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What's in this guide
- Best nail files for natural nails
- Best nail files for artificial nails
- What to look for in a nail file
- FAQs
By Kaleigh Fasanella, CNN Underscored
Published 4:36 PM EDT, Thu August 29, 2024
If you’re hoping to score a salon-worthy manicure at home, having a great nail file on hand is key. But how do you know which type is right for you? After all, some work best for natural nails and others are ideal for artificial nails. And if you have no idea what “grit” refers to when talking about nail files, no worries. Ahead, with insight from nail experts, we’ve found the best options and laid out everything you need to know before selecting the best nail file for you.
Best nail files for natural nails
Editor Favorite
Dr. Dana Stern, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in nails and founder ofDr. Dana, says glass nail files are the way to go. "High-quality glass files will create a perfectly smooth edge in contrast to paper emery boards which create microscopic tears in the nail plate that lead to splits, peeling, breakage and premature polish chipping," she says. After making the switch and using the glass file from Stern's brand, our beauty editor, Sophie Shaw, noticed less breakage and snagging with her own nails between manicures.
“This is a great quality file that’s reusable, and the grit isn’t too coarse, which is great on your natural nails for a gentler filing experience,” says digital content creator and manicurist Sarah Haidar. It aids in preventing nail breakage and splitting and helps smooth out rough edges with little to no effort.
“Soft Touch paper nail files are great, affordable options and are dual-sided with the perfect grit options,” Haidar says. They’re long-lasting, durable, washable and can smooth out stubborn nail ridges with ease.
These highly affordable, disposable nail files have a soft coarseness that makes them perfect for gently and easily sculpting and shaping natural nails. They’re also extremely lightweight and thin, making them ideal for beginners.
Stern also recommends this glass file from Sephora, which has a medium grit and is washable and reusable.
Best nail files for artificial nails
Editor Favorite
Shaw, who often wears press-on nails, loves this affordable set. The two-grit buffer is especially useful, as it features a 100-grit side she uses to file down the sides of the press-ons for a better fit, and a 180-grit side to gently buff the surface of her nails for better nail glue adhesion.
“This has a lower grit and is my preferred paper file for when I’m trying to shape gel extensions,” Haidar says. “It gets the job done quick!” They’re also conveniently double sided, washable and excellent for both natural nails and acrylics alike.
This heavy-duty nail file is ergonomically shaped, making it easier to hold and get super-precise edges. Beloved by professionals, it’s ideal for sculpting nails and achieving a really crisp, polished-looking finish.
What to look for in a nail file
First and foremost, when shopping for a nail file, consider the grit. Nail file grit refers to how coarse the file is. Files are labeled by numbers, usually between 60 and 1,000. (Double-sided files will have two numbers.) Higher numbers equate to smoother grit while lower numbers mean a more abrasive grit. The grit you want depends on what you’re working with.
“I find that a grit number of 240 to 320 is perfect for all my needs; great to shorten the length of my natural nails or smooth out any small ridges. A lower grit works great for extensions and acrylics, but I find it’s a bit more difficult to precisely shape my natural nails with them,” Haidar says. In fact, using a lower-grit nail file can damage natural nails.
Nail technician and artist Claudia Rosario recommends using 180 grit or higher on natural nails. “On artificial nails, you can also use a 180 grit, but I’ll go as low as 100 grit,” she says.
Another thing to consider when looking for a nail file is the material. There are classic disposable paper files as well as glass files, which offer a more luxe fee and can be cleaned and reused easily.
FAQs
“Filing the nail is a way to truncate the length while also creating and maintaining a shape,” Stern says. For short nails, filing can replace clipping nails altogether; otherwise, Stern recommends clipping before filing. “Clipping debulks length, and filing is a more precise way to create shape and smooth sharp edges,” she adds.
No matter the shape you want (e.g., square, round, almond, pointy), you’ll want to start filing from the outer corners of your nail and make your way toward the middle. It doesn’t make a difference whether you start with the left side or the right, as long as you’re working your way from the outside in.
“Using the coarser side of your file, work in small strokes from the outside corners to the center,” Rosario says. “File slowly using gentle pressure until you’ve reached your desired length and shape. After softening sharp edges, use a finer file to perfect and smooth nail tips and tops.”
There are several ways you can get your file clean after each use. You can simply use soap and water or you can soak your file in a 10% bleach to 90% water solution for 10 minutes. You can also wipe down with 70% or higher isopropyl alcohol to disinfect your file. Letting your file sit in boiling water for approximately 30 minutes will also do the trick, but this isn’t advised for disposable or paper files.
“For the average fingernail, once weekly is typical,” Stern says. Apply a cuticle oil or nail strengthener afterward to keep nails looking their best.
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