23 Almond Nail Designs We Love (Just Don’t Snack on Them) (2024)

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Almond nails may sound delicious, but they aren’t anywhere near as tasty as the nut they’re named after. Sorry, nail biters! But we’re still excited to rock these badass nail designs, even if they taste terrible in a parfait.

Almond shaped nails are slightly rounded on the sides and pointed at the tip — similar to stiletto nails, but less extra and definitely less lethal. You’ll need long nails to pull this claw shape off, but at least you’ll still be able to type and text and rub your eyes without accidentally blinding yourself.

23 Almond Nail Designs We Love (Just Don’t Snack on Them) (1)

How to Shape Almond Nails at Home

This is one of the easiest nail shapes to try at home, since all you need are nail files and patience. At least we’ve got one of those things!

Tools you’ll need:

A coarse grit nail file
A fine grit nail file

We like this pack because it has both! While you’re at it, maybe order some press-on nails just in case you don’t nail it on your first pass. See what we did there?

What to do:
1. Paint a dot with nail polish at the middle of the top of your nail.
2. Use a coarse grit nail file and file towards that dot at an angle, leaving a flat tip at the top. To make sure the sides are even, go slowly, filing from side to side, and remove a little at a time.
3. Use a finer grit file to smooth any rough edges on the sides and round out the top to create the almond shape.

Another option is to paint a thin line down the middle of your nail, then draw two angled lines out from that on either side. When filing, use the arrow shape as a guide, as Ariane demonstrates in the video below.

21 Almond Nail Design Ideas

1. Almond-Shaped Desert Accents

We can’t decide if this nail art is more Palm Springs or Golden Girls. Either way, no time to talk. Betty White, get on the llama! We’re going to the desert!

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A post shared by Bree Garland (@nailed_it_portland) on Mar 1, 2020 at 10:58am PST

2. French Manicure Almonds

This almond-shaped take on the classic French mani makes us wonder what other classics we could jazz up with almonds. What about almond butter and jelly? Just kidding, we’re not monsters.

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A post shared by Paintbox (@paintboxnails) on Apr 18, 2020 at 4:05pm PDT

3. Almonds with Gold Accents

A touch of gold goes a long way when it comes to manicures. Unless you’re Midas — that guy really knows how to run a trend into the ground.

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A post shared by Paintbox (@paintboxnails) on Mar 25, 2020 at 6:39pm PDT

4. Geometric Almonds

These geometric black and white designs scream “Old Hollywood” — but they also whisper “you can DIY this in about three minutes with some painter’s tape.”

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A post shared by Paintbucket (@paintbucketnails) on Jan 15, 2020 at 11:03am PST

5. 80s Nails

This bright, geometric design takes us back to the 80s, when we thought things like fanny packs and giant glasses were a good idea. (We were right!)

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A post shared by Nail It! Magazine (@nailitmag) on Apr 23, 2020 at 6:38am PDT
See Also
How To Shape Almond Nails — The No-Nonsense Guide

6. Rainbow Thorns

Rainbow flames are so over. We’re all about thorns now, bb. We’re not sure if we’re more impressed by the design or the fact that she did it to her own nails. Let’s see that other hand!

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Katie Ru ???????????? (@i.katie.ru) on Apr 22, 2020 at 10:59pm PDT

7. 90s Style Almonds

If you need a little bit of balance, maybe painting this lime green yin yang design on your nails will help. Or try drinking some water instead of iced coffee sometime.

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A post shared by Chillhouse (@chillhouse) on Apr 15, 2020 at 9:34am PDT

8. Holographic Almond Nails

The Roaring Twenties sounded like a good idea, but maybe we stick to reliving the ’90s, starting with this easy almond nail art that won’t cost you a fortune.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by ⚡ Madness Nails ✨ (@_madnessnails_) on Feb 8, 2020 at 12:46pm PST

9. Big Cat Almond Nails

Embrace your inner Carole Baskin with these Lion King nails that border on stiletto. Lions and tigers are basically the same, right? We weren’t paying attention in biology class that day… or any of the other days.

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A post shared by ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? (@nailz_by_dev) on Jul 18, 2019 at 12:15pm PDT

10. Spongebob Almond Shaped Nails

Spongebob Almondnails doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, but we still love this fun, Squarepants-inspired design for summer.

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A post shared by ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? (@nailz_by_dev) on Apr 29, 2019 at 6:14pm PDT

11. Candied Almonds

These bright blue chrome nails have us feeling all sorts of things. Like what is our third grade teacher up to these days?

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A post shared by ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? (@nailsby_julial) on Feb 21, 2020 at 1:57pm PST

12. Rose Quartz Almonds

Rose quartz is said to help invite love into your life. We love these nails. It works!

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A post shared by ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? (@nailsby_julial) on Aug 5, 2019 at 8:19am PDT

13. Almond Shaped Flower Power

The floral design on these almond shaped beauties by Nailed It Portland are pretty, elegant, and don’t aggravate our allergies!

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A post shared by Bree Garland (@nailed_it_portland) on Apr 19, 2020 at 8:54am PDT

14. Almonds with a Cherry on Top

These sweet almond-shaped nails topped with juicy cherries have us thinking about one thing: hooking up. What, you thought we were gonna say ice cream?

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A post shared by Naomi Yasuda (@naominailsnyc) on Mar 10, 2020 at 10:56am PDT

15. Sailor Moon Almond Nails

These Sailor Moon nails make us want to go on an adventure. Our constant motion sickness and fear of heights make us want to stay home and paint our nails.

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A post shared by Naomi Yasuda (@naominailsnyc) on Dec 8, 2019 at 7:23am PST

16. Marbled Almonds

Watch how Allure’s Editor-in-Chief Michelle Lee creates this colorful marble nail design. She makes it look so easy, which means there’s a 100 percent chance we’re going to mess it up.

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A post shared by Michelle Lee (@heymichellelee) on Mar 28, 2020 at 6:12pm PDT

17. Rainbow Glitter

These candy colored nails remind us of She-Ra. Swift Wind, stop eating grass! You know it upsets your digestion.

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A post shared by Paintbucket (@paintbucketnails) on Apr 18, 2020 at 10:50am PDT

18. Neon Dreams

These hot pink and yellow almond nails are so ready to be by the pool. Preferably with a pina colada in hand.

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A post shared by Nails By Fariha Ali (@nailjob) on Apr 19, 2019 at 11:15am PDT

19. Almond Milk

What list of almond-shaped nail designs would be complete without a nod to everyone’s favorite alternative milk? Well, next to oat milk of course.

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A post shared by Маникюр/гель лак ногтей Бишкек (@leila_nails_artkg) on Apr 22, 2020 at 8:55am PDT

20. Psychedelic

These groovy nails have purple glitter, tie-dye, more glitter, and pot leaves. Take these nails to the festival they deserve! When, you know, it’s safe to do so.

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A post shared by @kelseynailedit (@kelseynailedit) on Apr 20, 2020 at 8:31pm PDT

21. Almond Shaped French Tips

This pastel manicure is so sweet, we might even be inspired to learn a few more French phrases besides oui, non, and can I get a dozen croissants.

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A post shared by Lucy Barnett (@elbebeauty) on Apr 4, 2020 at 2:56am PDT

And, here’s a quick visual guide to the different nail shapes.

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Rebecca Swanner

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Pleased to meet you. I'm the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Darcy: The world's first smart, funny lifestyle site for women.

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23 Almond Nail Designs We Love (Just Don’t Snack on Them) (2024)

FAQs

Who should wear almond shaped nails? ›

If you have short palms and short fingers, it's best to opt for rounded oval and almond shapes. For longer palms and fingers, consider dramatic stiletto or coffin (or ballerina) shaped styles. Almond shaped nails tend to suit everyone.

Learn More Now ›

Are almond nails still in style? ›

Almond nails are the latest fad to hit salons this year, having been the shape of choice amongst celebrities throughout 2023. Here's how to get onboard with the trend, and recreate it at home.

Learn More Now ›

What is the most feminine nail shape? ›

Oval-shaped nails are considered classic and feminine, being similar to an almond but a bit more blunt. They have softly rounded edges that follow the natural shape of the fingertip, helping elongate nails in both width and length. Square-shaped nails have straight, flat edges and sharp corners.

Know More ›

What do almond shaped nails mean? ›

Almond: This signifies modern style, quality and a person who avoids vintage or out dated styles. Don't go too long with the almond shaped nail or it might come off as tacky.

Learn More Now ›

What nail shape is best for older hands? ›

When it comes to choosing a nail shape that can make hands look younger, consider the following options:

Oval Shape: Opt for a slightly rounded oval shape. ...
Almond Shape: The almond shape is another flattering option. ...
Squoval Shape: A combination of square and oval, the squoval shape is a versatile choice.

More items...

What is the classiest nail color? ›

“I would say a milky pink [think Chanel's Ballerina], due to the trend of quiet luxury,” says Kandalec. “Or if someone is a gel/enhancement girlie, I'd say an autumnal red that's deeper and more brown based versus a classic red [like CND's Classic Lipstick], or a French manicure with thin, classic white tip.”

See Details ›

What is the prettiest nail shape? ›

If you prefer a classic and elegant look, you may want to choose a round or oval shape. If you prefer a more edgy or dramatic look, you may want to choose a square, stiletto, or coffin shape.

Learn More ›

Are almond nails attractive? ›

Almond nails are also a good choice for people with wide nail beds, as the pointy tip can help to make the nails look narrower. However, if you have short, stubby fingers, almond nails may not be the most flattering shape, as they can make your fingers look even shorter and wider.

Discover More Details ›

Do almond nails look good on everyone? ›

Almond nails are a classic, elegant look on everyone. A-listers, your neighbour, your Pilates teacher, your nana; absolutely everyone can rock this look. Almond nails are long, before tapering in at the nail bed to a softly pointed tip.

Get More Info ›

What is coffin and almond nails? ›

Coffin nails — sometimes referred to as ballerina nails — are somewhat similar to almond nails as they curve inward toward the tips. However, this shape is filed straight across instead of featuring a rounded tip.

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How will almond nails look on me? ›

The almond shape is achieved by keeping a wide base and filing the sides into a tapered peak at the free edge, and the best part is that it looks great on everyone! It's also specifically great for those with wide palms and short fingers because it will help elongate the look of your digits.

Read On ›

Can anyone have almond-shaped nails? ›

A classic shape that works well on just about anyone and any size nail, an almond-shaped nail is slender on the sides and wide on the base, coming to a peak—reminiscent of an actual almond.