent or opt for creatively gilded patterns.
via @nailsmade
Light Pink Square Nails
Yes, we have already touched on pink nail designs, but this time, we’d like to delve into paler shades of the color, which are more suitable for short square nails and have a more romantic feel about them. Ask your nail technician for a rose marble design or match lighter and brighter shades of pink to draw a thin two-color line on your cute French smile line.
via @_mejzi
Brown Square Nails
Since earthy hues seamlessly line up with the “naturalness” trend, square brown nails deserve a share of our attention. As we have previously mentioned, tapered brown nails are predicted to grow into fashion by the fall, but you can start adopting the style right now. For example, cover short square nails with brown and paint an accent finger with a cool leopard print.
via @polishwithcaro
Narrow Square Nails
Long square nails can be customized to ultimately balance your nail beds by visually narrowing the shape. Go for acrylic nails if your natural length is too short, or give preference to a much-loved gel polish mani if your own nails are long and strong enough. Anyway, the length is well suited for ombre transitions, sporty stripes, and other hot designs.
via @nailshuney
Natural Square Nails
Those girls who are dead sure their nails are perfectly groomed to show them off in all the natural beauty are encouraged to switch from nude nail designs to clear polishes. Then, they can spice up the square natural nails with colorful dots, floral decals, or nail stamp accents. Nail artists also offer to put press-on clear nails onto a nude base to wow the public with the glass effect.
via @raelondonnails
Purple Square Nails
Magenta is called one of the most requested nail colors of the summer, which prompts us to look for purplish tones in nail polishes for the square nail shape. While dark and bright shades of purple might not be the best options for short square nails, as they may appear overloaded, chrome purple nails or designs in lighter hues will touch the spot.
via @mani_nail_
Square Nails with Diamonds
As we all know, diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and they are totally suited for different shapes of nails, including square variations of every length. The nail design with rhinestones has gone mainstream recently, making many girls rock sets of diamonds even in everyday life. Although it may be uncomfortable to wear hefty nail jewels daily, they are our top picks for a cute wedding manicure or a chic mani for other special occasions.
via @_bettynails_
FAQ
How to file nails square?
rather than from sidewalls. Hold the file parallel to your cuticle line when working on the tip since it can be uneven and filing straight across without aligning the tip with the cuticle may result in a distorted shape. If you are not sure that your tips are perfectly straight, look at the palm of your hand and compare the tips with an imaginary line running on the top of your fingers – they must be parallel.
When you are done with the tips, take a finer file, turn it perpendicular to the tip, and file the free edges straight out from the nail bed to get straight lines with 90-degree angles on the top. You can smooth the edges a bit to prevent them from being razor-sharp.
How to choose the right nail file?
You will need at least a 240-grit nail file to process the tips and a 400-grit or finer file to work on the edges. It’s better to opt for a cardboard nail file when taking down a lot of length and use a crystal file for finishing work to prevent chipping and peeling.
