Elegant and Expensive Looking: 25 Almond-Shaped Nail Designs We’re Wearing This Month

Choosing a nail shape is the first step in any manicure, whether that’s at home or at the salon. You can go for round, square, oval, or any iteration in between. However, we’d argue that almond-shaped nails are the most classic. They’re also the most elegant, sophisticated, and expensive looking. They’re essentially the epitome of the quiet luxury aesthetic, which explains why celebs like Sofia Richie Grainge and Hailey Bieber often opt for them.

Since we’re in the mood to switch up our manicures but not our nail shapes, we spent an inordinate amount of time scouring social media to find the ultimate almond-shaped nail inspo. (What can we say? We’re beauty editors, and we take our manicures seriously.) Keep scrolling to see all 18 editor-approved designs.

1. Butter Yellow

There’s no doubt about it: Butter yellow is the color of the season. Turns out it looks just as chic on your nails as it does hanging in your closet.

2. Beach-Bound

The pre-vacation nail salon visit is almost as important as the trip itself, and we’ve never seen anything more befitting of the beach than this mermaid-esque manicure.

3. Dipped in Dots

The coolest fashion girls we know can’t stop wearing polka dots, so we’re trying them out on our nails for a trendy twist.

4. Summer Aura

Aura nails have been on the rise this year, and we’re loving this sorbet-inspired color scheme for a cute, summery set.

5. Molten Metal

Molten-metal nails have been making a splash for the past few years, and we love how these organic shapes look against short almond-shaped nails.

6. Midas Touch

Nothing screams elegance like this understated gold-rimmed manicure. Simply ask for a milky base and gold micro-French tip to achieve this elevated nail art at the salon.

7. Milky Manicure

Try switching out your regular polish for a sheer, milky shade. This cloud-like color is like a slip for your nails, and we can’t get over how elevated it looks.

8. Tortoiseshell Tips

Mixing a tortoiseshell design with brown French tips? Stunning. Bring this reference picture to the salon, or if you’re a fan of at-home manicures, use the Static Nails Reusable Pop-On Manicure ($18).

9. Spotted French

For a more subtle take on tortoiseshell, opt for this French manicure version.

10. Jade Green

Jade gemstones are said to have soothing energy. We think this mani does too.

11. Confetti Popper

Who says glitter can’t be elegant? This is the grown-up way to do it.

12. Color-Blocked

We’re big fans of color-blocking in our outfits and on our manicures. Excuse us while we buy OPI’s Alpine Snow ($12) and Got the Blues for Red ($12) to re-create this look.

13. Swirly Set

This swirled pink-and-white design feels fresh and romantic.

14. Fine-Tipped French

These simple, merlot-colored French tips are a subtle way to incorporate color into a manicure. We’ll use Essie’s Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish in Spiked With Style ($13) to achieve a similar effect.

15. Double-Lined

We’re also eyeing these cherry-red negative-space French tips.

16. Inkblot

Glossy black polish looks so elegant and elevated on almond-shaped nails. We recommend Chanel’s Le Vernis Nail Colour in Le Diable en Chanel ($33) for the inkiest pigment.

17. Negative Space

We need this muted purple on our nails ASAP. If you ask us, it looks a lot like Essie’s In Pursuit Of Craftiness Nail Polish ($10).

18. Classic French

A French manicure design on almond-shaped nails? It couldn’t get more classic.

19. Dainty Diamonds

Burgundy nail polish is made even more sophisticated when you add nail gems.

20. Glazed Donut

Whatever you call it—chrome or “glazed donut” nails—this manicure is so sleek.

21. Rockstar Glam

These black, diamond-studded stars really pop on a base of neutral nail polish.

22. Two-Tone Twist

When you can’t decide between black and brown, why not use both?

23. Hard Candy

We love these multicolored nails, and they’d be so easy to re-create at home.

24. Tied with a Bow

This manicure is proof that a simple bow design can add so much. You can paint it yourself, or you can snag the exact Olive and June Super Stick Press Ons ($8).

25. Hearts on Fire

Mark our words: This powder-blue, “hearts on fire” design will be our next mani.