Looking to make short nails appear longer? The Italian manicure might be the easy fix you’ve been hoping for. Gaining traction on social media, the technique is prized for doing just that, as well as making nails look cleaner and more expensive.
Ahead, we’re breaking down everything to know about it, from what it is to which nail shapes it flatters most.
What is an Italian manicure?
The Italian manicure isn’t a specific polish color or shape, but rather a technique that’s all about how the polish is applied. “Instead of taking the color all the way to the side walls of the nail as you normally would, you instead leave the tiniest gap on either side,” explains nail artist and OPI partner Anouska Anastasia. She deems it a “super simple step that visually makes a huge difference,” going so far as to call it an “optical illusion.”
As its name suggests, the technique is credited to Italian nail artists. Anastasia notes that techs have used the technique for years, but it’s recently exploded on social media as people have realized just how flattering it can be.
How does the application method create the optical illusion of longer nails?
“Because you’re not painting right to the edges, your eyes instead focus on the narrower block of color, which makes the nail look longer, slimmer and more elegant, even though the actual size hasn’t changed at all,” says Anastasia. “It’s basically contouring but for your nails! Such a clever little trick.”
What nail shape works best with this technique?
While Anastasia says the technique can work on pretty much any nail shape, she personally thinks almond and oval nails really let the effect shine as they already have that naturally elongated silhouette. “That said, if you’ve got squoval or even square nails, it still gives the illusion of a slimmer nail, so really and truly anyone can give it a go. It’s one of those techniques that’s universally flattering.”
