Having been overshadowed by the clean, round and natural-looking manicure for years now, square nails are officially back on the beauty menu. Modern and elegant, the nail shape brings back fond memories of the ’90s and ’00s – as well as the 2010s, when Kim Kardashian, Rihanna and Selena Gomez all adopted the look. As we approached the 2020s trends evolved, and square nails fell by the wayside, replaced with softer, more natural shapes like almond, round and oval.
What are square nails?
Square nails are exactly what they sound like: nails that have a straight, flat top (or to use the technical name, free edge). The sharpness of the top and sides – zero rounded corners here – is what gives the trending nail shape its name.
The beauty of a square nail is in the subtle attitude it adds to short, medium and long lengths, and both delicate nudes and darker polishes. Here, we lay out how to wear it in 2026.
