Nail Care 101: Tips For Achieving Even, Healthy Nails

If you want to trim your nails, you should cut them straight across and even out the rough edges with a nail file or emery board. Spare the cuticles as they protect the nail as it grows.

Cut nails straight across

To cut your nails straight across, gather the proper tools. Use a nail clipper or nail scissors for your fingernails and a toe clipper for your toenails. You can also use a spring-handled tool called a toenail nipper if you think your toenails are too thick to be cut by regular toe clippers. Disinfect the clippers or scissors before using them on your nails. To clean the tools well, first soak a small scrub brush in a bowl containing 70% to 90% isopropyl alcohol. Then use the same brush to clean the clippers or scissors. Rinse everything in hot water and allow them to dry before using them.

To trim your fingernails, cut almost straight across the nail. Avoid cutting your nails into a "V" shape or rounding off the edges. Cut the nails straight across so they're long enough to have the corners of the nail left intact at the sides. This cutting technique can help prevent ingrown toenails. When you have ingrown toenails, a part of your nail at the corner grows into the skin, causing pain and sometimes infection.

After you cut your nails, you can sometimes find that the edges are a bit rough or uneven. Use a nail file or emery board to file the nails so they get evened out. When you file a nail, you’re rubbing the nail file against the nail edge to grind down bumpy edges. File in one direction only instead of going back and forth to avoid damaging or weakening your nails. Spare the cuticles. The cuticle is the place where your nail meets the skin. It helps to protect a new nail as it grows out from the root under the bottom of the cuticle.

Dermatologists recommend the following tips to properly trim your nails: soften the nails. The best time to trim your nails is immediately after taking a bath or shower.

Use a nail file to even out

Use a nail file or emery board to file the nails so they get evened out. When you file a nail, you’re rubbing the nail file against the nail edge to grind down bumpy edges. File in one direction only instead of going back and forth to avoid damaging or weakening your nails. Spare the cuticles. The cuticle is the place where your nail meets the skin. It helps to protect a new nail as it grows out from the root under the bottom of the cuticle.

Cut nails straight across. Avoid cutting your nails into a "V" shape or rounding off the edges. Cut the nails straight across so they're long enough to have the corners of the nail left intact at the sides. This cutting technique can help prevent ingrown toenails. When you have ingrown toenails, a part of your nail at the corner grows into the skin, causing pain and sometimes infection.

After you cut your nails, you can sometimes find that the edges are a bit rough or uneven. Use a nail file or emery board to file the nails so they get evened out. When you file a nail, you’re rubbing the nail file against the nail edge to grind down bumpy edges. File in one direction only instead of going back and forth to avoid damaging or weakening your nails. Spare the cuticles. The cuticle is the place where your nail meets the skin. It helps to protect a new nail as it grows out from the root under the bottom of the cuticle.

Use regular nail clippers or nail scissors for your fingernails and toe clippers for your toes. You can also use a spring-handled tool called a toe nail nipper if you think your toe nails are too thick to be cut by regular toe clippers. Make sure you disinfect the clippers or scissors before using them on your nails. To clean the tools well, first soak a small scrub brush in a bowl containing 70% to 90% isopropyl alcohol. Then use the same brush to clean the clippers or scissors. Rinse everything in hot water and allow them to dry before using them.

Disinfect tools monthly

Soften the nails

The best time to trim your nails is immediately after taking a bath or shower.

Gather the proper tools

Use a nail clipper or nail scissors for your fingernails and a toenail clipper for your toenails. Remember to disinfect your tools monthly. To disinfect them, soak a small scrub brush in a bowl of 70 to 90 percent isopropyl alcohol and then use the brush to scrub your nail clippers or nail scissors. Afterwards, rinse the tools in hot water and dry them completely before putting them away.

Cut nails straight across

Cut the nails straight across so they're long enough to have the corners of the nail left intact at the sides. This cutting technique can help prevent ingrown toenails. When you have ingrown toenails, a part of your nail at the corner grows into the skin, causing pain and sometimes infection.

Use a nail file or emery board

Use a nail file or emery board to file the nails so they get evened out. When you file a nail, you’re rubbing the nail file against the nail edge to grind down bumpy edges. File in one direction only instead of going back and forth to avoid damaging or weakening your nails. Spare the cuticles. The cuticle is the place where your nail meets the skin. It helps to protect a new nail as it grows out from the root under the bottom of the cuticle.

Soften nails before trimming

The best time to trim your nails is immediately after taking a bath or shower. This is because warm water softens your nails, making them less likely to break during the trimming process.

To soften your nails, you can also use nail soak treatments. These treatments typically involve soaking your nails in a warm, water-based solution that contains moisturizing ingredients such as aloe vera or vitamin E. This will help to hydrate and soften the nail bed, making it easier to trim.

Another way to soften your nails is to massage them with a cuticle oil. Cuticle oils are typically enriched with nourishing ingredients such as jojoba oil or sweet almond oil. These oils can help to hydrate and soften the nail bed, making it easier to trim.

Additionally, you can also use a nail file or emery board to gradually file down the nails. This will help to smooth out any rough edges and make them easier to trim. However, it is important to file in one direction only to avoid damaging or weakening your nails.

Finally, it is important to use the proper tools when trimming your nails. Nail clippers or scissors should be used for fingernails, while toe clippers or a spring-handled tool called a toenail nipper should be used for toenails. These tools will help to ensure a clean and precise cut, making it easier to even out your nails.

Round the corners of the nails

After you cut your nails, you can sometimes find that the edges are a bit rough or uneven. Use a nail file or emery board to file the nails so they get evened out. When you file a nail, you’re rubbing the nail file against the nail edge to grind down bumpy edges. File in one direction only instead of going back and forth to avoid damaging or weakening your nails. Spare the cuticles. The cuticle is the place where your nail meets the skin. It helps to protect a new nail as it grows out from the root under the bottom of the cuticle.

To properly trim your nails, dermatologists recommend the following tips: soften the nails. The best time to trim your nails is immediately after taking a bath or shower.

Use regular nail clippers or nail scissors for your fingernails and toe clippers for your toes. You can also use a spring-handled tool called a toe nail nipper if you think your toe nails are too thick to be cut by regular toe clippers. Make sure you disinfect the clippers or scissors before using them on your nails. To clean the tools well, first soak a small scrub brush in a bowl containing 70% to 90% isopropyl alcohol. Then use the same brush to clean the clippers or scissors. Rinse everything in hot water and allow them to dry before using them.

To trim your fingernails, cut almost straight across the nail. Use a nail file or emery board to slightly round the nails at the corners, as this will help keep them strong and prevent them from catching on things like clothing or furniture.

Cut the nails straight across so they're long enough to have the corners of the nail left intact at the sides. This cutting technique can help prevent ingrown toenails. When you have ingrown toenails, a part of your nail at the corner grows into the skin, causing pain and sometimes infection.

Frequently asked questions