A preformed artificial nail adapted to substantially cover an upper surface of a user's natural nail, the upper surface of the natural nail extending from a cuticle and having an oppositely disposed free edge and a natural nail bed attached at the user's finger, the artificial nail comprising: an upper surface, a lower surface, at least a portion of the lower surface being adapted to be placed adjacent the upper surface of the user's natural nail, a proximal edge adapted to be placed substantially adjacent the user's cuticle, a distal edge opposite the proximal edge, a right edge, a left edge opposite the right edge, a nail bed portion having a proximal edge defining the proximal edge of the artificial nail, a free edge portion having a distal edge defining the distal edge of the artificial nail, the free edge portion being adjacent to and distal the nail bed portion, the free edge portion including an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion extending subjacent the upper portion, said artificial nail being formed of a first material and a second material, the first material being comparatively more flexible than the second material, the first material extending from the proximal edge and forming the nail bed portion and the upper portion of at least a portion of the free edge portion, the second material forming at least a portion of the lower portion of the free edge portion, the second material being disposed subjacent the first material along the free edge portion; characterized in that: the lower portion of the free edge portion has a thickness that increases from a proximal edge of the free edge portion to the distal edge of the free edge portion, such that the rigidity of the free edge portion of the nail gradually increases as it approaches the distal edge. an upper surface, a lower surface, at least a portion of the lower surface being adapted to be placed adjacent the upper surface of the user's natural nail, a proximal edge adapted to be placed substantially adjacent the user's cuticle, a distal edge opposite the proximal edge, a right edge, a left edge opposite the right edge, a nail bed portion having a proximal edge defining the proximal edge of the artificial nail, a free edge portion having a distal edge defining the distal edge of the artificial nail, the free edge portion being adjacent to and distal the nail bed portion, the free edge portion including an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion extending subjacent the upper portion, said artificial nail being formed of a first material and a second material, the first material being comparatively more flexible than the second material, the first material extending from the proximal edge and forming the nail bed portion and the upper portion of at least a portion of the free edge portion, the second material forming at least a portion of the lower portion of the free edge portion, the second material being disposed subjacent the first material along the free edge portion; characterized in that: the lower portion of the free edge portion has a thickness that increases from a proximal edge of the free edge portion to the distal edge of the free edge portion, such that the rigidity of the free edge portion of the nail gradually increases as it approaches the distal edge. the lower portion of the free edge portion has a thickness that increases from a proximal edge of the free edge portion to the distal edge of the free edge portion, such that the rigidity of the free edge portion of the nail gradually increases as it approaches the distal edge.