Why shapes often look lopsided to begin with

It takes some time to master symmetry and it can be a bit tricky. For example, if you angle the nail file just a hair too much, it changes the entire shape of the nail. Many new nail painters blame the tools or the way they apply polish for their lopsided results when in reality, the shape of the nail is the culprit. Mastering the nail shape before you add the polish makes all the difference in the world.

Look at the nail straight on, not just from the top. This helps you see if both sides of the free edge are even as they taper to the center of the nail. If it’s an oval, square or a soft almond, the shape still needs to mimic the way the finger grows. Practice holding the nail file at the right angle and using a light touch, always filing in one direction. File for a few strokes and then look at the nail straight on again to see if you are making one side more narrow or flat than the other.

One of the most common errors is to take too much length off one side of the nail in an attempt to even out the other. This will result in a nail that appears to twist, or is too narrow on one side. The fix is simple. Stop filing for a second and compare that nail with the one next to it. Instead of filing more length off, go to the other side and file just a bit at a time until the center crease appears more even. As you get into the habit of checking, you won’t need to make big corrections later.

You can practice shaping in as little as fifteen minutes. Choose a nail shape and try to copy it on each nail. Don’t worry too much about perfection. Spend the first few minutes perfecting the free edge and then spend some time on the sidewalls so that they both taper into the center of the nail. In the last couple of minutes of your practice session, just smooth out the edge of the nail to remove any ridges you may have created while shaping. If you do this a few times a week, you will begin training your eye to recognize when something is symmetrical.

As soon as you can easily recognize a symmetrical shape, you will find that it’s much easier to paint your nails. A straight edge helps guide your brush and a curved edge provides a framework for your polish. Many people believe you need to have a steady brush in order to get a sharp paint line, but in reality, much of that is done when you shape your nail beforehand. If the foundation is symmetrical, the rest of the manicure is much more manageable and looks calm and serene instead of chaotic.