I would often get clients wanting to turn their short square nail… into almonds. I was all about clients loving the look and feel of their natural nails, and so although my initial answer was, No… I eventually figured out a process to start saying, Yes to their almond nail dreams. After all, it only takes one service period to get a good almond length.
An I mean almond. Nails with a point. Oval is different.
In this week’s YouTube video I show how to safely turn short square nails, almond.
And yes, there’s a valid concern currently in the industry that if you shape nails almond you are going to create onycholysis, or nail plate lifting, at the sidewalls. Well as they say, knowledge is power. And if you know how to safely create an almond nail shape… NO. Almond nails do not create onycholysis… Improper technique does.
Damaging nail plates while trying to achieve ANY nail shape is very possible when we want to get to that final shape by the grease of our elbows but especially the WRONG file/tool.
In this video I will teach you how to safely shape nails almond with the right tools and the right technique… even when you think it’s impossible.
When you’re ready hit “play”.
🔺Education mentioned in this video:
Free orientation class to help you succeed as a structure gel specialist:
https://paolaponcenails.com/masterclass/
Nail Thoughts Certification Spring 2026:
https://paolaponcenails.com/2605nt
🔺Products used in this video:
Staleks PRO Tools (Code PPN10, save 10%)
Shop at: https://paolaponcenails.com/fox
– papMam File Donut in 240g
– papMam Pink Beveled Base Expert 20
– Nail Nipper Smart 71 14mm
Amazon
– 180/240g Board File
Nail Thoughts (Code PPN10, save 10%)
Shop at: https://paolaponcenails.com/nt-base/
Builder Base Gel- Hydrangea #44
Paola Ponce is a licensed nail tech of 10+ years and a certified Japanese gel educator.
Learn more about her journey as a specialized gel nail artist and her gel nail application course inside her free masterclass here.
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