how to cut fingernails the RIGHT WAY?

Question

well, u see, since i was 6, i always bite my nails (yeahh, i know, ewww) but the problem is, since i like to bite my nails soo much, i simply forgot on how to cut my fingernails. it's like, everytime i tried to cut them, they'd turned into disaster. this is how i cut:

first, i cut it straight, then the edges. it turned out to be like a half-pentagon shaped. i trimmed it with a nail file, but these white flaky "thing" started to appear. thus, my fingernails are damaged.

so, would u be kind enough to teach me the proper way to cut fingernails? if there's a link, add it.

thank you!

Answer 1

My nails used to peel constantly so I stopped using a nail clipper and only use a nail file to shape and shorten them.

I read somewhere that nail clippers can cause the layers of the nail to separate and filing is the best way to go.

I started with Revlon's disposable files made for weak nails. File in one direction only. Start on one side and file towards the middle, then go to the other side and file towards the middle of your nail. Smooth the nail into a squoval that mirrors you cuticle or the shape of the white part of your nail bed.

Finish the edges of the nail with a hindo stone, a smooth ceramic/stone nail file or the finest grit nail file you can find. You want to make the edges really smooth.

Revlon makes a tool that should work. It is a pink half moon shape and you can run it under/across the nail from side to middle.

(I have an old hindo stone but haven't been able to find a replacement at a local store. The Revlon tool might be easier for you to find.)

(photo of hindo stone http://www.enailsupply.com/browseproducts/FLOWERY-CUTICLE-ERASER-HINDO-STONE.HTML)

Also, avoid using metal nail files. I recommend using disposable nail files and changing them frequently. The fresher the grit, the less the drag which leads to tearing and peeling.

Some people swear by glass nail files but they can shatter if dropped.

I also use a cuticle balm or nail oil to moisturize my nails and protect them from water since I wash my hands frequently.
(ex. Solar Oil, OPI Avoplex)

Vit E oil, jojoba oil, Vaseline or plain Chapstick will work too.

Lastly, do not work on your nails after a long shower or bath or doing the dishes. Your nails will have absorbed some water and will be at their weakest. Let your nails dry for at least 30 minutes before filing them.

You might want to get a professional manicure and ask her advice. She will help you find the most flattering shape for your hands and show you how to file your nails properly. Then you can maintain them yourself.

Here's a helpful article.

How to for Mani & Pedi:
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/body.asp?ID=208

Answer 2

i do it after the shower so my nails are softer. it sounds like you are cutting them correctly, but too much and then filing them into an off shape. are your nails long enough to have their own shape? they are not always the same. or you can file them into the shape you want. try asking a manicurist to show you how. good luck.

Answer 3

just cut across the front of the nail and dont worry about the sides. I also bite my nails and I think that your nails may be soft from all the biting.

Answer 4

a nail clipper. take it and make it look circular. and than file em then. then wash ur hands and put lotion to massage ur cuticles. good luck

Answer 5

I use pencil sharpener