Coffin nails are a beloved nail shape in the goth community, and for good reason. Namesake aside, these nails are perfect for art and decorative elements. They suit extravagant fashion beautifully, and gothic wardrobes and fashion elements are nothing if not extravagant.

But if you’ve ever had them yourself, you know that they’re not exactly the easiest nail shape to maintain. That award goes to the round or squoval (square oval) nail. Round nail shapes are more resistant to breakage thanks to their relative uniformity and, well, roundness. Unfortunately, the very same edges that give coffin nails their iconic look also put them at greater risk for breakage and damage.

You can’t exactly give coffin nails the same structural integrity of round or squoval nails. But you can still stretch out their longevity and lower the risk of early chips or breaks. We’ll dive into five of the easiest ways you can maintain your next set of coffin nails, so you can enjoy the gothic design that much longer.

1: Moisturize your nails and cuticles

One of the biggest culprits in nail breakage is simple: brittle nails. Nails become brittle through a variety of means, like poor health and lack of vitamins. Another big one? Lack of moisture. In the same way that you likely moisturize your face and hands often, you should be moisturizing to keep your nails healthy and strong.

Shop around for a cuticle oil you enjoy. Apply it to the cuticle itself, and to the skin around your nail. This keeps the nail and skin around it moisturized, which makes it more flexible. The next time your nail snags on something, it’s more likely to bend with it instead of breaking.

2: File with care

Over-filing is a major contributor to weak and brittle nails that snap and break quickly. Coffin nails require a considerable amount of cutting, shaping and filing, so it’s at more risk than other types of nail shapes.

When filing your nails, be sure to:

• Always file in the same direction and not back and forward
• Use a high quality, fine grit nail file that won’t shred your nail
• Only file clean and dry nails

For nail files, crystal and glass tend to have a finer grit than metal. Metal files are cheaper but also tend to create more micro-tears in the nail. For us, they get a pass.

3: Round the edges

The most iconic part of a gothic coffin nail is the straight line that cuts directly across the nail’s tip. However, those super sharp corners are exactly what makes it weak to breakage. You don’t have to do a whole lot of rounding, but you should take a file to those sharp corners to blunt them just a bit. It won’t change the overall look of the shape too drastically, but will prevent snags, tears and breaks.

On top of that, changing up the shape of your nails and deviating from the status quo can be seen as a form of artistic expression. No need to stick to the standards.

4: Protect your hands

Most commonly, this can look like wearing gloves when working with harsh chemicals. It can also look like avoiding any activity that might put your nails at risk, like manual labor, sports, and outdoor activities.

But the biggest hidden risk? Things that can suck the moisture out of your nails. Moisturizing your hands and nails helps put some moisture back in, but it’s best if you avoid it being drawn out in the first place. This means avoiding soaking your hands in water, washing them frequently, and exposing your nails to harsh chemicals.

You should also give your nails time to rest between manicures. The chemicals in your products can seep into the nail and suck out moisture, too. This might contribute to a more brittle nail even if you’re doing everything else right.

As a note: brittle and dry nails may also indicate health issues. If you take good care of your nails but still struggle with nail health, consider speaking to a health professional.

5: Remember your maintenance

Plenty of people don’t take care of their manicures as well as they should, gothic or not. To really get the most out of your polish and your nails, you should take steps to maintain the work you put into them. This can include:

• Reapplying topcoat every few days
• Scheduling regular fills for gel manicures or acrylics to keep them from lifting
• Filling any chips right away

Remember to keep your nails moisturized throughout the lifespan of your manicure, too; that’s not just prep work.

Using the Right Tools and Products

The above tips are a great start, but the real cherry on top are your products. Higher quality polishes, prep products, and tools can make a world of difference in the longevity of your gothic nails. This means having a good emery board or nail file, sharp nail scissors, and understanding how to properly shape and cut your nails.

It also means having good base coats, polishes, and top coats. We’ve already talked about one of our favorite nail polish brands, mooncat. This company focuses on nail polish as wearable art, so the goth guys, gals and nonbinary pals out there will likely find a shade or two that suits them well. Their base and top coats are also top of the line.

You can also check out our list of ten tips for maintaining a manicure, where we discuss a few other brands that live up to the hype, too. We wrote it with squoval and round shapes in mind, but a lot of these tips are multipurpose and will fit coffin nails.

The Longest-Lasting Nail In Your Gothic Coffin

…Or at the very least, the longest-lasting coffin nails in your repertoire. These tips will help you prolong the death of your beloved coffin nails. If you’re reading this in winter, really emphasize the moisture aspect. Cold and dry winter air can sponge all of the healthy oils right out.

But otherwise? Pick and choose, see what works best, and trial and error some of these tips. Your next set of coffin nails may just be your longest-lasting goth look yet.