How to File Your Nails Properly
Filing your nails regularly will keep them smooth and shaped. It's the first step in a good manicure. Nearly everyone thinks that they know how to file their nails, but there is only one right way. The wrong ways can damage your nails and make them weaker. Here's how to do it properly.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Towel
- Moisturizer
- Emery board
- Nail buffer
- Nail clippers or nail scissors
- Soap
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1
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
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2
Lay a towel on the table to collect any nail dust or clippings.
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3
Clip your nails if you intend to take off a lot of length. Clip straight across the tip of the nail, leaving a square edge. Be sure to leave enough length for shaping with an emery board.
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4
Hold the emery board at a slight angle at one corner of your nail. Lightly stroke it from the corner to the center of your nail. Repeat several times, keeping the pressure light.
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5
Hold the emery board at a slight angle at the opposite corner and repeat, stroking from the corner toward the center of your nail.
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6
Repeat with each nail.
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7
Buff your nails if desired with a nail buffer to make them shine.
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8
Gather up the towel and shake out the nail dust and nail clippings into the trash.
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9
Wash and moisturize your hands.
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1
Tips & Warnings
You can file your nails into a square-off shape or a more rounded oval shape, depending on your preference.
Don't use metal nail files. They're too harsh.
Don't "scrub" your nails by rubbing the emery board back and forth. File in one direction only.
Avoid filing your nails after a shower or a bath. Water softens your nails and makes it easier to damage them.
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Comments
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Your discription to do nails is lacking, you never said not to strock back and forth against the grain of nail, It should only forward toward the tip using the full lenght of the file. Use at least three grids of emery boards finishing off with very fine. the edge of the nails should be fine as glass. lost of older people have ridges or lines toward the tip, do not run the emery board accross but flat on the nail and forward right and then left acrross but forward with the gain of the nail. when you run your nail along the edge of you nail you should not feel any grid. again, it should be like glass.
