What To Look For
The kind of nail file you need depends on your nails and how you plan to use it. This will determine the grit, or the coarseness, of the file you need. To reduce the length of artificial nails, select a 100-grit file. For natural nails, look for a less coarse file, say 180-grit, to reduce the length and smooth the edge. Metal or glass files are ideal for regular manicures. These last longer and can be washed and sanitized.
Common Pitfalls
You may want to purchase a coarse file, thinking that it will give you more versatility and longer use. Professional nail industry publication Nails Magazine warns, "don't use a file with a grit below 180 on your natural nail because it can cause excessive damage no matter what type of filing motion is used." Some nail files have multiple surfaces, including a buffer to smooth ridges and a shiner to give the nails a glassy appearance. Refrain from using these surfaces more than once a week. Excessive use will thin and weaken nails.
Where To Buy
Purchase nail files in a drug store or beauty supply store. A beauty supply store typically has a greater variety of files. Since the beauty supply store caters to professional nail technicians, nail files will most likely have the grit marked clearly on the surface or the packaging. The beauty supply store may also have files at a lower price than the drugstore. Your manicurist may even be willing to sell you a file for use between regular manicures.
Cost
The price of a nail file varies by the material and features. A battery-operated file that includes interchangeable attachments for shaping, buffing and smoothing costs about $40. A diamond file costs between $20 and $30 depending on the manufacturer. A crystal, or glass, file runs about $15. You can find a package of two or four emery boards for less than $2.
Accessories
To maintain nails at home, purchase a complete kit of nail tools. The most durable products are made of stainless steel. Look for nail tools with cutting surfaces that come together tightly from one edge to the other. Use a cuticle pusher to gently push the cuticle back. Trim away excess cuticle with cuticle scissors or nippers. Regularly trim nails with clippers so that you don't have to file your nails too much.
Member Comments