Almond and oval are the two shapes people mix up most. Both are rounded, both suit short and medium lengths, and both make hands look elegant. The difference is in the tip.
An oval is evenly rounded, like the top of an egg. An almond tapers in from the sides to a soft point, like, well, an almond. That small change makes almond look a little longer and a little more dressed-up, while oval stays softer and easier to keep.
Below we show the same colours on both shapes so you can see the difference for yourself.
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1. Nude Almond
On almond, a nude polish elongates the fingers and looks polished.
An oval is evenly rounded. An almond tapers to a soft point.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- High gloss
- Shade
- Warm nude
- Salon level
- Easy
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2. Nude Oval
On oval, the same nude feels softer and more natural.
- Shape
- Oval
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- High gloss
- Shade
- Warm nude
- Salon level
- Easy
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3. Red Almond
Red on almond reads glamorous and a little vintage.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- High gloss
- Shade
- Cherry red
- Salon level
- Easy
Would you wear this?
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Read next14 Short Almond Nails That Make Fingers Look Longer
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4. Red Oval
Red on oval is classic and approachable.
- Shape
- Oval
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- High gloss
- Shade
- Cherry red
- Salon level
- Easy
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5. French Almond
A French tip follows the almond's point into a deep smile line.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- Gloss
- Shade
- Sheer with white tips
- Salon level
- Moderate
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6. French Oval
On oval, the smile line is gentler and more classic.
- Shape
- Oval
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- Gloss
- Shade
- Sheer with white tips
- Salon level
- Moderate
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7. Short Almond
Short almond still tapers a little, so fingers look longer.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Short
- Finish
- Sheer gloss
- Shade
- Milky white
- Salon level
- Easy
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8. Short Oval
Short oval is the most practical shape there is.
- Shape
- Oval
- Length
- Short
- Finish
- Sheer gloss
- Shade
- Milky white
- Salon level
- Easy
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9. Dark Almond
Deep colours look sharp and sleek on almond.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- High gloss
- Shade
- Espresso
- Salon level
- Easy
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10. Dark Oval
On oval, dark shades look rich but softer.
- Shape
- Oval
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- High gloss
- Shade
- Espresso
- Salon level
- Easy
Our honest take: if you want elegance, choose almond. If you want low maintenance, choose oval. And if you can't decide, start with oval. It is easy to file into an almond later, but not the other way round.
See both on your own hand with the try-on tool, or browse all six shapes in our shape guide.
Your questions, answered
What is the difference between almond and oval nails?
Oval nails are evenly rounded at the tip. Almond nails taper in from the sides to a softer point.
Which is stronger, almond or oval?
Oval is slightly stronger, because there is more nail at the tip. Almond is still sturdy at short and medium lengths.
Do almond nails make fingers look longer?
Yes. The taper draws the eye up past the fingertip, which makes fingers look longer and slimmer.
Which shape suits wide nail beds?
Almond can make wide nail beds look slimmer. Oval suits narrow nail beds and short fingers well.
