How to Safely File Your Own Nails
If you get regular manicures or you typically use nail clippers instead of a file, you may have never learned how to properly file your own nails. Filing keeps nails strong and healthy while also giving them your desired shape. It’s possible to file incorrectly and actually make your nails weaker and more jagged. Let’s discover how to file nails safely so they don’t peel, crack, or break.
If you get regular manicures or you typically use nail clippers instead of a file, you may have never learned how to properly file your own nails. Filing keeps nails strong and healthy while also giving them your desired shape. It’s possible to file incorrectly and actually make your nails weaker and more jagged. Let’s discover how to file nails safely so they don’t peel, crack, or break.
Having the right tools to file your nails is helpful in keeping your nails healthy and strong. Here are the tools you’ll need before getting started:
- Fingernail clippers - These are helpful for trimming long nails before filing.
- Nail file - This can be a classic emery board, though glass files are often recommended because they’re gentle on the nails and easier to clean. Nail files should be cleaned to prevent the spread of bacteria.
- Cuticle oil - This can help moisturize nails and prevent future breakage.
Having the right tools to file your nails is helpful in keeping your nails healthy and strong. Here are the tools you’ll need before getting started:
- Fingernail clippers - These are helpful for trimming long nails before filing.
- Nail file - This can be a classic emery board, though glass files are often recommended because they’re gentle on the nails and easier to clean. Nail files should be cleaned to prevent the spread of bacteria.
- Cuticle oil - This can help moisturize nails and prevent future breakage.
Your nails have a natural shape that’s largely genetic, and it’s typically either round or square. The shape of your cuticle and nail bed usually determines the natural shape of your nail. It can be most flattering and easy to maintain if you work with your natural shape.
It’s not recommended that you remove the cuticle on toenails or fingernails.
Below are several popular nail shapes:
- Almond - Almond nails resemble, you guessed it, almonds, with tapered sides that meet at a rounded peak.
- Round - Round nails resemble the tip of the fingernail and are a common natural shape. Typically, the sides are filed straight and then lead into a semicircle tip.
- Square - Square nails are flat across the top with straight, sharp corners. These work best on shorter nails or nails that are naturally square or rectangular in shape.
- Coffin - Coffin nails are filed to get narrower as they move away from the nail bed, then come to a blunt square point at the tip. The shape resembles a coffin, but it’s also sometimes called “ballerina” because it looks like the square toe of a ballet shoe.
- Squoval - Squoval (squared oval) nails are similar to square nails, except the edges are slightly rounded to create a softer, more oval shape.
- Stiletto - Stiletto nails are filed into a sharp point and are usually worn long, though a shorter version of the stiletto is sometimes called a “mountain peak.”
Your nails have a natural shape that’s largely genetic, and it’s typically either round or square. The shape of your cuticle and nail bed usually determines the natural shape of your nail. It can be most flattering and easy to maintain if you work with your natural shape.
It’s not recommended that you remove the cuticle on toenails or fingernails.
Below are several popular nail shapes:
- Almond - Almond nails resemble, you guessed it, almonds, with tapered sides that meet at a rounded peak.
- Round - Round nails resemble the tip of the fingernail and are a common natural shape. Typically, the sides are filed straight and then lead into a semicircle tip.
- Square - Square nails are flat across the top with straight, sharp corners. These work best on shorter nails or nails that are naturally square or rectangular in shape.
- Coffin - Coffin nails are filed to get narrower as they move away from the nail bed, then come to a blunt square point at the tip. The shape resembles a coffin, but it’s also sometimes called “ballerina” because it looks like the square toe of a ballet shoe.
- Squoval - Squoval (squared oval) nails are similar to square nails, except the edges are slightly rounded to create a softer, more oval shape.
- Stiletto - Stiletto nails are filed into a sharp point and are usually worn long, though a shorter version of the stiletto is sometimes called a “mountain peak.”