The slender heel on a pair of stilettos is what makes them both flattering and impractical. The popular nail shape inspired by the shoes can be equally dramatic—without the risk of foot pain or balance struggles.
Featured experts
- Juanita Huber-Millet is the founder and creative director of Townhouse
- Brittney Boyce is a celebrity nail artist
“The stiletto nail shape is long with tapered sides and a sharp pointed end like a stiletto heel,” says Juanita Huber-Millet, founder and creative director of Townhouse.
Variations on stiletto nails range from sharp tips that look like they could poke an eye out to a rounder version that’s a closer relative to the almond nail shape. “You can choose the classic, sharply pointed stiletto for an unapologetically fierce look, or opt for a slightly softer, almond-like end if you prefer a subtler yet still edgy vibe,” says Huber-Millet.
No matter how pointy you go, filing your nails on the sides will help create the tapered effect of the stiletto shape if you’re doing your own nails. “Start by filing each side of your nails to make them slimmer and start creating a pointy tip from the halfway point on your nail,” advises Brittney Boyce, celebrity nail artist and co-founder of Lost Angels. “I always file a couple of times on each side then switch to the opposite side going back and forth so one side is not over-filed.”
Boyce and Huber-Millet agree that the stiletto nail shape looks best on longer lengths. “If your nails are short, I would suggest opting for extensions or allow your natural nails to grow to at least 1/8 inch before getting started,” says Huber-Millet.
To get a sense of the types of nail art for stiletto nails you can try, keep scrolling.
Stiletto nail designs to try
