Oval Nail Ideas: Trendy Designs & Inspiration for the Perfect Manicure!

Discover ideas to complement any style and personality. So, get ready to elongate your fingers and elevate your look with the hottest oval nail trends!

Looking for oval nail ideas? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve pulled together some of our favourite oval nail design ideas for 2024 to get you inspired for your next mani. Move over squares, there’s a new ‘it’ shape in town…

What Are Oval Nails?

Classy, elegant, and easy to wear; oval nails are characterised by gently curved edges and a soft, rounded tip. They’re narrower at the tip than round nails, but not as narrow as almond shapes.

Oval nails elongate your digits – which is ideal if you’re in the Chubby Fingers Club (of which I’m the Founder, Chair and President), as the lengthening effect really slims down the look of your hands.

They’re a versatile shape since they can be worn long or short – and since they provide a good amount of surface area, they’re ideal if you’re into nail art. If you’re looking for some at-home nail art effects and accessories for creating easy DIY nail art, make sure to check out our website!

They’re also one of the most hard-wearing nail shapes, so if you use your hands a lot, this is the shape for you.

How to do Perfect Oval Shaped Nails?

Decide on your desired length and trim or file your nails across the tip.

File the side walls of your nail into a gentle curve. Start at one side of the nail and file towards the centre. Aim to create a smooth, symmetrical shape on both sides of the nail.

Use the file to gently connect the rounded sides in a soft oval shape.

Best Oval Gel Nails Ideas & Inspiration for 2024!

White Oval Nails

Simple, classic, goes with everything… need we say more?

Shade 389.

This translucent milky shade is S251 Coconut Cream. If stark paper-white isn’t for you, this offers a more wearable alternative.

Black Oval Nails

Edgy, bold, and a real statement. We love how the French design on the accent fingers breaks up the look and makes it a little more grown-up.

This is shade 031 with 332 layered over top to give a subtle pink sparkle.

Red Oval Nails

Red looks good on any nail shape, but the medium length oval really complements the feminine sophistication of a bold red.

Shade: 231.

To check out our other red shades, click here for our full range of gel colours!

Pink Oval Nails

Pink is such a versatile shade that looks great any time of year.

Shade 056.

Shades: 003, 064 and 058.

Pastel and baby pinks look best in Spring, hot Barbie pink is a fun, bold shade for Summer, warm mauves are perfect for Autumn, and cranberry pinks are a classic for Winter.

Nude Oval Nails

Long nude oval nails are so elegant.

They’re popular for a reason: they’re office-friendly, they look great with any outfit, and they’re subtle enough to give you that ‘put-together’ look.

Shades: 369, 370, 372 and 371.

Short Oval Nails

While you do need some length to rock the oval shape, you don’t need tonnes, and these oval shorties are so cute!

Short ovals are ideal if your hands see heavy use, since they’re less likely to snag, chip or tear than square shapes.

Long Oval Nails

Ultra long ovals are the perfect canvas for nail art since they give you so much space to play with!

Long ovals look more professional than long square shapes owing to their more natural appearance, so if your boss is picky about your mani, this could be the shape for you.

Simple Oval Nails

Shade 002.

French manicures are so simple and effortless to wear.

They make any outfit look chic and put together, and they go with absolutely everything!

Cute Oval Nails

Sade 000. 

Cute flowery nail art is the one for you if you’re into the soft girl aesthetic.

These daisies look so cute on a nude background! They’re giving sunny-side up.

The flower nail accent on a pastel French is perfect for Spring/Summer.

Shades: 582, 368 and 365.

Elegant Oval Nails

Shades: 051, 602, and 603.

If you’re looking for glam elegance, a long oval with subtle nail art elements is the way to go. The delicate silver embellishments really make the purples and blues pop!

Or, if you’re looking for Old Money vibes, a solid deep colour like Semilac’s 475 Patio Soiree on a short oval nail is classy and understated.

Pastel Oval Nails

The new pastel neon shades from Semilac are the perfect balance between soft and vibrant.

This pastel mani has a great mix of intricate design and simplicity. The nude and black nail art really makes the pastel green stand out.

Shades: 473, 388 and 300.

Oval glitter nails are the perfect choice for special occasions.

The microglitters in shade 465 give such a luxury vibe!

Or try an ombre glitter French for extra glam.

Shade: 410.

Oval Nails Summary

Ovals are a versatile, hard-wearing nail shape that are flattering on everyone, and instantly make you look more professional and put-together. They’re a great choice if you’re into nail art since they give you a lot of surface area to play with, but they look classy and elegant in simple block-colour designs too.

Make sure to tag us in your next oval mani!