Not all nail designs have to be loud and bright. If a person is getting a pretty nail design for the first time, then she can start out with a simple design in the low-key pink and white ballerina nail shape . A ballerina nail shape can be dressed up for an event by adding silver nail sparkles.

Some designs also might lend themselves to a particular process, such as air brushing, while other methods might not translate the design as well. A person with a preference for a particular type of nail process—whether acrylic, gel or wrap—may first be able to narrow the nail design choices down to those available via a particular process and go from there. This method may eliminate several options, after which the other decision factors can come into play.