DIY Coffin Nails At Home With This Step-by-Step Guide

By Brittany Leitner

Published on Aug 11, 2021

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Despite the name, coffin nails aren’t as spooky as they sound. In fact, they’re totally in right now, thanks to celebs like Kylie Jenner, Khloé Kardashian, and Cardi B. The coffin nail shape is also sometimes called ballerina nails, since it resembles a pointe shoe: round on the edges and a flat edge at the tip.

No matter what you call it, there’s something fierce about this nail shape. Although most people rock this look with acrylics, celebrity nail artist Elizabeth Garcia says it’s totally possible to do on your own at home. This is one of Garcia’s most requested nail looks, and if you’re interested in trying it at home, here are Garcia’s DIY tips to nail it (see what we did there?) every time you want to give your nails a refresh.

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Elizabeth Garcia is a professional nail artist focused on celebrity and editorial work for the last 17 years. She specializes in non-harmful nail extensions and nail art.

First off, here’s what you’ll need to get the coffin nail shape:

Nail file (we love this chic MARGARET DABBS LONDON Crystal Nail File)
Nail clipper
Cuticle pusher
Buffer

Garcia says you don’t have to have super long coffin nails to get the desired look; nails can be any length that work for you.

Step 1: Clean things up

Remove any existing polish so you can start fresh. Try the ZOYA Remove Plus Nail Polish Remover to remove polish. Since it stands upright, all you have to do is press a cotton pad down on the press-top to dispense nail polish remover, meaning you only need one hand to use it.

Then, using a cuticle pusher, gently push the cuticles back. You can apply cuticle oil with vitamin B to soften and rehydrate nail beds and cuticles, like the ADESSE Nail & Cuticle Energizer. Garcia doesn’t recommend cutting them, but if you want to gently buff off excess skin, you can do so with one of those buffer blocks.

Step 2: Clip it

Grab your nail clippers and angle them at the tip of your nail (on the side wall). “Cut slowly towards the top,” says Garcia, so you make sure you don’t cut too much off. You want the side walls to be slightly thinner as your nail reaches the tip to create the slimming coffin appearance. Garcia refers to the bottom tip of the nail that you will file horizontally as the free edge of the nail (which, duh, makes sense since it’s the only part of your nail not surrounded by skin).

The goal is to cut towards the free edge, making sure it stays as horizontal as possible.

Step 3: File away your mistakes

“Grab your nail file and file side to side slowly taking away bulkiness, straight down towards the free edge,” explains Garcia. You’re basically smoothing out the part of the nail that you just cut. “While doing the shape, file away little by little to avoid it from being too narrow on the side walls,” says Garcia.

Then, file the free edge horizontally; it should be a completely flat tip that would rest fully against a table or wall.

Step 4: Hand flip

Turn your nails away from you so you can better see what you’re working with. “Flipping your hand facing you will help you get the shape right because you will be able to see all angles, and you’ll be able to file the free edge as well,” says Garcia.

Step 5: Buff and slay

If your coffin shape feels too sharp, use the buffer block to buff underneath your nail to smooth everything out. Then, you’re free to apply whatever nail decal or polish you’d like.

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