Fall Nail Trends: The 3 Best Shapes For Longer-Looking Fingers

It's amazing what nail technology can do these days. The right manicure can make short nails look longer, bring out a cool or warm undertone, flatter older hands, and work any number of other optical illusions with color, shape, and design. You can even use color magic on your nails for a manifestation manicure. It is spooky season, after all, and it's not far off from the legitimate magic you can witness at your local nail salon.

One particular trick that technicians have mastered is the art of making fingers look longer, since few patrons sit in the salon chair and ask for the short and stubby special (though there's no shame in it if you bristle against convention — blaze that blocky trail). If you're on the (witch) hunt for long, elegant, sorceress fingers this fall, one of the best ways to accomplish the look is through shape, whether almond, round, or (how appropriate!) coffin.

Shaping nails into an almond-like form is the go-to manicure idea for making short nails look longer, and the same principle works just as well for fingers. In an almond shape, nails taper along the sides, extending from a wide base to a narrow tip that's softer than a stiletto shape but still has a definite point. The result is a lengthening effect for the fingers as well as the nails.

Almond nails are best for those whose fingers are wide as well as short, as the illusion depends on a wide nail bed to provide contrast to the narrow point. For the most elongating almond shape, focus on a dramatic taper, which is where the slimming, lengthening magic happens. One of the great things about an almond nail shape is that you can make it bolder with a longer stiletto tip or softer with more of an oval shape and still achieve a similar effect.

Surprise! It might seem counterintuitive, but round nails can create the illusion of longer fingers just as well as almond shapes. Again, the key is contrast: A rounded edge makes fingers appear narrower by comparison, thus making them look longer. Like almond nails, this is a good option for those with wide fingers and nail beds, but if you'd rather slim them down than emphasize them the way that almond shapes do, round shapes are the way to go.

To achieve a round nail shape, make sure only the free edge is rounded; the sides should be completely straight, without any tapering. From there, it's as easy as following the natural curve of your fingertip. Those who tend to get overaggressive with the file should always check the finished product for symmetry, as a lopsided edge can undermine the effect. This is a great shape for short nails, but if you prefer something a little longer and more striking, an oval is a good compromise, too.

At this point, you may be feeling a sinking sense of despair if your preferred nail shape is on the boxier side. Unfortunately, short, square shapes do nothing for short fingers, making nail beds appear even wider and emphasizing stubby fingertips. That doesn't mean you have to completely abandon your dedication to geometric nail shapes, however. Enter the coffin nail. Also known as ballerina nails, these elongated squares are narrower at the end than at the base, creating a best-of-both-worlds almond-square hybrid. They're also perfect for your next Halloween party.

There are a few things to keep in mind, however, if you're considering coffin nails. Length and strength matters, so if your nails are lacking in either area — or you're just not up for the strict professional upkeep that coffin nails require — you may be better off with a less demanding shape. There's still hope for square lovers with short, brittle nails and tight schedules, however. A square shape with rounded edges, known as a "squoval," is a more practical, universally flattering alternative with all of the finger-lengthening power of a coffin shape, if not the witchy whimsy.