The right nails depend on what they are for, how busy your hands are and how much upkeep you want. For everyday life, short milky nails or a soft ombre in builder gel are the easiest choice. For a special occasion, go for classic red almond nails or modern French tips. For a party or a vacation, try glazed chrome or long coffin nails with bold art. Answer 6 quick questions and the quiz builds your full nail set: shape, length, product and color.
What are these nails for?
How hard are you on your hands?
Which vibe do you want?
How long do you want them?
How much upkeep are you up for?
Which colors are you in the mood for?
Clean girl milky nails
Short squoval, builder gel or gel polish, milky white
Your set is short squoval nails in a sheer milky white or soft pink. It looks neat and expensive, goes with every outfit, and the regrowth barely shows. Ask for builder gel if your nails are thin or bendy, or plain gel polish if they are strong. Ideas and shades: milky white nails.
Your set at a glance
- Shape: squoval
- Length: short
- Product: builder gel or gel polish
- Color: milky white
Tip: ask for a glossy top coat and tidy cuticles. With this look, the finish is everything.
Classic red almond
Short to medium almond, gel polish, true red
Your set is short to medium almond nails in a true red. It is timeless, it looks great in photos, and there is a red for every skin tone. Gel polish keeps the color shiny and chip-free between appointments, and a red press-on set works for a single night out. More ideas: red nail designs and almond nail designs.
Your set at a glance
- Shape: almond
- Length: short to medium
- Product: gel polish
- Color: true red
Tip: blue-based reds flatter cool undertones and orange-based reds flatter warm ones. Not sure which you are? Take the skin undertone test.
Glazed chrome nails
Short to medium oval, gel polish with chrome powder, pearl
Your set is a sheer milky base with a pearl chrome powder on top, on short to medium oval or almond nails. It shines in every light, looks modern and still feels soft. The chrome powder is rubbed onto gel polish, so this one needs a gel manicure. Ideas: glazed chrome nails and soft chrome nails.
Your set at a glance
- Shape: oval or almond
- Length: short to medium
- Product: gel polish and chrome powder
- Color: pearl chrome
Tip: chrome shows every bump, so ask for a smooth, even base first.
Modern French tips
Medium square or almond, gel polish, nude and white
Your set is a modern French manicure: a sheer nude base with thin white tips, on medium square or almond nails. It is elegant for weddings, dates and the office. Want a twist? Try colored tips, a double line or a deep V. Need more length? Soft gel extensions give you the shape in one visit. Ideas: French tip variations and square nail designs.
Your set at a glance
- Shape: square or almond
- Length: medium
- Product: gel polish or soft gel extensions
- Color: nude with white tips
Tip: keep the tips thin. A thin tip looks modern and makes nails look longer.
Bold coffin acrylic art
Long coffin, acrylic or soft gel extensions, statement art
Your set is long coffin nails with bold art: bright color, chrome or glitter accents, gems or graphic lines. Acrylic gives you strong length, and soft gel extensions are a lighter option. Plan on a fill every few weeks. For a weekend or a festival, press-ons give you the same look without the commitment. More: coffin vs ballerina nails.
Your set at a glance
- Shape: coffin
- Length: long
- Product: acrylic, soft gel extensions or press-ons
- Color: bright, with art
Tip: not sure about acrylic or gel? The gel or acrylic quiz helps you decide.
Soft ombre builder gel
Short to medium oval, builder gel, pink to white
Your set is a soft pink-to-white ombre in builder gel, on short to medium oval nails. Builder gel adds strength to your natural nails, and the blended color hides regrowth, so it looks good for longer. It is natural, romantic and easy to live with. Ideas: ombre nails and gel polish vs builder gel.
Your set at a glance
- Shape: oval
- Length: short to medium
- Product: builder gel
- Color: pink to white ombre
Tip: builder gel is usually refilled rather than removed, so at your next visit ask for an infill.
Try this set on your own hand
Upload one photo and CutieCure's AI shows this shape, length and color on your nails, so you can tweak it before you book.
Try it on with CutieCureFree on iPhone and Android.
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How the quiz builds your nail set
Each answer adds points to one or more nail sets. The occasion and your vibe decide the look, how busy your hands are and how long you want your nails decide what is practical, and your upkeep and color answers refine the result. If you want your nails short, the quiz never picks a long set. When two sets tie, it leans toward the one that is easier to live with.
Every result is a full set, so you can show it to your nail technician as it is. Gel polish is a colored layer on your natural nails. Builder gel is a thicker gel that adds strength and a little length. Acrylic and soft gel extensions add real length. Press-ons are ready-made nails you apply at home for short-term wear.
Want to go deeper? The nail shape quiz finds the shape for your fingers, and the nail style quiz matches nail art to your wardrobe.
The 6 nail sets
Each set pairs a shape, a length, a product and a color that work well together.
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Clean girl milky nails
Short squoval, builder gel or gel polish, milky white
Short squoval in milky white. The easiest everyday nails, and the regrowth barely shows.
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Classic red almond
Short to medium almond, gel polish, true red
Short to medium almond in true red. Timeless and right for almost any occasion.
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Glazed chrome nails
Short to medium oval, gel polish with chrome powder, pearl
Pearl chrome over a sheer base. Shiny, modern and still soft.
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Modern French tips
Medium square or almond, gel polish, nude and white
Nude base and thin white tips on medium square or almond nails. Elegant and bridal-friendly.
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Bold coffin acrylic art
Long coffin, acrylic or soft gel extensions, statement art
Long coffin with color, gems or chrome. The statement set for parties and vacations.
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Soft ombre builder gel
Short to medium oval, builder gel, pink to white
Pink fading into white in builder gel. Natural, strong and low upkeep.
Frequently asked questions
What nails should I get?
It depends on your day and your plans. For everyday life, short milky nails or a soft ombre in builder gel are the easiest. For a wedding or a date, choose classic red almond nails or modern French tips. For a party or a vacation, try glazed chrome or long coffin nails with bold art. The quiz above builds your set in about 60 seconds.
What shape nails should I get?
Almond and oval suit most hands and make fingers look longer. Squoval is the most practical shape for short nails, square works well for French tips, and coffin is best for long, bold sets. For a match based on your fingers, take the nail shape quiz.
What color nails should I get?
Milky white, sheer pink and nude go with everything. True red is a classic for special occasions. For colors matched to your skin, the skin undertone test shows which shades flatter you.
Should I get gel, builder gel, acrylic or press-ons?
Choose gel polish for color on your natural nails, builder gel for extra strength on short to medium nails, acrylic or soft gel extensions for long nails, and press-ons for an event or a weekend. The gel or acrylic quiz compares them in more detail.
Is the what nails should I get quiz free?
Yes. It takes about 60 seconds, runs in your browser and needs no sign-up. To see your nail set on a photo of your own hand, use the free CutieCure app.
More free quizzes and guides
- Nail style quiz: which nail design suits you?
- Nail shape quiz: which shape suits you?
- Gel or acrylic quiz: which should you get?
- Design your own nails online
- How virtual nail try-on works