This go-round, we’re diving into square nails: It’s a modern yet classic nail shape that withstands the test of time. Below, we tapped experts to get the scoop on square nails, including how to achieve them and tricks for taking your at-home mani from basic to salon-worthy. First, there are round nails, which are exactly what they sound like: straight on the sides with rounded edges. Then there are oval nails, which are a variation of the round shape but with corners that curve inward, says celebrity manicurist and brand founder Deborah Lippmann. These two are the most natural-looking of the nail shapes and some of the easiest to accomplish, too. In the center of the natural-to-bold spectrum, we have sharp-edged square nails, but we’ll dive into this shape more below. Next up, there are squoval and almond nails. “Squoval is similar to square, but with softer edges, and almond-shaped nails are slim on the sides and wide on the base, coming to a rounded peak,” Lippmann says. Then there are the dare-to-go-there styles, like stiletto and coffin-shaped nails. “Stiletto nails are similar to almond but with a much more drastic point,” Lippmann says. And coffin nails are shaped similar to a ballerina pointe shoe: dramatic, long, and very striking. The bottom line? There are plenty of options when it comes to shaping your nails. Just like a brand new ‘do, you can experiment with a few until you find the shape you adore. While square-shaped nails can look good on anyone, you may need medium- to long-length nails to achieve the sharp shape. According to Lippmann, finding the best nail shape comes down to mirroring the shape of your cuticle. “After you have done a proper cuticle pushing, mirror the shape of the tip of your nails to the shape of your cuticles,” she suggests. While this doesn’t mean you have to steer clear of square nails if you have rounded cuticles, it is something to keep in mind when choosing your most natural-looking nail shape. “If you want a square shape, start filing from the middle,” says Amy Lin, the founder of sundays—a nail care brand focused on wellness. Filing straight across will not only give you the flat top quintessential of a square nail, but it will help create those sharp edges, too. If the edges are rough or too sharp, gently file them down to be smooth, but don’t file them so much that they turn round. (You’ll wind up with more of a squoval nail shape.) Once the first nail is complete, continue this step on all other nails. And voilà! You’ve got square nails.
