Squoval is a nail shape that combines a square tip with rounded corners, so the nail keeps the straight, clean line of a square without the sharp edges that catch on fabric and chip.
Also known as: squoval nails, square oval nails, soft square nails, rounded square nails
Squoval is a blend of square and oval. The free edge is filed straight across, then each corner is softened into a curve. The result reads as neat and tailored from the front and smooth from the side. Mavala calls it the great all-rounder, and lists round and squoval as the strongest shapes because there are no corners to catch (Mavala).
The shape suits most nail beds. A narrow bed looks a little wider with a squoval tip, and a wide bed looks tidier than it would with a full square. It works on short nails, which is where the 2026 trend direction is heading: the Dutch press describes the season as shorter, rounder and more natural (Jan Magazine).
To file a squoval, work with a fine file and move in one direction along the free edge. First take the tip straight across. Then angle the file slightly under each corner and make a few short strokes until the corner is rounded but the flat top remains. Check both hands side by side, because a corner that is rounder on one nail shows at once.
Squoval takes polish well. A crème or a cat-eye lacquer reads cleanly on a flat tip, and capping the free edge is easy because there is a clear edge to run the brush along. Reapply top coat every 2 to 3 days to keep the corners sealed (Manucurist).