It’s official: the generational nail wars have entered the group chat. TikTok keeps clowning on almond-shaped nails as Millennial-coded, while Gen Z swears that short, tidy shapes are the only acceptable manicure in 2025. And honestly? As someone who’s worn both, I can confirm the debate has legs – well, nails.
Millennials: Almond Loyalists
Millennials practically invented the almond obsession. Long, tapered, and just dramatic enough, this shape became the status mani of the Instagram era. If you were scrolling in the 2010s, you saw Kylie Jenner flashing almond French tips, Ariana Grande holding her Starbucks cup with extra-long almonds, or basically any celeb flaunting length like it was currency.
The almond wasn’t just a shape – it was an aesthetic statement. It gave “I have time, I have glam, and yes, my nails might poke an eye out, but they look amazing.” Even now, I can’t lie: slipping on a glossy almond set makes me feel like I’m back in the heyday of Tumblr edits and contour kits.
Gen Z: Short, Oval, Squoval
Meanwhile, Gen Z decided the manicure flex is not about how long your nails are – it’s how clean they look. Their vibe? Short, oval, or the now-iconic squoval. It’s practical, it’s scroll-friendly, and it doesn’t get in the way of typing, gaming, or, let’s be real, opening a can of LaCroix.
On TikTok, influencers like Harriet Westmoreland turned the neat squoval into an art form, and suddenly “short nails” weren’t seen as boring – they were chic.
Celebs like Selena Gomez and Olivia Rodrigo rocking soft oval manis sealed the deal. As a short-nail convert myself, I get it: they look modern, require less stress at the salon, and don’t break every time you try to zip a jacket.
Why It Matters
Millennials treat almond nails like jewelry – extra length equals extra glam. Gen Z keeps it subtle, arguing that short shapes feel cooler, younger, and more real life. And honestly? Both sides are kind of right. Almonds will forever give feminine energy, while ovals and squovals scream low-maintenance chic.
Almond girlies vs. short nail squad – pick your fighter 👀. Scroll down for more inspo, tag us when you rep your team, and smash follow for the next drop.
