What should be the margin when creating a narrow appearance on wide nails?

Creating a narrow appearance on wide nails involves using an appropriate margin that enhances the visual proportion of the nail. A margin of 1/16 of an inch on both sides is effective because it is subtle enough to achieve the desired look without overwhelming the nail's natural shape. This smaller margin serves to visually 'trim down' the width of the nail while maintaining a more delicate and refined overall appearance.

Choosing a larger margin would likely make the nails look disproportionately narrow or cramped, detracting from the elegance of the manicure. A margin of 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch may also create a more extreme alteration in appearance than desired. Meanwhile, having no margin at all would fail to address the issue of width and would not create the intended narrow effect. Therefore, the choice of 1/16 of an inch allows for an aesthetic adjustment that enhances the overall look of wide nails while adhering to standard manicure techniques.