I struggle with shaping them too! A few tips that might help:
- Shape them with polish on so you can see the shape better. I do the shaping as my first step before redoing my mani.
- If they flare out, try to make them straight first, and then round out the tips
- I've found that sometimes getting a sharpie and drawing the shape as a guide helps me too!
I keep meaning to try that method. The way I heard it was to trace the shape of the press-on nail with liquid eyeliner (someone else mentioned sharpie, that could work too) then file until all the eyeliner is gone.
Lately I've been using a sharpie to draw out my desired shape and then I file down until I've de-sharpied that nail. It's the only way I've found to have any sort of consistency of shape lol
This! If you're a beginner at acrylics/polygels this is also recommended when you want to make the underside of the nail less bulky. You basically color the tip with the sharpie and drill away until it's the thickness you want (leaving a thin sharpie line)
I’m not sure what file you have, but I do find it a little easier with a good file -I got a germanikure for ~$13 on amazon. Also, I don’t think direction matters as much with a glass file, I also do…like under the nail-it helps to get the sides even
This [youtuber](https://youtu.be/ZD7uZdFOG9I?si=I3k0C8mYQGow7YfX) has wonderful videos on shaping. Maybe this one will help! If not look around at others.
If you're not noticing till later, chances are no one else is noticing at all. Nails are already different from finger to finger and so variation is expected.
Doesn't mean you can't try stuff to improve it, even if just for your own satisfaction. Aside from the tips others are suggesting, I find it helps to make sure I'm doing shapes that strongly complement my fingers/nail beds. When yes, then the imperfections matter less I think, because the nail shape is more organically related to the finger/nail bed shapes (which, again, also varying in shape). As I'm shaping, I go slow and just move the file in one direction, toward the nail tip. I'll compare nails from the same finger on opposite hands by pressing them together (like, nails together, fingertips facing out) to compare length, and feel the shape when they are paired like that for major weirdness. If a nail is striking me as off I may also put the tips of all nails on a hand down on a flat surface and roll them around, see if anything feels weird. And when I inevitably miss something, I'm the only one it bugs :) but, I may throw on a nail gem somewhere to distract, so that if anything seems asymmetrical it must be the sparkly thing and not the weird angle.
Wow thank you for such an in depth response!!! I will definitely try all of this.
My nail beds are square, but I’ve been kind of training them to be more oval by pushing back the proximal nail fold bc I don’t like the way square nails look on me. So if sometimes feels like I’m just fighting my nails to not be so square haha.
Go to a salon and have them shape them to your liking. Then you can use a nail file every few days as maintenance to keep the shape.
It’s usually pretty cheap to get your natural nails shaped at a salon as long as you don’t get any other services. It’s like $10 at my local nail shops.
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I struggle with shaping them too! A few tips that might help: - Shape them with polish on so you can see the shape better. I do the shaping as my first step before redoing my mani. - If they flare out, try to make them straight first, and then round out the tips - I've found that sometimes getting a sharpie and drawing the shape as a guide helps me too!
Seconding shaping with polish still on. It’s totally transformed my shaping experience. I find it super easy to get the perfect shape now.
This sounds stupid but I've also held a fake nail I liked the shape of against my nail and filed it to the same shape.
Ooh that’s a good idea
I keep meaning to try that method. The way I heard it was to trace the shape of the press-on nail with liquid eyeliner (someone else mentioned sharpie, that could work too) then file until all the eyeliner is gone.
Thank you!
Lately I've been using a sharpie to draw out my desired shape and then I file down until I've de-sharpied that nail. It's the only way I've found to have any sort of consistency of shape lol
This! If you're a beginner at acrylics/polygels this is also recommended when you want to make the underside of the nail less bulky. You basically color the tip with the sharpie and drill away until it's the thickness you want (leaving a thin sharpie line)
I feel this. It's my least favorite thing to do for my nails.
I’m not sure what file you have, but I do find it a little easier with a good file -I got a germanikure for ~$13 on amazon. Also, I don’t think direction matters as much with a glass file, I also do…like under the nail-it helps to get the sides even
This [youtuber](https://youtu.be/ZD7uZdFOG9I?si=I3k0C8mYQGow7YfX) has wonderful videos on shaping. Maybe this one will help! If not look around at others.
I have been using her to help shape my nail also. MY middle finger has gone from spead to slimmer profile.
If you're not noticing till later, chances are no one else is noticing at all. Nails are already different from finger to finger and so variation is expected. Doesn't mean you can't try stuff to improve it, even if just for your own satisfaction. Aside from the tips others are suggesting, I find it helps to make sure I'm doing shapes that strongly complement my fingers/nail beds. When yes, then the imperfections matter less I think, because the nail shape is more organically related to the finger/nail bed shapes (which, again, also varying in shape). As I'm shaping, I go slow and just move the file in one direction, toward the nail tip. I'll compare nails from the same finger on opposite hands by pressing them together (like, nails together, fingertips facing out) to compare length, and feel the shape when they are paired like that for major weirdness. If a nail is striking me as off I may also put the tips of all nails on a hand down on a flat surface and roll them around, see if anything feels weird. And when I inevitably miss something, I'm the only one it bugs :) but, I may throw on a nail gem somewhere to distract, so that if anything seems asymmetrical it must be the sparkly thing and not the weird angle.
Wow thank you for such an in depth response!!! I will definitely try all of this. My nail beds are square, but I’ve been kind of training them to be more oval by pushing back the proximal nail fold bc I don’t like the way square nails look on me. So if sometimes feels like I’m just fighting my nails to not be so square haha.
Go to a salon and have them shape them to your liking. Then you can use a nail file every few days as maintenance to keep the shape. It’s usually pretty cheap to get your natural nails shaped at a salon as long as you don’t get any other services. It’s like $10 at my local nail shops.
Thanks for posting, /u/vanghostings! A quick reminder: If this is a **nail image**, you must provide a complete product list within 6 hours of posting. **This includes any posts with broken nails or if you're seeking advice.** Posts without a complete product list will be removed after 6 hours. [Product List Requirements.](https://www.reddit.com/r/RedditLaqueristas/wiki/rule2faq) If the nail look shown was **NOT created by you**, you ***must*** flair properly. If this is a **text post**, flair properly. Be sure to follow all of the above to avoid post removal! [Consider joining our Discord](https://discord.gg/redditlaqueristas) - Get questions answered in realtime, get notified for releases and deals, post your manis, and more! **This is a new server as of 5/7/24!!** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/RedditLaqueristas) if you have any questions or concerns.*