37 Cute Tortoise Nails and Tortoise Nail Designs To Spice Up This Fall and Autumn
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Tortoises are more than just pets—they’re companions with unique personalities and needs.
While their slow-paced lives might seem low-maintenance, there’s more to their care than meets the eye.
One crucial, yet often overlooked aspect is the care of their nails. Yes, tortoise nails! It might sound surprising, but just like other pets, tortoises need regular nail care to stay healthy and comfortable.
Imagine trying to walk with shoes that don’t fit. That’s what it’s like for a tortoise with overgrown nails.
Long nails can cause discomfort, affect their ability to walk properly, and even lead to painful injuries.
Understanding how to manage and trim tortoise nails is essential for any responsible tortoise owner.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into why nail care is so important for your shelled friend, how to tell if your tortoise’s nails need trimming, and the best practices to keep those nails in check.
By the end, you’ll have the knowledge to ensure your tortoise stays happy, healthy, and, of course, well-manicured. After all, even tortoises deserve a little pampering!
Pretty Tortoise Nails
1. Traditional Tortoise Shell Nails
We’re getting started with the most classic tortoise shell nail look of all. It’s not too bright, nor too dark.
The dark spots are perfectly shaped and sized, with just enough of the lighter shade flowing between.
Consider this the goldilocks zone manicure that’s ideal if you want to try out the trending look for the first time and also get it right the first time, too.
2. Long Square Tortoise Nails
It’s rare to see this type of fluid pattern on square nails, but when we do, the result is mesmerizing.
The sharp edges combined with the soft polish is such a striking contrast that almost looks otherworldly.
Note that the nails is darkest around the cuticle, brightening toward the tip. This grounds the nail while adding the illusion of more length.
3. Subtle Tortoise
As the tortoise trend has evolved, it’s gone from being extravagant to classily understate. And what better way to accentuate class than with a nice burgundy?
The color is rich and sumptuous at once and only offers a peak of the darker spots that are oh-so tantalizing. Overall, the look is so alluring and sensual.
4. Half Moon Tortoise Nails
I personally don’t think there’s any nail pattern more suited to the half-moon trend than tortoise.
Something about the lava lamp-like flow of the dark spots against a light backdrop just makes the exposed cuticle look natural if not beautiful.
It adds such an intriguing and quirky twist to the typically serious look, managing to somehow achieve the impossible and make it quite light-hearted.
5. Dark Tortoise Nails
This is tortoise shades brought to their extreme. Imagine the tortoise shell spectrum. These nails exist on either side of it.
The brightest, meets the darkest in a gorgeous clash that contrasts and complements perfectly.
The oval shape really tames the look but go stiletto if you really want to bring the drama.
6. Halloween Tortie Nails
I just love when classic elegance meets modern fun. It almost looks forbidden, but all the best things are.
The spooky ghosts somehow manage to look elegant and exciting at once and the tortoise side brings so much warmth and coziness.
This won’t be an easy look so be sure to treat yourself to a trip to the salon with this beauty.
7. Neutral Tortoise
We often hear classic, elegant, and sophisticated applied to tortoise shell nails, but how often do we find a perfectly pretty and soft version? Not often.
So, when we do, we make sure to add it to our must-try list because you literally cannot skip on this nails.
They are so gorgeous and girly and just really out there in all the right ways.
8. Light Tortoise Shell Era Nails
I call these barely-there nails. They’re so big lately, especially on TikTok and Instagram, it’s almost like a revival of the soft girl aesthetic but better.
The key to the look is that the manicure appears slightly faded in a dainty and delicate way.
The colors shouldn’t be strong and the nail should be mainly sharp but rounded at the tip.
9. Tortie and Chocolate Nails
If you’re not ready to dive into the tortoise shell aesthetic just yet but do want to dip your toe in while still being extra, then these are the Goldilocks zone nails for you.
Firstly, the tortoise pattern is quite abstract and wavy and even entirely strikingly split on one nail.
Then, the nails are sky-high long which is so effortlessly dramatic and combines perfectly with the tortoise shell shade.
10. Muted Green Tones and Tortie Patterns
Green and tortoise shell are a match made in heaven, they’re really just meant to be. And since once shade for such a gorgeous look isn’t enough, there’s two.
I wouldn’t play around with which nails gets the tortoise and which nails get the green polish here, because I think the equilibrium has been perfected.
So all you have to do is go get it and enjoy.
11. Tortoiseshell and Gold Embellishment Nails
Enough of matching shades, what we want is matching animal print and shades. Gold and tortoise shell are a genius pairing while the French tip style prevents the look from becoming too overwhelmed.
I think this manicure represents the clashing of classic and modern manicures in such an explosive and captivating way that I just can’t get enough of.
