Mastering The Art Of Trimming: A Guide To Perfect Finger Nails

Trimming your nails is an important part of your hygiene routine. Cut your nails right after a shower or bath so they're softer. Use nail clippers to cut each nail straight across with multiple cuts. Then, take a nail file and use long swipes to smooth out and shape the nail. Be mindful of where you cut your nails. Make sure that you set up a place for your nail clippings to go. Hold your fingers and toes directly over the receptacle, and try to track down the clippings that fly astray.

Soak nails in water to soften them before clipping

To properly clip your fingernails, you should soak them in water for a few minutes before you start. This will soften the nails and make them easier to trim.

After soaking, use nail clippers to cut your nails straight across at the beginning of the opaque, overgrown tips. You may need to make multiple cuts on the same nail to get the whole tip off. Try not to cut past the opaque tips of your nails or you could expose the sensitive skin underneath.

Look at all ten nails and pick out the shortest, or that with the smallest amount of 'white' at the tip. Leave at least a sliver of 'white' at the top of your nails—that space where the nail starts to separate from the skin it protects.

Cut your nails right after a shower or bath so they're softer. Then, take a nail file and use long swipes to smooth out and shape the nail.

Cut nails straight across at the beginning of the tips

To cut your fingernails and toenails, start by soaking them in water for a few minutes, which will make them softer so they're easier to trim. Then, use nail clippers to cut your nails straight across at the beginning of the opaque, overgrown tips. You may need to make multiple cuts on the same nail to get the whole tip off. Try not to cut past the opaque tips of your nails or you could expose the sensitive skin underneath.

To cut your nails straight across, you should clip the nail three or four times as you travel across the top. A common mistake men and women make when trimming their own nails is the angle at which they approach it. Clipping straight-on can bend and ultimately damage the nail.

You should leave at least a sliver of “white” at the top of your nails—that space where the nail starts to separate from the skin it protects. If you look at your fingers from the side, the whites of the nails shouldn’t be so long that they start to divorce the rounded shape of the finger. If the nail is so long that it extends past the fingertips, you’re due for a trim.

It’s easy to get all nails to a standard length: “Look at all ten nails and pick out the shortest, or that with the smallest amount of ‘white’ at the tip,” says Lippmann.

To learn how to file your nails after you cut them, scroll down!

Make multiple cuts to remove overgrown tips

To properly clip your fingernails, you should cut them straight across at the beginning of the opaque, overgrown tips. You may need to make multiple cuts on the same nail to get the whole tip off. Try not to cut past the opaque tips of your nails or you could expose the sensitive skin underneath.

You should leave at least a sliver of “white” at the top of your nails—that space where the nail starts to separate from the skin it protects. If you look at your fingers from the side, the whites of the nails shouldn’t be so long that they start to divorce the rounded shape of the finger.

When using the rounded fingernail clippers, you still need to cut the nails at an angle, since the curve of the blade doesn’t match the curve of your nail. Instead, you should be clipping the nail three or four times as you travel across the top.

To cut your fingernails and toenails, start by soaking them in water for a few minutes, which will make them softer so they're easier to trim. Then, use nail clippers to cut your nails right after a shower or bath so they're softer.

Be mindful of where you cut your nails. Make sure that you set up a place for your nail clippings to go. Consider clipping your nails into a trashcan or compost bin.

Use nail clippers to cut at an angle

When using nail clippers, you should cut your nails at an angle to avoid bending and damaging the nail. Cutting straight-on can bend and ultimately damage the nail.

To cut your fingernails and toenails, start by soaking them in water for a few minutes, which will make them softer so they're easier to trim. Then, use nail clippers to cut your nails straight across at the beginning of the opaque, overgrown tips. You may need to make multiple cuts on the same nail to get the whole tip off. Try not to cut past the opaque tips of your nails or you could expose the sensitive skin underneath.

Cut your nails right after a shower or bath so they're softer. Use nail clippers to cut each nail straight across with multiple cuts. Then, take a nail file and use long swipes to smooth out and shape the nail.

You should leave at least a sliver of “white” at the top of your nails—that space where the nail starts to separate from the skin it protects. If you look at your fingers from the side, the whites of the nails shouldn’t be so long that they start to divorce the rounded shape of the finger. If the nail is so long that it extends past the fingertips, you’re due for a trim. It’s easy to get all nails to a standard length: “Look at all ten nails and pick out the shortest, or that with the smallest amount of ‘white’ at the tip,” says Lippmann.

Smooth out and shape the nail with a nail file

After cutting your nails, take a nail file and use long swipes to smooth out and shape the nail.

Start by soaking your nails in water for a few minutes, which will make them softer so they're easier to trim. Then, use nail clippers to cut your nails straight across at the beginning of the opaque, overgrown tips. You may need to make multiple cuts on the same nail to get the whole tip off. Try not to cut past the opaque tips of your nails or you could expose the sensitive skin underneath. To learn how to file your nails after you cut them, scroll down!

Be mindful of where you cut your nails. Make sure that you set up a place for your nail clippings to go. Consider clipping your nails into a trashcan or compost bin. Hold your fingers and toes directly over the receptacle, and try to track down the clippings that fly astray. Try not to clip your nails in public spaces. You can compost fingernails and toenails. They won't add much bulk to the pile, but they are organic matter and will decompose. Don't try to compost fake nails (acrylics) or excessively polished nails, as these artificial materials will not degrade.

When using the rounded fingernail clippers, you still need to cut the nails at an angle, since the curve of the blade doesn’t match the curve of your nail. “A common mistake men and women make when trimming their own nails is the angle at which they approach it,” says Lippmann. “Clipping straight-on can bend and ultimately damage the nail.”

Instead, you should be clipping the nail three or four times as you travel across the top. The nails should (literally) reflect your cuticles. If you’re unsure of what shape your nails should have, just look at your cuticles. You should leave at least a sliver of “white” at the top of your nails—that space where the nail starts to separate from the skin it protects. (One or two millimeters, in our book.) If you look at your fingers from the side, the whites of the nails shouldn’t be so long that they start to divorce the rounded shape of the finger. If the nail is so long that it extends past the fingertips, you’re due for a trim. It’s easy to get all nails to a standard length: “Look at all ten nails and pick out the shortest, or that with the smallest amount of ‘white’ at the tip,” says Lippmann.

Frequently asked questions