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

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

1. Nail file (we love this chic MARGARET DABBS LONDON Crystal Nail File)

2. Nail clipper

3. Cuticle pusher

4. 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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