"Classic nail shapes, like round and oval, are especially flattering for aging hands," Tom Bachik, celebrity manicurist and global nail designer for L'Oréal Paris, as well as celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Julianne Moore, explains to Best Health.
“An oval-shaped nail helps fingers look longer, and in turn, makes hands look younger,” she explains. Another grooming tip from the pro: pay attention to your cuticles! “Be sure to keep your fingers well-manicured,” she says.
“Classic nail shapes, like round and oval, are especially flattering for aging hands,” says Tom Bachik, celebrity manicurist and global nail designer for L'Oréal Paris, whose client list includes Jennifer Lopez and Julianne Moore.
It's a good idea to stick to classic nail shapes and avoid unusual ones. For example, the typically feminine rounded shape, as well as almond and oval, are perfectly suitable for women over 60. Sharp, long and square plates will look quite unattractive on mature hands.
To Lengthen & Slim Fingers
Best nail shape for your hands: Almond Nails. Slender at the sides and slim at the base, this is an instantly flattering shape. File each side of the nail, and shape the tip by narrowing the free edge to create a peak.
Almond. "An almond-shaped nail is slim on the sides and wide on the base, coming to a rounded peak. This shape will lengthen and make short fingers look slim," says Deborah Lippmann, celebrity manicurist & brand founder.
2023 is the year of the short stiletto nail. Stiletto nails are that girl; these nails are everyone's go-to if they want to make a bold statement. Usually long, they are filed and shaped with a sharp or almond-shaped point at the tip.
Almond. A.k.a our all-time favourite shape because it looks great on everyone. The almond shape is achieved by keeping a wide base and filing the sides into a tapered peak at the free edge.
If you have light skin, choose shades of white, champagne, nude or sand. If you have darker toned skin, choose shades of cocoa, cappuccino, taupe or coffee. Chocolate and shades of grayish-brown are youthful and trendy, but be wary of dark browns as they can be very harsh and unforgiving.
Red is the most youthful colour and an anti-ageing staple to add in your arsenal. Go for orange-based reds and true tomato reds to make your hands look lively and young.
Neutral shades for women aged 60 and over
If you have a fair complexion, we recommend nude or neutral nail art. Warm caramel and taupe colors highlight darker skin tones. In addition, purple or cinnamon nail polish will accentuate the natural dark complexion of the skin.
Round and squoval nails are most resistant to breakage because there are no sharp edges that can cause weak points in the nail.”
Long nails can make your hands look old and witch-like, so make sure you keep them a little short, but not too short to the point that they look bitten off. Jan Arnold, owner of nail care company CND, recommends keeping your nails no longer than ¼ inch beyond your fingertips.
Hot water, detergents, and yard work can dry your skin, which can age your hands. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Applying a lotion or cream after washing your hands and bathing helps to trap water in your skin, which can plump up your skin. Keep appointments for maintenance treatments.
Oranges, corals, and peach-based hues can draw attention away from the signs of aging on our hands, due to the fact that these colors are so bright and youthful. Subtle shades like beiges and sheer pinks only draw the eyes away from the nails and to the hands, revealing wrinkles and age spots.
“Nail polish colors that have cool tones—like blue, lavender, and light pink—typically complement people with cool undertones,” says celebrity manicurist Queenie Nguyen. Pastel colors, blue-based reds, and jewel tones are also very flattering. If you're choosing brown nail polish, lean toward taupes.
Dark polishes, particularly stark black, run the risk of making mature hands appear less youthful, especially when it comes to cool-toned shades like deep navy, bluish reds, and wine purples. These exacerbate any skin dullness or dark spots caused by sun damage that you might be worried about.
White nails truly go with everything and make any color pop. If you're silently questioning “does white nail polish look good?”, the answer is yes. In the summertime it can be paired beautifully with pastels or bright clothing in your wardrobe.
Should Your Manicure and Pedicure Match? Simply put, no – you mani and pedi doesn't have to match. Back in the day, it used to be mandatory to match the colour on your fingernails to your toes but, over the years this trend has become predictable and a little boring too.
Sexy claws and nail art: what do men like? According to the Jolie survey, women's nails that tend to be shorter (i.e. flush with the tip or only slightly beyond) are particularly popular among men. In addition, a slightly rounded almond shape is particularly popular because it looks natural and well-groomed.
Round. Round nails are the most common nail shape when it comes to manicures.
Multiple scientific studies indicate the nail color that men are most attracted to is red. Wearing red specifically increases attractiveness.
French manicures had a mini comeback last year, but for 2023, they're even more desirable. “French manicures will be barely there and very thin and natural for 2023,” says Westmoreland of the updated classic. Think hardly noticeable, fine white tips that make hands and nails look chic and expensive.
Viva Magenta is Pantone's famed color of 2023 (even spotted on the runways of Prabal Gurung and Del Core) which is why it's no surprise that artists predict it's also set to make a big splash in beauty this summer.
Digital lavender, a cool-toned lilac pastel, which WGSN has named as its colour of the year for 2023. It also happens to tie in well with the digitally inspired textures we're seeing in nail art: colour-shifting shimmers and light-reflecting iridescent finishes.