How to choose a manicure
The selection of manicure depends primarily on the shape, color and length of the nails. Based on these parameters, the master selects suitable nail design options and coordinates them with the client. In recent years, fashion trends give preference to natural beauty, which means that extended nail plates are no longer relevant.
You may be interested in:Nails: manicure, care, design ideas for short and long nails
Wide nails are not as inferior in appearance to long and narrow nails as they might seem at first glance. The positive aspects of such a structure should also be considered. For example, any specialist will say that it is best to work with this form. Many girls consider wide and short nails a real problem, but an experienced master can easily solve it by offering several win-win design options.
Visual lengthening of nails using a form
A wide nail plate can be made more graceful by giving the nails an almond or truncated cone shape, but for this, the nails must either be grown out or extended with artificial materials. Sharp or rounded almonds will visually make your nails narrower. Also, wide and long nails can be filed into an oval shape; this shape looks elegant, especially with a French manicure.
It is highly undesirable to make a square or even a soft square: these sawdust shapes will visually make your nails even wider. The most unfortunate shape of nails is a wide trapezoid; in this case, grace can only be achieved with nail extensions.
Tips and tricks
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Professional stylists have compiled a list of the most common features of manicure design on short wide nails. Among the useful tips you should pay attention to the following:
- A square plate shape is the worst option for such nails.
- Large drawings spoil the visual perception; it is better to prefer neat, elegant paintings and patterns.
- The effect of narrowing the plate can be achieved by using dark shades of varnish.
- Round nails will look more advantageous than other types.
- It is best to grow the plate a little so that it is not too short.
- An effective way to visually narrow a wide nail is to place the design in its central part, and not along the edges.
- Shifting or removing the cuticle will help create the illusion of lengthening the plate.
- It is best to leave the side parts of the nail untouched and not involve them in the design plan.
How to visually narrow your nails
One of the easiest ways to visually narrow wide, short nails is to cover the middle with dark varnish, leaving unpainted stripes on the left and right. This is an effective technique to lengthen the nail, making it thin and graceful.
An equally effective method to radically transform very wide nails is to paint the edges with a deep, rich color, and, on the contrary, leave the center light (milky, creamy, coffee). Natural, translucent shades will give your hands well-groomed, and a flat and wide manicure will not attract too much attention.
When developing beautiful manicure designs for wide nails, it is recommended to actively use the trendy trend of simple geometric designs. A couple of thin vertical lines of a contrasting color will transform the created art beyond recognition.
Nail shape for wide nail plate
A wide plate has many advantages: it is easier to process, giving it the desired shape, and when choosing a design, the scope for creativity is almost unlimited.
The most suitable option, of course, would be a round or smoothly rounded shape. The round edges will be appreciated by girls leading an active lifestyle - they are not easy to break, and they will not interfere with doing what you love.
It would seem that a square and even more so sharp manicure would be too rough, but there are exceptions here too. Wide square nails are made very short - this technique will make the hands well-groomed and neat. It is not at all difficult to give the plate a square shape - the free edges are trimmed in a straight line, and the sides are trimmed with a nail file.
Length of manicure with wide nail plate
With a wide plate, a long manicure may look unsightly, but short nails will be just right! It is worth trying to grow the edges of your nails at least a little so that they protrude a couple of millimeters - extremely short, bitten ends will only worsen the picture.
When choosing the optimal length for a flat plate, you should take into account its thickness: the thinner it is, the shorter the free edge - this will prevent delamination and brittleness of the nail. It is necessary to carefully examine the inside of the plate - sometimes the skin under it thickens and it is strictly not recommended to injure this place, which will also affect the length of the nail.
Advice! You can “lengthen” the nail a little by completely removing the cuticle at the base.
Colors and decor for wide fingernails
The color of the coating can play a decisive role, visually making the fingertips small and graceful. As already mentioned, on hands with wide nails, a manicure in dark colors looks great - black, blue, purple, burgundy or green polish with shimmer is ideal. The use of unobtrusive decor is not excluded - small rhinestones and metal foil, unusual special effects such as “cat's eye”, ombre, marble or matte coating.
For short nails, a good solution would be a single-color pink polish; at the same time, an unobtrusive design is applied to one nail. A non-standard plate is not at all a reason to abandon color experiments. Several shades can be successfully combined in one design. A short manicure ideally combines gray and pink polish, blue and purple, blue and white. If you want something bright, you should pay attention to the colorful tandem of turquoise or yellow and pink. In order not to overdo it, it is enough to highlight one or two fingers in a contrasting color.
When choosing decor, it is recommended to avoid certain techniques that will further enlarge the plate:
- when we are talking about a design consisting of small details (flowers, specks), the design will be trendy if you decorate only one finger with a print;
- Wide horizontal stripes are strictly contraindicated - they will visually “cut off” a short nail. And any transverse lines are used exclusively in a French or moon manicure;
- the design, made in flashy neon colors, is more suitable for teenagers - it looks out of place on the hands of an adult girl.
Attention! A rich red tone is not the prerogative of exclusively graceful thin fingers - with careful application of varnish and the correct form, this shade can be safely used by those with a wide nail plate.
Basic rules and design features
The development of modern nail art creates a lot of options for decorating wide nails for every taste. In addition, there is much more room for imagination when creating a manicure for wide nails than for narrow ones. However, certain techniques should still be avoided so that the plate does not become visually wider.
- Care should be taken when choosing prints. It is permissible to focus attention on only one nail. If a small floral pattern decorates all ten plates, the print will turn from a stylish decoration into a crude craft by an inept designer.
- You should always avoid using any horizontal lines, because they visually cut the nail, which, of course, makes it wider.
- Dark shades of varnish successfully hide excessive width and insufficient length, while bright acid colors simultaneously expose all the shortcomings of the natural forms of the plates and demonstrate the immature teenage tastes of their owner.
Manicure for short nails
Short nails look no worse than long ones. Of course, if the design, decor and colors are chosen correctly, and the skin of the handles is well-groomed and smooth. So, what is needed to give short nails an ideal aesthetic look:
- drawings should be made in a minimalist style, focusing on one or two nails;
- two colors can be successfully combined on one nail, just separate them with a vertical, perfectly even stripe;
- you can use a gradient that starts with a light tone (from the cuticle) and ends with a dark tone on the free edge of the nail;
- geometry has not relinquished its leading position for several seasons in a row. For short lengths, a diamond shape is suitable. Give up the square and triangle - this will visually expand the plate even more. Circles or dots look very organic;
- The “negative space” technique is also popular among fashionistas. It consists in leaving one half (or any selected part) of the nail untouched, visually lengthening it.
The marble manicure technique looks very advantageous - thanks to it, the nails become graceful and noble. A diagonal French manicure will decorate a wide nail, adding showiness and originality. To visually make your nails longer, choose lines that are drawn vertically and come in different colors. Dots drawings and the use of leopard or graphic prints are relevant. Remember that decorative elements should be minimal to avoid overloading the design.
Horizontal drawings should be excluded. They can make the plate even shorter and will also look awkward. These stripes and lines may only be appropriate when performing a moon manicure or a French manicure.
Optimal types of manicure and prints
Some design styles can look even better on wide and short nails than on narrow and long nails that are more attractive, from the point of view of most women. For example, any design created using the dots technique looks great. The famous French manicure sometimes looks better on wide nails. Nail design for any shape with the development of modern technologies began to actively use various graphic prints, transferring images of almost any complexity onto plates.
Vertical lines of any color, abstract designs and diamond-shaped figures look advantageous on this type of nails. Rhinestones and large-sized pearls, a combination of shine and shine, and three-dimensional modeling also complement the overall picture well. A well-chosen type of manicure or a beautiful, elegant print will not only create a stylish image on any type of plate, but will also shift the attention of those contemplating from the width of the nails to the original design and design.
Photo of manicure for wide nails
As you can see in the photo, on wide nails a classic French manicure looks appropriate and elegant. As on nails of any other shape and length, the jacket can be made multi-colored, complemented with interesting designs and unusual decorative elements.
The design looks original, in which the smile line is drawn diagonally - such nail art on a flat plate looks fresh and incredibly stylish.
In the photo gallery below there are a lot of beautiful, fashionable, extraordinary designs - you just want to put them into practice as soon as possible!
Color palette and varnish application
Primary colors should definitely be dark, but it is also acceptable to use light shades for accent or blocking purposes. All color solutions for applying manicure to wide nails can be divided into several groups:
- Single-color coating with accentuation of one plate. Four nails on each hand are painted with a single-color polish, for example, pink. The fifth plate should be decorated with some kind of print or pattern like a pointed star.
- Painting nails with varnishes of different colors. You shouldn’t be too zealous, just select a couple of fingers on each hand and paint the rest with the same varnish. For example, a soft pink varnish on one plate can go well with white and blue (blue and purple, pink and gray) varnish on another.
- Red polish always visually makes the nail plate longer than it actually is. One of the fingers can be highlighted by decorating the nail with rhinestones, as well as white and pink monograms.
What to do
Not every girl can boast of perfect nails. Previously, short, trapezoidal, wide plates caused a lot of trouble for their owners. Today, manicure art offers a huge selection of techniques that allow you to change any defect on your fingers.
Masters recommend using gels, shellacs, and extension materials to hide unattractive nail proportions and give time to increase length.
Use strengthening agents, special bases and primers, the action of which is aimed at strengthening the structure. This will give you the opportunity to grow the “right” plate size.
When preparing to paint, file the side surfaces well to make your nails narrower. The ideal shape in this case would be a smooth oval; avoid sharp corners - this will further focus attention on the flaw.
The line of the nail bed must be carefully worked out. To do this, excess cuticle is removed and cleaned with a polishing roller.
Do not leave your nails uncoated; protect their structure with strengthening bases. Regular manicure will help you grow your nails to the desired length.
It’s not difficult to transform a large plate and add neatness to it. The main thing is to choose the right coating color, pattern, and try to create harmonious proportions.
Secrets from stylists
Sometimes the following little trick is used to visually lengthen it: the master paints with dark varnish only the central part along the entire length of the plate, but does not touch the edges at all. Interestingly, you can dilute the excessive width of the nail in a completely reverse way, when the varnish is applied only to the edges, and the central part remains completely untouched or painted in a different contrasting shade.
All experienced professionals in the salon have this and other useful knowledge about manicure techniques for wide nails. For every girl there will certainly be several dozen of the most suitable options for the design and design of the plates, from which all that remains is to choose the one you like.
A trick on how to paint a wide nail so that it visually appears narrower
All ladies with wide nails should apply one rule when painting - do not paint over the side edges of the nails. No, it won't look like an underpainted manicure. On the contrary, this option makes the nails more neat.
There are women who are simply annoyed if the master does not paint over the sides. But believe me, varnish that spreads over the entire nail plate, pouring into the grooves of the periungual ridges, looks very sloppy.
New products of the season in manicure
As mentioned above, naturalness and femininity of images have taken key positions both in manicure and in the beauty industry as a whole. This means that nail extensions on wide nails are out of fashion. Cat's claws have become a thing of the past; this season, the oval shape of the plates, which are as close to natural as possible, is in demand, which is ideal for wide nails.
Other fashion trends in the world of manicure dictate the following principles:
- Graphic nail art perfectly corrects the shape of the nails, and the originality of the execution is limited only by the imagination and skill of the performer.
- Ombre or gradient manicure, which comes from hair coloring techniques, is now no less relevant for nail plates.
- A classic and colorful French manicure will never go out of date and will look great on short nails.
- The use of matte gel polish is at the peak of popularity; it looks fresh, not too banal and boring. Goes well with glossy finishes.
What should the form be?
A wide plate is not a death sentence, as many women believe. It has a lot of advantages: the shape is easy to change, easier for a craftsman to process, and there is a significant area for fashionable design.
When choosing a design, do not limit your imagination: knowing some tricks for correcting the shape, you can create real masterpieces on your own hands.
The most suitable option in this case is a round or smoothly rounded shape. Well-treated corners are convenient at home and at work. They will be appreciated by women leading a dynamic lifestyle. Such a plate is not easy to break, and you can do what you love without any obstacles.
It seems to many that trapezoidal and spade-shaped plates cannot be changed, and when painted they attract too much attention. However, this is a misconception - by changing the line of the base and top edge, you can achieve an excellent result.
The following shapes are suitable for wide nails:
- Oval - a classic design will make your hands feminine.
- Rounded vault - the absence of sharp corners with well-processed cuticle provides ample opportunities for decoration.
- Square - suitable for those who cannot grow or bite their nails. At the initial stage, it helps maintain structure and grow length. Choose strengthening tops and varnishes.
- Rectangle - carefully processed with a nail file and the right coating looks great on the hands of modern ladies.
Perform all manipulations with the cuticle after steaming the skin. Treat it with special oil or softening hand cream. In this case, it will grow back more slowly and will look healthy and well-groomed.
Which manicure style to choose
Wide and short nails have no fewer design options than any other. In fact, it is not so important which style is chosen. The most important rule is to follow general tips and recommendations for applying manicure and properly caring for it.
Don't be afraid to make a mistake by choosing the wrong option. Photos of manicure designs for wide nails will also help you decide in advance, thanks to which you can easily navigate the endless number of different application techniques, prints, patterns and shades.
Glitter manicure 2021 for very short nails
Glitter is a universal design for short nails, use glitter of any color, shape and size. Short nails with glitter look more festive and fun. Whether it's adding glitter to the tips of your nails or a subtle shimmer to your cuticles, or covering your entire nail in glitter or stylish designs, there are many different ways to wear the trendy glitter manicure on short nails in 2021.
Types of glitter for manicure:
- glitter polish
- glitter
- glitter dust
- acrylic glitter powder
- matte, mirror powder
- perforated glitter
- large sequins kamifubuki
- foil
Using patterns and designs
In addition to the color of the varnish, the overall appearance of the hands is influenced by the pattern on the nails. When girls with thick fingers get their nails done, they can successfully use patterns such as small lines or small colored details. This can add a visual effect of elongating the fingers and making them look more delicate.
Simple pattern
At home, the easiest way is to draw simple drawings and patterns. It is advisable to make them small so that they do not emphasize the width of the nails and the thickness of the fingers.
To create such nail art, it is enough to apply a uniform coating, wait until it hardens completely, and then apply an abstract pattern or a simple design with a contrasting varnish using a needle or toothpick.
Bright polka dots
The black polka dot pattern adds interest to any monochromatic finish. To perform it, you can use professional brushes for nail art and tools for drawing dots, and if they are not available, use the rounded tip of a hairpin or toothpick.
After applying the polka dots, you will need to wait for them to dry, and then apply a glossy transparent topcoat on top.
Floral drawing
For those who prefer a more complex design, floral patterns are perfect. In this case, you will need to paint small single flowers, rather than lush bouquets or bulky compositions, but if done correctly, such nail art will still resemble a work of art.
If for some reason you cannot draw the desired design by hand, you can use special stickers or stamps.
Summer tropical pattern
A manicure for thick fingers can contain entire landscapes. For example, a tropical beach design is ideal for summer nail art. To accomplish this, you will need to apply a solid coral or peach finish to your nails, and add muted orange and yellow stripes to your ring fingers as you approach the tip of the nail. This will create an image of a gentle sunset.
Using a black dotted manicure brush, you need to draw palm trees. To complete the tropical nail design, you need to apply a continuous layer of glossy transparent topcoat.
Drawings on the theme of sweets
For this design, you will need to apply a plain white matte polish to the nail plates. After it dries, you need to use a thin brush to paint cupcakes or other desserts in a bright striped wrapper.
This design should be located closer to the top edge of the nail to make it visually longer and narrower. The “sweet” nail art must be secured with two layers of a long-lasting transparent topcoat.
