What Does Filing Nails Do

If you're non a fan of filing like me — I literally cringe when a nail technician at a salon whips a file out — or if you want your nails to stay equally good for you equally possible in general, have notes.

You already know you're not supposed to cut your cuticles, but here'due south some other no-no, co-ordinate to Madeline Poole, a pro nail artist and Sally Hansen'southward Global Color Administrator: speedily filing your nails dorsum and forth. "I usually liken sawing your nails back and forth to cut your hair with a tiresome scissors," she said. "When you aggressively saw your nails with a file, information technology makes the tip frayed versus a make clean cut." Poole went on to explain that you also have less control over the shape you're trying to create — oval, foursquare, circular, etc. — because your smash shaves downwards quicker when y'all file it down too fast. "All of this is a gateway for peeling and premature breakage, since the harsh trauma of filing causes weakness," she adds.

Exibit A: The incorrect style to file = sawing your nails back and forth.

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Ruben Chamorro

The right way to file your nails? Poole schooled me and said you become the smoothest, fray-complimentary finish when yous file from the side of your nail to the eye in one direction, lifting the file away from the nail, and returning to the starting point where your skin and nail connect. Poole suggests doing this on repeat until you've achieve your desired shape.

Exibit B: The correct way to file = one fluid motion from side to heart.

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Ruben Chamorro

"By using this technique, y'all get less of a ragged tip — plus, the fluid filing motion is less traumatic to your nail bed," she adds. "Sometimes if the manicurist is also aggressive with the file, you tin even meet your boom movement back and along, like a loose tooth; this is exactly what you desire to avert."

One time y'all've achieved your desired shape, if you lot notice smash filings still attached to the tips — Poole refers to these bits every bit "feathers" — go rid of them by tucking the tip of the file under your smash and using a flicking motion to create a smoother edge.

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Ruben Chamorro

If you lot've already frayed the eff out of your nails, Poole said information technology'south non likewise late for your tips to be nursed back to wellness. To right the wrong kind of filing, it's all-time to trim them over again slightly and refile them for a smoother issue. Then, "apply a smash oil that contains vitamin East on them to assistance hydrate the boom bed," Poole adds. "This gives your smash more flexibility, which leads to less breakage." Try Emerge Hansen Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil.

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