- Rounded tapered nails are a blend of almond and oval nails
- The shape looks great on any nail length and elongates the fingers
- Some of the best manicures for rounded tapered nails are French tips and milky polishes
When I first started getting manicures years ago and the nail technician asked if I wanted square or round, I panicked and chose round. By default, it became my go-to, and I stuck with round nails for years without giving it much thought. Until I discovered that there’s a shape that looks great on just about everyone—the rounded tapered nail.
It falls between a curved oval and a pointed almond and “is flattering, low-maintenance, and adaptable for all lengths,” says Natalie Minerva, a celebrity nail artist and OPI global ambassador. I’ve been trying the shape for months with different types of manicures—regular polish, builder gel, extravagant nail art—and I can attest that I’m officially a rounded tapered nail convert.
To achieve the shape, start by filing the sides of the nail and tapering them toward the tip, then round off the edges for a smooth and softer finish. “I find that rounded shapes tend to have a longer shelf life in terms of wear, since sharp square nails or long pointed stilettos are more likely to snap, chip, or break at the tip," explains Minerva. "The rounded tapered nail is truly a classic and continuously looks flattering on hands by elongating the fingers."
If you need some inspo for your next manicure, Minerva suggests “a curved French tip to complement the shape, and anything milky or transparent translates well on the shape.” If you’re thinking of filing your nails into the shape, find more rounded taper nail ideas below.
Neutral Pink Nails
Polka Dot Nails
Milky White Nails
Bedazzled French Tips
Striped Nails
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the manicure-obsessed assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan. For this story, she spoke with manicurist Natalie Minerva for her expert tips and also tried tapered nails on herself for months (and loved it).
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
