How to file nails
There are things we do since we are very young with total peace of mind. We saw our mothers, aunts or older sisters do it and we repeated their gestures and customs. However, there are things of those simple things that are important and we do wrong. Filing your nails has its technique so that you do not damage your nail, or be irregular.
The length of your nail is a personal matter. It seems to me that they look more elegant short, with only a small elevation that appears on the edge of the fingers, but lately I see in the magazines that actresses and especially singers wear long and sharp nails again. That is already your decision, but if they are long and sharp, with more reason you must take them perfectly filed.
Next we will see step by step how to file the nails so that you look a perfect manicure.
1 The limes
As often happens with many things in life, the more expensive the lime, the better quality it usually is. Normal, cardboard files are usually very cheap, but even in them there are categories. Try that the grain of the lime is not very thick, but rather fine. A coarse grain will damage your nail and peel. Metal files say that they damage the nail a lot, so much so that they say that I have never used them. Glass files are phenomental. They have a very fine grain, so that the nails are with a perfect finish. Of course, they are quite expensive and very fragile, you have to treat them with care.
2 The shape of the nail
As I told you before, now I have seen Rihanna and Beyonce with long and sharp nails, however those of us who are not pop divas as much as possible are that we use square, rounded or oval nails. The ideal is to choose the shape most similar to your natural nail shape. To be sure of what it is, it is best to look at the area of the birth of the nail. If you want it rounded, you will try to file it so that there is no angle left. If you prefer it square, it will be the opposite, file it so that it is straight. That shape has the problem that it can hook, so you can try making it square with the rounded angles. The oval ones need you to lime the edges of the nail a little to give it such a shape.
3 The condition of the nail
Nails should be healthy. If you see that you have mushrooms, it is better not to share files with anyone. In that case, it is better to consult a specialist to recommend the best method. It is not a good idea to cover the mushrooms with paint. That won’t cure your nail and a poorly treated fungus ends up becoming impossible to remove.
If you have nails that peel, it is better that the limes cut and apply treatments to improve their condition until they are healthy. Gel paints are very comfortable, but they end up weakening the nails so much that it will not be possible for you to file them without them breaking. It is better that the nails are healthy and cared for.
4 Before filing
It is usually better to file the nails without paint. Remove the nail paint with the solvent of your choice. Once the nails are clean, wash them with soap, water and a brush to remove all debris. Dry them carefully and apply a special nail cream. Once the nails are well dry, you will file them.
5 File them
With the file of your reference and file your nails in one direction. So, if you use them oval and rounded, do it in parts, first the left side of the nail filing always from left to right, then the right side of the nail filing always from right to left. That means that the file will reach the side, you will lift it slightly and then you will return to the previous point. Once you have the sides filed, you can fix the top by always filing in the same direction. If you prefer them square, you will file them straight, also always in the same direction.
6 End of the process
Once the nails are filed, remove the leftover shavings with the finest part of the file. Carefully observe all nails to see if they are uniform in height on all fingers and then, finger by finger, if the shape is regular.
Once you’re happy with your filing, it’s time to wash your hands again to remove debris and get on with your manicure process.
The nails should also rest from paints. If you see that they are yellow, perhaps it is better not to paint them for a while while while removing the yellow patina. If you use them very long and you break one, it is better to put them all of the same length, or if you wish you can try to repair the broken nail.
