Coffin, also called ballerina, tapers at the sides like an almond and then cuts flat across the tip. It is an enhancement shape. The taper needs length that natural nails almost never hold.
Most technicians start the taper too high up the nail, which leaves a wide waist and a shape that reads as a broad square. Ask for the taper to begin closer to the cuticle than feels natural.
The flat tip is the largest usable canvas of any long shape, which is why chrome, marble and encapsulated work all end up here.
Nude coffin
The most worn version. Plain and long.
Milky white
Semi-sheer white across the whole set.
Baby boomer ombre
Nude into white built into the product.
Deep French
A built white tip with a crisp smile line.
Chrome mirror
The flat tip is the best chrome surface available.
Black chrome
Powder over black. Reads as gunmetal.
Encapsulated glitter
Glitter suspended inside clear acrylic.
Matte black
Full black under matte across a flat plane.
Cherry red gloss
Blue-toned red at full opacity.
Oxblood
Deep brownish red.
Marble with gold veins
Fine veining across a wide surface.
Tortoiseshell accent
Amber mottling on two nails.
Cat eye navy
Magnetic band across the flat tip.
Velvet emerald
Shimmer worked flat.
Clear jelly with charms
Charms encapsulated at different depths.
Nude with a gold cuff
A thin band at the cuticle that absorbs regrowth.
Ombre into burgundy
Nude fading into deep wine at the tip.
Checkerboard accent
Small squares on one nail.
Aura fade
A halo in the centre of a wide nail.
Hand-painted florals
Real freehand work, which the surface finally allows.
Short coffin
A modest version at medium length. Far more practical.
For the shape comparison, the nail shapes guide covers what each one costs in strength.
Questions people actually ask
What is the difference between coffin and ballerina nails?
Nothing. They are two names for the same shape. Ballerina refers to the pointe shoe it resembles.
Can you get coffin nails on natural nails?
Rarely. The taper needs length that natural nails almost never hold, so it is an acrylic or hard gel shape.
Are coffin nails practical?
At medium length, reasonably. At full length they catch on things and the tapered sides are the weak point.
