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Do you want to have beautiful, strong and strong nail plates? Then pay attention to caring for them. In this article we will find out how to file your nails correctly. After all, in fact, their appearance and health depend on this process.
Working with a nail file is an art. It should definitely be used after trimming your nails. It is this tool that gives the desired shape to the nail plates. Be it round, almond or square. Well, let's go!
Correct filing of nails, basic mistakes
While some women prefer to get their nails done in salons, most still try to take care of their nails at home. Some people do it extremely professionally, while others suffer, making a huge number of mistakes.
The most common mistakes women make when filing their nails:
- Most women use low-quality nail files and therefore are not always pleased with the result of the work done with their own hands. The choice in modern stores is quite large and most often ladies buy a nail file without thinking at all about what it can do to their nails. You should know that the rougher the file, no matter how advertised it may be, the greater the likelihood that it will leave microcracks on the surface of the plate. Microcracks subsequently become the beginning of nail breakage. In everyday life, when moisture gets on the nail or it hits the surface, it is quite possible to get a break. Preference should be given to glass and ceramic nail files. Of course, they are more expensive, but in the end, they will be able to please you with a positive result. Also try to always use a nail polishing file, which effectively smoothes all the edges of the nail, rubbing out cracks.
- Another mistake is filing nails with a layer of varnish. Such an activity can quite realistically provoke delamination of the nail plate. If the need for filing is very great, then this should be done with several gentle movements, just removing the sharp tip. This filing will help the nail not to cling to clothes, hair and tights, solving many of your problems and getting rid of unpleasant situations
- A serious mistake is to file your nails simply out of boredom. Too frequent impacts on the nail, vibration of the file and micro cracks will lead the nail to a deplorable state. Remember that high-quality nail filing should only be done once a week.
- Significant harm can be caused to the nail if you are constantly distracted from filing it. Of course, this way you will make the process more interesting, but while watching TV, talking with loved ones and simply taking your eyes off your hands, you risk injuring your nail, which will lead to its delamination and breakage
- The filing technology is of great importance because the usual movements “back and forth” are unnatural to the very structure of the nail plate. If you want not to harm the nail, movements should be made from the edge to the center
- You should not file wet nails, as in this state they are more susceptible to injury caused by a file than dry ones. A particularly serious mistake is considered to be the initial soaking of hands in the bath and subsequent filing
- Other mistakes include such violations as: using a file as a tool not only for nails (it can only file the nail plate, other surfaces spoil it), deep filing of the sides of the nail plate (such filing leaves cracks on the nail that has not yet grown and dooms it to break), improper holding of the nail file
How should you file your nails correctly?
How to properly file nails on oval-shaped hands?
There is probably no woman who has never filed her nails to give them a more aesthetic appearance, neatness and practicality. But in addition to the fact that you need to be able to file, it is also important to know the features of files, techniques and methods.
There are certain generally accepted nail shapes that women try to maintain: square, oval, almond-shaped. Modern nails are natural nail plates and extensions with special material. In any case, they require attention and care.
basic nail shapes
An oval nail shape is very feminine. This is a classic option for shaping the nail plate. This shape can even effectively visually lengthen your fingers.
Giving your nail an oval shape is not difficult:
- Get a quality manicure: remove polish from the surface of the plate, clean the nail, remove cuticles and hangnails
- Take a file and first, with smooth movements in one direction, file the edges of the nail plate from the sides to the center
- It is important to know that the movement of the file should be stopped approximately two (maybe a little more) millimeters before the middle of the nail
- If there remains a fairly sharp tip in the center of the nail plate, round it off with horizontal movements as a final result.
- Using a polishing file, rub the edges to make them soft and sloping, and also to avoid microcracks.
How to file almond-shaped nails?
The almond shape is not just a pretty nail shape, it is the most feminine, fashionable and popular way to highlight your hands. This shape visually lengthens the fingers, making them refined, “cat-like,” playful and beautiful.
In some ways, the almond shape resembles a claw. This claw adds charm to a woman and makes her nature more passionate. At the moment, French manicure on almond-shaped nails and a solid red or black base color are very popular.
This form can safely be called classic, because it has existed for a very long time, but has never lost its relevance. It is worth noting that almond-shaped nails should not have any sharp corners, as is observed in the almond nut itself. However, the edges of such a nail and the tip are narrower when compared to the hole of the plate.
It would be quite difficult for a non-professional to model such a shape on nails. This requires precision so you get a nice shape without making the plate too sharp. The most difficult thing, according to women, is to make absolutely all nails the same.
almond shaped nails
Another feature of this form is the presence of sufficient length at the nail. It will not be possible to model nails that are too short. The ideal length of such a nail should be comparable to the bed itself.
Technology for giving almond-shaped nails:
- First of all, perform a thorough manicure, removing all dirt from the nail, varnish, cuticles and hangnails.
- Giving an almond shape involves the initial formation of a square nail. Using nail scissors, trim the tips of your nails into a straight line.
- Use a nail file to file down the sharp corners on both sides. This way the nail will take the shape of an extended trapezoid.
- A softer file should soften the edges of the plate and give the nails a more final shape by squeezing the corners. The nail will gradually take on an almond shape
How to file square nails correctly?
Along with the almond shape, the square shape remains one of the most popular. Such nails suit almost all fingers, thin and full. Both French manicure and any other design look great on these nails. It is much more difficult to give a square shape to natural nails than to nail extensions, but it is quite possible.
square nails
Technology for creating square nails:
- Get a quality manicure: remove polish from the surface of the plate, clean the nail, remove cuticles and hangnails
- The length of the nail should be shortened to the desired size, while trying to make the line as even as possible and along the longitudinal axis of the finger
- You should start filing your nail, holding the file parallel to your finger so that the side is as even as possible.
- This type of sawdust is repeated on the opposite side of the finger.
- Make a horizontal file on the nail, giving it a square shape.
- There are three types of square nails: sharp square, soft square, round square. Each shape depends on how smoothly you cut the sharp corners on the sides
Advice from experienced manicurists
Rules for a good manicure:
- Instruments must be sterile, in a craft bag with a processing mark.
- Wooden cuticle sticks should be disposable. After the procedure, the master breaks them and throws them away.
- Hand wipes should also be disposable.
- A good classic type manicure takes at least an hour. Cuticle removal and hand treatment takes about 40 minutes. Degreasing, applying base and varnish covers the rest of the time.
- The master is obliged to provide a certificate and give a guarantee for his work.
- Low cost of services may mean that the master is a beginner or the materials are of poor quality.
- Compounds that dry too quickly are harmful to the plates.
- After the bath, you should not immediately file your nails - they may split.
- With natural plates, you cannot use an abrasive of more than 240 grit.
- For natural nails, it is better to give oval and square shapes.
- Do not work with plates affected by fungus or with bloody cuticle.
- You cannot file down the surface for a regular manicure.
- There must be an exhaust hood at the workplace.
- There should be order in the nail salon and on the nail technician’s desk.
With proper nail design, you can enjoy their well-groomed and beautiful appearance for a long time.
Is it possible and how to file extended nails?
Women who get their nails done in salons have many questions about filing. Such nails are also not immune to the fact that at any moment they can break, crack or form a sharp tip that can cling to hair and clothes.
You can avoid these troubles if you carefully file your extended nails. This can be done, but very carefully. The fact is that being too rough with your nails and filing them with a low-quality tool can lead to delamination, when the material literally tears off the layer of the plate to which it is attached.
It is important to know that such nails should be filed only with a special file. To do this, you will need an abrasive nail file, which is sold in nail art and manicure departments. Such a file can have several sides of different hardness.
filing extended nails
Selecting a file
For natural nails, you should not buy a metal file. No matter what good metal it is made of, it will still scratch the surface of the plate, which will subsequently cause delamination.
Glass files
The ideal option is a glass nail file (this is the tool professional manicurists use) coated with diamond or sapphire.
If we talk about the level of abrasiveness, then for natural nails you should choose a softer surface, and for extended nails - a rougher one.
For weak and flaking tips, the optimal choice is 320-400 grit, for thin nails – 180-280 grit, files with an index of 80 grit are used only for extended plates.
The most popular are rectangular abrasive plates, but to properly remove the corners and give a rounded shape, use a banana file.
Men should file the free edges of the plates with coarser files, since the thickness of their nails is much higher than that of women. Children are not recommended to file their nails with any files, since in any case the surface will be damaged; it is better to cut off the corners with nail scissors or nail clippers.
How to properly file nails with gel polish and shellac?
You can file nails with varnish or shellac, but this should be done with a fairly soft file. You cannot use hard abrasive, large or metal files because they can simply tear off the coating layer and lead to peeling of the nail.
The damaged nail will be much thinner and will be prone to frequent breaks and microcracks. File such nails very slowly and carefully, because if you do it in a hurry and ineptly, you risk ruining the entire manicure.
nail file with different hardness and polishing
Soft square
A very popular form of manicure. It is chosen by those with short nails. They are very good for experimenting with different designs, and they are also the most profitable option for everyday life and an office worker. Convenience here is created thanks to the approximate shape to the standard oval. Not only can bold designs be applied to this shape, but various glitter, foil, or painting your nails in mirror colors would also look appropriate. It is on a soft square that you can apply various manicure designs, as they look very natural.
Lovers of square nails can safely use the matte coating technique. The velvety texture will make the design more luxurious.
How to file your nails if you don’t have a file?
There are situations when a nail breaks suddenly, and there is simply no special file at hand. If you still have a lot of work ahead, you should find a suitable object that can smooth the edges of a broken nail instead of a file. For this you may find it useful:
- An ordinary coin, the side of which (edge) has a ribbed surface
- A brick wall is a gentle nail file, but it can cause your nails to turn red.
- Asphalt is a harder surface, but it is just as effective at eliminating sharp tips on the nail.
Take care of your nails on time, always monitor their shape and listen to the recommendations for filing at home. If you take care of the beauty of your nails, they will also delight you with their health and strength in any situation.
Price issue
So, we figured out that, despite all our ardent desire to save money, we won’t be able to get by with just one nail file. You will have to buy at least three files in order to remove the length, shape and polish your nails, and you will also need a “duty” file for your cosmetic bag. All these files have different requirements: a tool for home use should be durable and stable, but for a handbag you can choose a simpler file, but it should not be fragile and brittle.
What prices for nail files do online stores offer us:
- files on a wooden base - from 30 rubles ;
- ceramic files - from 100 to 400 rubles ;
- glass files - on average 200 rubles ;
- files for artificial nails - from 40 to 100 rubles ;
- metal files with laser notches - from 200 to 350 rubles .
In general, a nail file is a necessary item, but usually you already have something similar at home, and there is no need to rush. So I recommend keeping an eye out for sales and buying discounted tools. If you especially like some nail files and are suitable, but do not belong to the “eternal” category, buy them as a spare, because they do not take up much space.
