The ideal nail shape (long and interesting post)/ Forma ideala de unghie (postare lunga si interesanta)

This post is about different nail shapes, the ideal shape for natural nails, how to choose your nail shape based on your finger thickness and nail wideness and how to achieve the desired shape.
I did not include nail shapes that can only be done on false nails (for example the edge or duck feet shapes).
I hate not posting my own photos but there are some shapes for which I didn't have any :(

Aceasta postare este despre diferite forme de unghii, forma ideala pentru unghiile naturale, cum sa-ti alegi forma unghiei in functie de grosimea degetelor si latimea unghiei si cum sa obtii forma dorita.
Nu am inclus forme de unghii posibile doar pe unghii false (de exemplu formele edge sau "duck feet" = laba de rata).
Urasc sa nu postez propriile poze dar sunt cateva forme pentru care nu am avut nici una :(

Different nail shapes
Diferite forme de unghii

Except the photos illustrating the square with narrowed tip and pipe shape, all the nails in the photos below are natural.
Exceptand pozele care ilustreaza forma patrata cu varful ingustat si cea pipe, toate unghiile din pozele de mai jos sunt naturale.

1.Square shape with sharp corners/ Forma patrata avand colturile ascutite


There are two possible variations:
Sunt doua variante posibile:

a) Square with corners shaped to form a 90 degree angle
I haven't seen this shape on many women. Here is a photo belonging to Fleur de Lys Nail Art. Visit her blog, she's got many swatches and lovely nail art designs :)
 As you can see the corners of the nails form a perfect 90 degree angle.

a) Patrat avand colturile pilite astfel incat formeaza un unghi de 90 de grade
Nu am vazut aceasta forma la multe femei. Asa ca iti arat aceasta poza a lui Fleur de Lys Nail Art. Viziteaza blogul ei, are multe swatch-uri si design-uri foarte frumoase de arta pe unghii :)
Dupa cum se observa, colturile unghiilor formeaza un unghi de 90 de grade perfect.

b) Square shape with narrowed tip (corners form an angle that is less than 90 degree)
This shape is quite rare even on false nails but luckily I can show you this photo representing an acrylic nails design by Mariana Contreras - Promaster Organic® Nails (Organic Nails is a Mexican nail supplies company which sells great quality products). This is their facebook page - Organic® Nails / Facebook Oficial.
This shape features a narrowed square tip and it is easily achievable starting from a square shape with 90 degree corners or a pointed tip shape.

b) Forma patrata cu varful ingustat (colturile formeaza un unghi care are mai putin de 90 de grade)
 Aceasta forma este destul de rara chiar si pe unghii false dar din fericire iti pot arata aceasta poza reprezentand un design pe unghii construite din acryl realizat de Mariana Contreras - Promaster Organic® Nails (Organic Nails este o companie mexicana de materiale pentru unghii care vinde produse de o calitate foarte buna). Aceasta este pagina lor de facebook - Organic® Nails / Facebook Oficial.
Aceasta forma are varful patrat ingustat si se obtine usor pornind de la o forma patrata avand colturile de 90 grade sau de la o forma cu varful ascutit.

2. Square shape with rounded corners/ Forma patrata rotunjita la colturi

These are my sister's nails. The shape she wears has parallel sides and  a straight tip but the corners are rounded, not sharp. Of course, in a variation of this shape the tip can be narrowed like in the previous shape but the corners must be kept rounded.

Acestea sunt unghiile surorii mele. Forma pe care o poarta are lateralele paralele si un varf drept dar colturile sunt rotunjite, nu ascutite. Bineinteles, intr-o variatie a acestei forme varful poate fi ingustat la fel ca la forma precedenta dar colturile trebuie pastrate rotunjite.

3. Pipe shape/ Forma pipe

This shape is quite popular on false nails but there's absolutely no problem in doing it on natural nails and it looks very elegant. Here is a photo showing a gel nails design with this shape done by Bianca Friedrich. Here is her awesome facebook page - Naildesign by Bianca.
This shape has parallel sides but the tip is rounded.

Aceasta forma este destul de populara pe unghii false dar nu este absolut nici o problema in a o face pe unghii naturale si arata foarte elegant. Aici este o poza care arata un design pe unghii din gel cu aceasta forma realizat de Bianca Friedrich. Aici este pagina ei geniala de facebook - Naildesign by Bianca.
Aceasta forma are lateralele paralele dar varful este rotunjit.

4. Round shape/ Forma rotunda

The sides of this shape are parallel and the tip must resemble a half circle perfectly. I know in the photo the edge isn't absolutely perfect but I was still a novice in filing at the time :)

Lateralele acestei forme sunt paralele si varful trebuie sa semene perfect unui semicerc. Stiu ca in poza marginea nu este absolut perfecta dar eram inca o novice in pilire la vremea respectiva :)

5. Oval shape/ Forma ovala

For this shape I'd rather not use the term "almond" because it is very ambiguous. I think using geometric shapes when describing objects is the safest way because everybody knows how an oval looks like. However, the most appropriate thing I can associate this shape with is an egg (even the term "oval" comes from the latin word for "egg" which is "ovum").

Pentru aceasta forma nu as folosi termenul "migdala" pentru ca este foarte ambiguu. Cred ca folosirea formelor geometrice cand descrii un obiect este cea mai sigura cale pentru ca toata lumea stie cum arata un oval. Cu toate acestea, cel mai potrivit lucru cu care pot asocia aceasta forma este un ou (chiar termenul "oval" vine din cuvantul latin pentru "ou" care este "ovum").

6. Pointed tip shape/ Forma cu varf ascutit

Again, I don't like using the term "stiletto" very much when describing this shape because of the same reason I mentioned before. Pointed tip nails look somewhat like an isosceles triangle with the smaller side at the cuticle.

Din nou, nu imi place sa folosesc termenul "stiletto" prea mult cand descriu aceasta forma din acelasi motiv mentionat anterior. Unghiile cu varf ascutit arata intrucatva ca un triunghi isoscel cu latura cea mica la cuticula.

The ideal shape for natural nails
Forma ideala pentru unghii naturale

After trying out almost all the nail shapes I showed you I can say there are some more suited for growing your nails. You must understand having very long nails is something that doesn't happen overnight. You have to get accustomed to it, basically learn how to handle objects and do usual things all over again. That's why the best shapes to get starting are the ones that don't get caught on anything (a.k.a. the rounded ones - square with rounded corners, round, oval or even pipe if you take care). That doesn't mean you can't give your nails a nice, pointed tip shape but you will probably break the tip before they reach the desired length (happened to me so now I'm wearing them oval shaped till I get really used to having long nails). You can imagine Fleur de Lys has been growing her nails for many years before being able to reach and maintain that length. Patience is very important when it comes to long natural nails but you will be much rewarded. There's nothing like saying "Yes, my nails are completely natural" and seeing all the mesmerised faces. I'm proud of my nails :D

Dupa ce am incercat aproape toate formele de unghii pe care ti le-am aratat pot sa spun ca sunt unele mai potrivite pentru a-ti creste unghiile. Trebuie sa intelegi ca unghiile foarte lungi nu vin peste noapte. Trebuie sa te obisnuiesti cu ideea, practic sa inveti din nou cum sa manuiesti obiectele si sa faci lucrurile uzuale. De aceea cele mai bune forme pentru a incepe sunt cele care nu se agata de nimic (a.k.a cele rotunjite - patrat avand colturile rotunjite, rotund, oval sau chiar pipe daca ai grija). Aceasta nu inseamna ca nu poti da unghiilor tale o forma frumoasa, cu varful ascutit dar probabil vei rupe varful inainte sa ajunga la lungimea dorita (mi s-a intamplat asa ca acum le port ovale pana ma obisnuiesc de-a binelea sa am unghii lungi). Iti imaginezi ca Fleur de Lys isi creste unghiile de multi ani ca sa ajunga la aceasta lungime si sa o mentina. Rabdarea este foarte importanta cand vine vorba de unghii naturale foarte lungi dar vei fi rasplatita pe masura. Nimic nu se compara cu sentimentul pe care-l ai cand zici "Da, unghiile mele sunt complet naturale" si cand vezi toate privirile inmarmurite. Sunt mandra de unghiile mele :D


How to choose the nail shape that suits you best
Cum sa alegi forma de unghie care ti se potriveste cel mai bine
 
First of all, look at your nails and fingers and decide if you like their shape, thickness, wideness etc. If the answer is yes there's no need to read this part (unless you're curious). If there's something you'd like to change then keep on reading :P
I will let aside the perfect and great proportioned fingers and nails because people lucky enough to have them are quite rare and they can wear any nail shape depending only on the effect they want.

In primul rand, uita-te la unghiile si degetele tale si decide daca iti place forma lor, grosimea, latimea etc. Daca raspunsul este da nu e nevoie sa citesti aceasta parte (decat daca esti curioasa). Daca este ceva ce ai vrea sa schimbi atunci citeste in continuare :P
O sa las la o parte degetele si unghiile perfecte si bine proportionate pentru ca oamenii norocosi care le au sunt destul de rari si pot purta orice forma de unghie alegerea depinzand doar de efectul dorit.

Fingers can be thick, medium or thin, nails can be wide or narrow. The possible shape combinations are:

Degetele pot fi groase, medii sau subtiri, unghiile pot fi late sau inguste. Combinatiile de forma posibile sunt:

1. Thick fingers, wide nails/ Degete groase, unghii late

Think positive! At least they are well proportioned :) The bad part is that your hand probably looks like a man's. First of all, grow your nails! Even a small length will make a difference. Read this post if you don't know where to start from - Wow how do you grow/keep your nails so long?. Next, don't file your nails in a square shape. They will look even wider. Instead, give your fingers a much more feminine and elegant appearance choosing an oval nail shape. However, a pointed shape might make them look vulgar. If you really like the square shape and don't want to change it there is one more solution. Grow your nails long and choose vertical designs only (careful with french manicures, do them with a very deep or even "v" shaped smile line).

Gandeste pozitiv! Macar sunt bine proportionate :) Partea proasta este ca mana ta arata probabil ca a unui barbat. Mai intai, creste-ti unghiile! Chiar si o lungime mica va face o diferenta. Citeste aceasta postare daca nu stii de unde sa incepi - Wow cum iti cresti/mentii unghiile asa lungi?. Apoi, nu-ti pili unghiile intr-o forma patrata. Vor arata si mai late. In loc de asta, da un aspect mult mai elegant si feminin degetelor tale alegand o forma ovala pentru unghii. O forma ascutita insa le poate face sa arate vulgar. Daca iti place foarte mult forma patrata si nu vrei sa o schimbi mai este o solutie. Creste-ti unghiile lungi si alege numai design-uri pe verticala (ai grija cu manichiurile french, fa-le doar cu o linie de zambet foarte adanca sau chiar in forma de "v").

2. Thick or medium fingers, narrow nails/ Degete groase sau medii, unghii inguste

These look a little weird because of the disproportion. The nails look too small for the size of the fingers. The solution is to widen the nails by giving them a square or round shape. If you like them oval or pointed shaped you can still widen them by doing horizontal nail art designs and wearing light colour nail polish. In the photo illustrating the pointed tip shape you can see I have this disproportion too. The design I was wearing was horizontal but the dark colour made my nails look even more narrow and that's why the fingers looked thick although they are medium.

Acestea arata putin ciudat din cauza disproportiei. Unghiile arata prea mici pentru marimea degetelor. Solutia este sa latesti unghiile dandu-le o forma patrata sau rotunda. Daca iti plac ovale sau ascutite tot le poti lati facandu-ti design-uri orizontale si folosind oja in culori deschise. In poza care ilustreaza forma cu varf ascutit poti vedea ca unghiile si degetele mele sunt exact acest tip. Design-ul pe care il purtam era orizontal dar culoarea inchisa imi facea unghiile sa para si mai inguste si de aceea degetele pareau groase desi sunt medii. 

3. Thin or medium fingers, wide nails/ Degete subtiri sau medii, unghii late

The nail must be narrowed and for this purpose the pointed tip shape is ideal. If you don't like that, oval works too. Combine with dark or skin colour nail polish.. If your fingers are short, growing your nails long will help a lot, even if you give them a square shape. But if your fingers are long they will look like spider legs with long nails. Keep them short and either round or oval shaped . Vertical nail art designs (including deep smile line french manicures) are the best option.

Unghia trebuie ingustata si in acest scop forma cu varf ascutit este ideala. Daca nu-ti place, merge si cea ovala. Combina cu oje in culoarea pielii sau inchise. Daca ai degetele scurte, unghiile mai lungi te vor ajuta mult chiar daca le dai o forma patrata. Dar daca ai degetele lungi vor arata ca picioarele de paianjen cu unghii lungi. Pastreaza-le scurte si de forma ovala sau rotunda  Modelele verticale de arta pe unghii (inclusiv manichiuri french cu linia de zambet adanca) sunt cea mai buna optiune.

4. Thin fingers, narrow nails/ Degete subtiri, unghii inguste

These are well proportioned but, if your fingers are short, their size makes your hand look like a child's. If your fingers are long and you think they look extraterrestrial cut their length by wearing rings (for example mid-finger ones, like the silvery one I'm always wearing on my left ringfinger). Grow your nails at least a tiny bit and shape them square or round. Widen them by choosing light colour polish and horizontal nail art designs (french manicures with less curved smile line)

Acestea sunt bine proportionate dar, daca ai degetele scurte, marimea lor iti face mana sa arate ca a unui copil. Daca degetele tale sunt lungi si ti se pare ca arata cam extraterestru taie-le lungimea purtand inele (de exemplu din cele care se poarta la jumatatea degetului, ca cel argintiu pe care il port eu tot timpul pe inelarul stang). Creste-ti unghiile macar putin si da-le o forma patrata sau rotunda. Lateste-le alegand culori deschise pentru oja si modele orizontale (manichiuri french cu o linie de zambet mai putin curbata).

For a small nail bed (in length) the solutions are:
- long free edge
- french manicures with an opaque colour as base and a smaller tip than the real length of the free edge (not exaggerated)
- for a french manicure on a translucent or sheer base the smile line must be kept less curved (do this kind of french manicure only if the nail is not type 1 mentioned above)
- design done below the smile line (on the free edge) of a french manicure

Pentru un pat al unghiei mic (in lungime) solutiile sunt:
- margine libera lunga
- manichiuri french cu o culoare opaca aplicata ca baza si un varf mai mic decat lungimea reala a marginii libere (nu exagerat)
- pentru o manichiura french pe o baza translucida sau transparenta linia de zambet trebuie pastrata mai putin curbata (fa-ti acest fel de manichiura french doar daca unghiile nu sunt tipul 1 mentionat mai sus)
- designul facut sub linia de zambet (pe marginea libera) a unei manichiuri french

The purpose of these little optical illusions is to create a good proportion between your fingers and nails. Of course, they are only some general guidelines. No one stops you from wearing your favourite nail shape even if it doesn't suit you. Rules are for breaking but only after knowing them ;)

Scopul acestor mici iluzii optice este sa creeze o proportie mai buna intre degete si unghii. Bineinteles, sunt doar niste linii generale dupa care sa te ghidezi. Nimeni nu te opreste de la a purta forma ta preferata de unghii chiar daca nu ti se potriveste. Regulile exista pentru a fi incalcate dar numai dupa ce le cunosti ;)


How to obtain the desired shape
Cum sa obtii forma dorita

I filmed a video to show the directions in which you have to file in order to obtain the shapes I showed at the beginning of the post. Unedited, it had half an hour. You can imagine in nine minutes it only shows the basic movement. The shape of the nails has to be perfect. It is the canvas for the polish and nail art. If the filing is poorly done and uneven the polish will make it even more visible. Note, I used a plastic nail for this demonstration. Check out this post before proceeding to shape your natural nails - Manicure: How to file your nails. And of course, adjust the technique to your current nail shape. For example if you want to obtain a pointed tip starting from a square you carefully cut the corners using scissors or nail clippers and file the new edge.

Am filmat un clip care arata directiile in care trebuie sa pilesti ca sa obtii formele pe care le-am aratat la inceputul postarii. Needitat, avea jumatate de ora. Iti poti imagina ca in noua minute arata doar miscarea de baza. Forma unghiilor trebuie sa fie perfecta. Este panza pe care pui oja si modelele. Daca pilirea este defectuos si stramb facuta oja va face acest lucru si mai vizibil. Atentie, eu am folosit o unghie de plastic pentru aceasta demonstratie. Citeste aceasta postare inainte de a incepe sa dai forma unghiilor tale naturale - Manichiura: Cum sa-ti pilesti unghiile.Si bineinteles ajusteaza tehnica la forma de unghii pe care o ai acum. De exemplu daca vrei sa obtii un varf ascutit pornind de la un patrat taie colturile cu grija folosind o forfecuta sau o unghiera si pileste noua margine.

0:00 Square, 90 degree corners/ Patrat. colturi la 90 grade

3:06 Square, narrowed tip/ Patrat, varf ingustat
4:12 Square, rounded corners/ Patrat, colturi rotunjite
5:17 Pipe
6:26 Round/ Rotund
7:25 Oval
8:14 Pointed tip/ Varf ascutit

Hope you enjoyed this post and found it useful. I chose to write a longer and complete one rather than seven short ones :) If you think I've missed something please point it out. Wish you a great week!

Sper ca ti-a placut aceasta postare si ca ti-a fost utila. Am ales sa scriu mai degraba una lunga si completa decat sapte scurte :) Daca crezi ca mi-a scapat ceva te rog mentioneaza. Iti doresc o saptamana minunata!