How to File Your Nails Like a Pro So They Don’t Break or Peel

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Jessica Parker

If you’re planning to do your nails at home, nail filing is one of the most critical parts of your manicure. Whether you want to shape your natural nails or fix any cracks or chips in them, or if you are doing at-home extensions or press-ons, you will require a nail file to shape and structure them. In this article, we have tried to address all your queries about nail files and nail shapes, so read on to know more.

What is a Nail File?

A nail file is a tool made of emery board, glass, or any other coarse material used to grind down and shape the nails. It is an important instrument in your manicure routine for filing your nails to achieve a specific shape or to fix any chipping. It should be used gently and carefully to protect the free edge as it is fragile and prone to splits and cracks. The quality of the nail file makes all the difference if you are DIYing your manicure at home.

What are Grits?

Nail file grit is the coarseness and abrasiveness of the nail file. You may have surely seen some numbers on pretty much every nail file in the market. These represent the coarseness of the grit on the nail file – the lower the number, the more abrasive the file grit, and the higher the number, the softer the file grit.

1) For nail extensions or press-ons, the 100-grit nail file is used for reducing the length of the nails and for shaping the sides and the free edge.

2) The 150-grit file is for shaping the entire nail extension and to file its surface.

3) For filing the natural nails, the 180-grit nail file should be used to contour and prep the entire nail. It is also used to shape the free edge during the manicure.

4) You may also use the medium-grit 200-240 to file the natural nails as they are very gentle on the fragile free edge.

What are the Different Nail Shapes?

If you want to know the shape of your natural nails, look at your cuticles. The shape of the cuticle and the nail bed determines the ideal shape of your natural nails. If you are looking for the easiest way to maintain your nails, go by your natural shape as it looks the most flattering. But if you want to experiment, there are about half a dozen shapes that you can try.

1) Almond:

Almonds, as the name suggests, resemble the shape of an almond with tapering sides and a softly pointed tip. This can be the most flattering shape for you if you are looking for an extended look with elongated and thinner fingers. For the almond shape, start filing from the outside in, gently tapering towards the free edge to obtain a soft peak at the tip of your nail.

2) Oval

Ovals are the most common and natural-looking as they resemble the tip of your fingernail. This shape looks flattering on almost everyone but for small-hand girlies, this can be the go-to shape as it gives an elongated appearance to your fingers. To file an oval, start from the outside in, going towards the free edge to obtain a flat, round tip that is smooth and even.

3) Square

Square nails will look good on you if you naturally have a rectangular cuticle line. They also look flattering on those with longer fingers and slimmer nail beds as they add width to your nails making your fingers look shorter. These are the easiest to file by trimming your nails straight across the top with clippers and filing them flat with straight and sharp corners.

4) Squoval

If you want the most low-maintenance nails, squaovals are your best bet. This is a squared-oval shape with a square tip and a slightly softer rounded edge close to an oval. Use a nail file to create a flat straight line across the tip of the nail but file the edges gently rounded.

5) Coffin

This shape resembles a coffin with straight narrowing sides towards the edge with a blunt square line at the tip. Coffins look good with acrylics or gel extensions but are high maintenance when it comes to natural nails.

6) Ballerina

Pretty similar to coffin nails, this shape resembles a ballet shoe and thus the name. They are filed just like coffins only with a slightly broader tip and rounded edges. These look better than coffins when done on shorter nail extensions but are still as high maintenance.

7) Stilleto

These are the most uncomfortable of the lot! Stilettos, as the name explains, are long and sharp nails with straight tapering edges and a pointy tip. They are usually donned by celebs or models with extra-long extensions. If done on natural nails, they aren’t as flattering since they look like a mountain peak.

How to File and Shape Your Nails?

nail file shapes

Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving salon-quality nail shapes in your DIY mani at home:

1) Make sure your hands are clean and dry before beginning. Prep your nails by pushing the cuticles and cleaning the surface of the nail.

2) Choose a softer emery board nail grit of around 180 or 200 which will give you the cleanest and smoothest edges.

3) Be clear about the nail shape that you want to achieve and plan your filing accordingly. Look for a shape that is most flattering for your hands and fingernails.

4) If your nail shape demands reducing your current nail length, or if you want to reduce the length to make it more even and manageable, trim down the excess length using nail clippers. When doing this, keep your desired nail shape in mind and cut the nails roughly in that shape to reduce the filing effort.

5) Hold the nail file close to the surface of the free edge and start filing in smooth strokes in a single direction along the length of the nail. For straighter shapes, file perpendicular to the nail surface, and for more rounder shapes, hold the file slightly tilted underneath your nail. Be slow and patient with your strokes and don’t go in a sawing motion back and forth on your nail.

6) For almost all the nail shapes, start from one of the outside corners of your nail, gradually working your way toward the center. You may follow the idea of alternate filing on either side to ensure a symmetrical shape.

Does the File Shape Matter?

Different file shapes have different functionalities but it is usually about what you feel the most comfortable using for yourself. The different shapes include straight, oval, banana, and Halfmoon of which the Halfmoon file is the most ideal shape for at-home manicures. It has a straight shape on one end, so you can file in both long strokes to straighten the side walls and the tip, while a curve on the other results in soft and precise strokes along the cuticles.

Key Takeaways

Mastering the art of nail filing is not just about creating a perfect shape but also about enhancing the beauty of your natural nails. Remember, the shape of your nails can complement your overall look, so choose a style that reflects your personality and suits your lifestyle. By learning about the techniques to file and shape your nails from this article, you can achieve salon-quality results at home. Filing your nails like a pro is a skill that will keep your hands looking polished and stylish. So, grab your nail file and start shaping – your perfectly manicured nails await!

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Jessica Parker

Get ready to unleash your inner nail art aficionado! I'm here to guide you through the world of trendy designs, helping you elevate your style game one fabulous nail at a time. Let's embark on this journey together and make your nail dreams a reality! 💅✨

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