How to trim your nails straight. How to cut toenails correctly: in order to avoid unpleasant consequences

Manicure and pedicure are important procedures, with which you can not only maintain the beauty of nails, but also maintain their health. And if almost everyone takes care of their hands, then many simply forget about their legs. However, it should be understood that they also need to be monitored. This article will discuss how to properly trim your toenails.

How are toenails and fingernails different?

The nail plates on the hands and feet have several differences from each other. Let's look at them in more detail:

  1. The rate at which nails grow. On the lower extremities, they grow more slowly than on the upper ones. This feature is an advantage, because thanks to it, the haircut can be done less frequently.
  2. Thickness. On the legs, the nail plates are coarser and thicker. This feature, unlike the previous one, is a problem, and it is most relevant for thumbs. In connection with such a nuisance it is necessary to resort to the help of a variety of tricks to facilitate the care procedure.
  3. Problems caused by the use of closed shoes. First of all, we are talking about the growth of a significant layer of cuticles. They need to be constantly softened and trimmed. In addition, because of this, quite often the nail plates grow in.

And before figuring out how to properly cut toenails, it is worth remembering all the above features, as they require the use special tools and funds.

How often is maintenance required?

On the legs, the nail plates should be trimmed as they grow. You can not cut them at the root. Otherwise, later the question will arise about how to cut it correctly. Optimal length undercut - 1-2 mm of a light nail plate. Subsequently, you must adhere to it, doing a pedicure every 2 weeks.

Sometimes the growth rate may differ from the usual indicators. In such a situation, the determination of the timing of care must be approached individually. Some may only need it once a month.

Distinctive features of nail processing

So how do you trim your toenails the right way? First you need to purchase all the necessary tools:

  1. Pedicure cutters. With their help, it will be possible not only to shorten the nail, but also to trim the burrs with keratinized rollers.
  2. (rounded and straight). With their help, you can adhere to a certain shape and length of the plate.
  3. Nail file.
  4. A finger separator that will increase convenience, make grooming more comfortable.

It is also necessary to purchase pumice stone and cosmetics in order to treat the skin and plates.

Preparatory stage

Before starting the procedure, prepare the legs. First of all, you need to steam them into warm water co special oils and cosmetics. This procedure helps to moisturize the skin, simplify the processing of nails. The process will be painless.

Before proceeding with it, it is necessary to disinfect the feet. When figuring out how to properly trim your toenails, remember to be sure to get rid of any debris using a coarse brush. After that, the feet are recommended to be treated with any disinfectant.

Technical features

When trimming your nails, try not to get too close to their pink part. We need to leave a small margin. Give nails round shape using scissors or wire cutters should not be used as it is dangerous. Therefore, it is recommended to cut the nail plates at a right angle, which should then be filed.

And how to properly care for nails if they curl? In such a situation, you should not cut them, but constantly shorten them using a file. After some time, it will be possible to notice that the nail plates are straightened. Surely, not many people know how to properly cut their toenails in order to avoid ingrown. To do this, just do not give the plates square shape by regularly handling sharp corners.

Baby foot care

In most cases, foot care in children causes negative emotions. Especially often very young ones are capricious. To avoid such situations, it is worth resorting to the help of some recommendations. Thanks to them, the care process will be facilitated:

  1. The baby's foot should be wrapped using a towel or other cloth. Thanks to this, during care, you will not tickle the skin and cause not quite pleasant emotions The child has.
  2. Using clippers or scissors with rounded edges, you will be able to avoid injury skin. The procedure itself should not be carried out more than 1 time in 10 days.
  3. How to cut your child's toenails correctly? This procedure can be carried out when the baby is sleeping. But at the same time, care should be taken to ensure that the lighting is good.
  4. Baby feet should be cared for after the bath. This will simplify the process of cutting the nail plates.

If the nail has grown

How to cut a nail thumb legs, if he has grown? There are several stages that will determine how exactly to carry out the care procedure. At the first stage, redness and significant discomfort appear during touching. In this situation, care can be carried out independently at home. First of all, the leg must be steamed to soften nail plate. Then, gently prying, you can shorten the nail. Subsequently, in order to prevent similar situation, you need to take care of your nails more carefully and more often, avoiding strong shortening.

When observing the 2nd or 3rd stage (inflammation, the appearance of pus, etc.), it is best to seek help from an experienced surgeon, since independent actions will entail even more trouble.

Let's repeat once again how to properly trim your toenails. To begin with, you should know that care must be correct and constant. Then the procedure will become easy and pleasant. It is also worth using special products: a variety of creams, oils, masks and balms.

A pedicure, like a manicure, also involves the use of nail coatings. Thanks to high-quality varnish, it will be possible to avoid cracks and chips on the nail plates. It is necessary to responsibly approach the choice of shoes so that they are not tight and uncomfortable.

Conclusion

With regular and proper pedicure be able to keep your nails healthy condition, support them beautiful view. It is not recommended to save on the purchase of quality tools, cosmetics. Then the problems with ingrowth will not torment.

To prevent ingrown nails, microtrauma and infection, you must follow the simple rules of trimming your nails.

Trimming nails: what do we need?

To trim the nail we need manicure tools: scissors or tongs (nippers) and a nail file. Notice the scissors. Their edges should be rounded. Inspect the scissors in the light: the branches, that is, the cutting parts, should close over the entire plane and be sufficiently sharpened. The tips of high-quality nail scissors converge to one point. Check how the ends cut. This is the main "working" area of ​​the tool. Scissors should be conveniently located in the hand, because you will have to work alternately with your right and left hands. The nail plate is a fairly strong structure. Therefore, the cutting parts of the scissors must be strong enough. How to check it? Try bending them with your fingers. Do not give in? Means scissors from suitable material. The blades of the scissors should not have serrations, otherwise you risk deforming and exfoliating the nail.

You can also shorten the nail with nail clippers or tongs. Choosing high-quality tongs is more difficult than scissors. Attention should be paid to the complete closure of the cutting edges and tips - they are also examined in the light. For a manicure, forceps with curved edges are suitable, for a pedicure - with straight ones.

How to cut nails correctly: proceed to the procedure

Before cutting nails, hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and water. In order to soften the edge of the nail plate and facilitate its cutting, a warm soapy or soda bath is carried out. Attention! Nails are trimmed only after thorough drying with a napkin or towel. No manipulations can be carried out on damp or wet nails! When trimming the nail, they are guided by the natural contour: the line of the finger bundles. Then, if necessary, give a slightly different shape with a nail file.

Cut off the nail with the tips of scissors. Moreover, the smaller the step of the scissors, the better the cut line looks. In order not to injure the skin, it is recommended not to cut the nail to the very edge, but to leave at least 2-3 mm.

How to cut nails correctly: pitfalls

How and how can you harm your nails by cutting them yourself? Any manipulations carried out in a hurry lead, as a rule, either to injury to the skin or to its infection. Therefore, choose the time and place for this simple, but responsible procedure. You should be comfortable and light! It is important to see the border of the free edge of the nail well. Trauma or "undermining" the fixed part of the nail is painful and fraught with the development of inflammation. Trimming a hard nail plate is more difficult: the nail can crumble, crack or bend under the pressure of not very sharp scissors. That is, a preliminary bath is a must!

To prevent infection, wipe the scissors before the procedure with alcohol tincture of calendula or medical alcohol. After trimming, process the edge of the nail with a nail file and apply a nourishing or moisturizing cream. If microtraumas have formed during the procedure, treat them with alcohol tincture of calendula.

How to cut nails correctly: a professional approach

Each of us had to be in a beauty salon and put our hands in order. How does a specialist cope with the length of the nail? Mostly with a nail file. Only in some cases, the manicurist resorts to cutting the nail plate with scissors or special tweezers. With sufficient skill, you can shorten the nail with a nail file yourself. Sometimes this is difficult or takes more time, so we usually use scissors.

How to file a nail correctly? For a natural nail, choose a nail file with a fine coating. Files with coarse, large grain are used for processing acrylic and gel nails. You can not crawl with a nail file along the edge of the nail. The movement of the nail file should be smooth in the direction from one edge of the nail to the other.

How to cut your nails: attention to the legs

Trimming toenails has its own characteristics. So, if on the hands we give the nail a rounded shape, then on the legs we strive only for a straight line. You can not cut the side edges of the nail, otherwise you can provoke an ingrown nail. The nail plate on the legs is denser and thinner. Before trimming your nails, you should without fail take a foot bath. In order not to injure the skin in the subungual area and not stimulate its roughening, it is recommended to cut the nail incompletely, leaving its edge 2 mm.

What if the side parts of the nail cut into the skin? A steamed softened nail is easier to manipulate. To reduce the pressure of the nail on the skin and prevent its ingrowth, try to lift the edge with a spatula or closed scissors with rounded edges and bring the sides of the nail up to the skin.

Manicure and pedicure

2003

08.01.16 23:27

home care behind the nails implies a mandatory correction of the length of the plates, most often manicure scissors or special tweezers are used for this. According to statistics, every second person does not know how to properly cut their fingernails. Violation of the work technique leads to the appearance of inflamed barbs, ingrown nails, and the development of infectious processes. Despite the fact that, on average, the nail plates in women grow by 2-3 mm per month, they should be processed at least once a week. When slowing down the process, you can limit yourself to filing the elements.

How to cut your fingernails - the main points

  1. When choosing between nail scissors and tweezers, it is worth stopping at the first option. This will allow you to act more carefully and not change the position of the hands. Work is carried out only with the tips of the tool, and not with its entire surface.
  2. The shape of the free end should follow the shape of the finger. Any experiments can end in injury, and it will look unnatural.
  3. Fingernails should have rounded corners. This is done not only for aesthetic reasons, but also is the prevention of ingrown plates.
  4. You need to prepare for the manipulation in advance. The hand should be placed on a dense, well-lit surface.
  5. Scissors for cutting nails should be individual, if the whole family uses them, then the tool must first be disinfected.
  6. The procedure will seem easier and take less time if the nail plates are pre-steamed in warm bath. This will also protect against delamination of the fabric and the appearance of chips.



  • First you need to thoroughly wash your hands, it will not be superfluous to additionally treat your fingertips with antiseptic wipes.
  • If the tissues around the nail are inflamed or covered with wounds, then they must first be lubricated with iodine, otherwise there is a high risk of infection.
  • We put our hand on the table and, using the selected tool, carefully cut the plate along the desired path. It is forbidden to work in dangerous proximity to the base of the nail. This not only increases the risk of damage to delicate skin, but can also lead to delamination of the plate.
  • If the work is done with tongs, then each nail should have no more than three tweezers.
  • The work is carried out according to the shape of the nail bed, but if the free end is wider than the base, you need to use a lower grip in order to initially work correctly and not later correct the edges with a dangerous tool.
  • We deal with burrs separately, no need to try to cut them at the same time as nails, especially with the help of scissors alone.
  • We correct all irregularities and shortcomings with the help of a suitable nail file, working in one direction.
  • After completing all the steps, carefully clean the bottom surface of the plates with a pusher.


The neatness of our hands, or rather nails, can say a lot about us. For example, who we work for or what we did Lately. But most importantly, on this basis, you can determine how much a person takes care of himself. The first step in nail care is length control. We will talk about how to cut nails correctly in this article.

Nail structure

The nail plate consists of several main parts:

  • hole(lunula) - crescent zone white color at the very base of the nail;
  • root- this is the part of the nail, located under the skin or slightly protruding from behind the back roller;
  • free Front edge - in its raw form, it repeats the shape of the hole, this is the free part that protrudes beyond the border of the bed and it is this that we have to grow or cut;
  • nail rollers- there are back and side, in the form skin fold, they limit the plate;
  • cuticle- the horny part of the epidermis, which lies on the nail plate at the base.

Growth features

The length of the regrown edge is mainly determined by the genetic background of the person. The thinner the plate, the shorter its length and vice versa. But sometimes the depletion of the nail plate can be caused by acquired diseases.

The nail is an ever-renewing part human body, therefore, it can always be influenced and corrected with the help of cosmetology or medicine. Irreversible processes can begin only in case of damage to the nail root.

Choice of length: when to cut long nails

Short nails - protruding slightly beyond the finger, but not crossing their border on nail bed- This is the most convenient and versatile length.

  1. She does not need special skills to handle it.
  2. With such a manicure, it is much more convenient to attend sports training, travel, do housework, relax or just attend evening events.
  3. Such nails will always look quite neat.
  4. With short nails it is quite difficult to scratch someone or catch on something. Therefore it ideal length for new moms.

Nails that extend beyond the finger to a length of 30 mm or more are considered appropriate only for strictly solemn holidays such as at weddings. For Everyday life such a size of the regrown edge is unacceptable.

long nails are considered to be nail plates that have grown from the finger to a length 5 mm to half the size of the nail bed. This length is always successful for women: it visually lengthens the finger itself, allows you to experiment with manicure.

And even if the mistress of such a manicure has rather lush handles, they will seem longer, thinner and more elegant. For such a nail pad, the most spectacular patterns with sequins and rhinestones are used.

The only rule, which any girl should be guided by when choosing the length of the free edge of the nail plate, is convenience and comfort. Some women feel insecure with a short edge, while others feel the opposite. It is necessary to strive so that the length does not cause discomfort, but only brought pleasure even from one glance at her hands.

Among manicure masters there is one unspoken law: short nails can be made up with the brightest varnishes, and on long ones they use only bright hues and French manicure.

You can cut the regrown plate at any time, the main thing is that the length of the regrown edge does not exceed a few millimeters. At permanent care a haircut is enough to carry out every 1-2 weeks.

How to cut your fingernails the right way

Required Tools

  • Clean and sharp nippers or nail scissors for trimming the nail edge on the legs and arms.
  • Bath for steaming hands.
  • Cuticle trimming tool (nippers or scissors).
  • Moisturizing cream.
  • Nail file.

Preparing for a haircut

Before cutting nails with scissors or a nail clipper, wash your hands with soap and soak them in a tub of warm water for a few minutes. Next, pick up a cutting tool: nail scissors or nippers. All cutting tools that will be used in the manicure process must be disinfected.

Step-by-step instructions for cutting nails with scissors

  • Hands should be placed on a hard surface in a comfortable position.
  • Determine how deep you want to shorten the free nail edge.
  • Turn the scissors to the nail plate with the curved side, that is, so that the line of the edge and the tips of the scissors resemble parallel lines bent in one direction.
  • Cut off the overgrown area in small steps, and then file it with a nail file.

Features of cutting nails on the hands with a clipper

  • Disinfect the clipper and soak your hands in advance in a warm water solution.
  • The nail clipper is placed at an angle of 90º relative to the nail edge so that the cut is perfectly even.
  • First, the regrown area is cut off small areas, and then the necessary edge line is leveled with a nail file.

How to choose a nail clipper and how to cut their nails - look at the video:

How to shorten nails in hardware manicure: step by step instructions

  • We install a diamond nozzle of medium abrasiveness and process the cuticle and skin around the entire perimeter of the nail plate.
  • We give the nail a shape with a cylindrical or trapezoidal cutter.

There should be 2 mm of the plate above the fingertips.

  • When polishing the nail plates, it is important not to press hard with the nozzle on the surface of the nail and not to linger for a long time in one part of it.
  • We clean the plate from dust with a small brush or with the help of oil, which we then erase. If desired, varnish.

Special cases of cutting nails

How to conveniently cut nails with a non-working hand

To cut the nail edge on right hand, efforts should be made, because you need to achieve the ideal identical shape of the plates simultaneously on two hands. For this it is most convenient use a clipper. With small cuts we move along the edge of the nail, and then we clean the corners from the cuts with a nail file.

Those for whom it is unacceptable to perform such a procedure with a non-working hand can use special left-handed scissors.

Features of cutting nails in men

More often independent manicure for every man is the cutting of nails with a nail clipper. If the procedure is performed by a master, then for men the shape of the extreme nail is not selected, it is created along the contour of the fingertip.

How to cut children's nails

How to trim an ingrown toenail

This will require steam out your finger in warm water containing furacilin or chlorhexidine. Then wipe foot or hand dry and apply antiseptic ointment, for example Levomekol, pry off disinfected wooden stick or nail file ingrown edge of the nail, try to straighten it, and then - file.

Then it will be possible to cut off the entire excess edge towards the center. The nail plate "wants" to grow together and will stretch towards the center, so the skin will gradually be released. The treated area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe nail can be smeared with brilliant green, and a piece of sterile bandage can be placed under the nail itself.

If the ingrown nail is already inflamed, then the recommendations in this video will help cut it:

Cutting nails, at first glance - simple procedure, but since there are many nuances, she can cook and unpleasant surprises: from cuticle bleeding to ingrown toenail. Therefore, this event must be approached very scrupulously and prepared in advance.

For a woman who takes care of herself, the condition of her toenails is one of the main values.

Why you need toenail care

Well-groomed, decorated modern style nails give her self-confidence, completeness of the image and relieve a lot of problems in choosing:

  • summer shoes;
  • jewelry for legs (for example, chains);
  • length of pants or skirts.

Even the ease of walking will be affected appearance fingers and toenails. And it's not even about the brightness of coloring or the presence fashion pattern. It's about accuracy, style and self-esteem.

The second reason why nail care should be correct and regular is the health of the nail bed and nail plate.

The consequences of improper pedicure can be:

  • Ingrown nail;
  • Delamination and cracking of nails;
  • Injury to the nail roller and infection in it;
  • Panaritiums and paronychias.

What should be the toenails?

On the nails, as well as on most parts of the body, there are certain canons. So, oval and almond-shaped nails periodically come into fashion. Fashionable colors and pedicure accessories are changing. It's about of course about female legs. For men, fashion for toenails is far from in the first place. However, for them hygienically - aesthetic moments remain unchanged.

To date, the most convenient and hygienically correct are rectangular nails, protruding 1-2 mm beyond the nail bed. This guarantees the correct physiological state nails, its impeccable appearance and prevention of skin diseases.

The fact is that nails that do not have necessary care, are often the cause of the development of inflammatory diseases of the foot, various skin diseases, and even lead to a change in the gait and shape of the foot.

Ideally, toenail care should be done by a pedicure master, whose efforts are distributed between the feet, nails and calluses. In this case, you should not worry about the correctness and staging of the procedure.

At home, doing a pedicure is somewhat more difficult, but possible, and with a good result.

It should immediately be noted that under certain skin diseases pedicure is a contraindication, perhaps temporary. The final decision is made by a dermatologist.

Before you start trimming, you need to take care of the availability of tools.

You will need:

  1. Nail scissors;
  2. nail file;
  3. Antiseptic;
  4. Softening cream;
  5. Manicure tweezers (if necessary).

Tools for cutting nails should be clean, preferably disinfected. These are items for individual use, so their joint use is excluded. Way even with well-known people.

The procedure should be started after thorough washing of the feet with any toilet soap and cleaning dirt from under the nails. If there was a previous varnish coating, it must be removed with the means intended for this. Removal of gel coatings or extended nails is a matter for professionals. Do not use industrial acetone or just peeling. The upper layer of the nail epidermis will suffer, opening the nail plate itself to infection.

The next step is to conduct a foot bath using a solution sea ​​salt or decoction medicinal herbs(suitable chamomile, St. John's wort, yarrow, plantain and others). This will help relieve the tone from the tense muscles of the foot, soften the skin around the nail bed, make the nail more pliable and soft. After an exposure of 15-20 minutes, dry the feet thoroughly with a towel.

You can start trimming your nails. This is done in a straight line, in no case cutting off to the very root. There should be 1-2 mm of space protruding beyond the nail bed. If there is a need to round the corners, you need to use a nail file for this. It is better if it is made of ceramic or has an emery paper coating. Metal nail files spoil the nails and provoke their further separation. Do not file your nails in wet, which adversely affects their quality.

If, at the time of cutting, the skin was accidentally pricked with the scissors branch, this place should be carefully disinfected with any alcohol-containing solution prepared for this purpose.

After trimming, it will not be superfluous to pay attention to the condition of the nail fold and cuticle. When steamed, it is easy to move it to the base of the nail (in case of a large fold, it can be carefully trimmed with tweezers). At the same time, burrs should be cut with scissors. IN nail salon may offer to use for these purposes safe procedure (unedged pedicure), which is carried out using a grinding machine.

The nail will look neat if after that you apply a softening cream and nutrient for the cuticle. Leave the product on for 5-10 minutes, then remove the excess with a napkin.

Ingrown nail: problems of dealing with it

Women who have had the problem of an ingrown nail for more than a day know that in no case should it be started. In the early stages of its occurrence, you can deal with it yourself. At running form it is better to consult a specialist.

This problem occurs in the following cases:

  • Wearing very narrow, non-physiological form of shoes;
  • Received injury;
  • Incorrect positioning of the foot while walking.

At home, the question "How to cut toenails?" contains the answer to this question. For this you should:

  • After the bath, gently release the ingrown part of the nail;
  • Clean out the dirt from under it with a special spatula;
  • Cut off the protruding part;
  • Treat the place with a solution of furatsilina or levomikol ointment;
  • Gently walk along the edge of the nail with a nail file, giving the desired shape.

How often should you cut your nails

It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. On average, a person's nail grows by 4-5 mm per month. But this is on average. In practice, each organism is individual and may have its own terms of nail growth.

In addition, the process depends on:

  1. seasons;
  2. age;
  3. The nature of the food;
  4. health conditions;
  5. daily routine;
  6. hereditary predisposition;
  7. period of the day;

If you set a goal regular care behind the nails, then the interval should not exceed two weeks.

Prevention of nail diseases

As you know, the problem is easier to prevent than to deal with it. This fully applies to nails. Regularly held hygiene procedures avoid serious problems and have a healthy, attractive appearance. For this you need:

  • At the end of the day, wash your feet with soap, carefully removing any remaining liquid;
  • In the case of a long stay on your feet, as well as wearing shoes on high heels, it is useful to carry out soothing procedures ( herbal baths, rubbing with homeopathic remedies designed to normalize blood supply, light foot massage). You can hold your legs for 15-20 minutes, raised above the horizontal level by 40-45o to ensure the outflow of blood from the lower extremities. A cool lower extremity shower will also work.
  • During a bath or shower, it is useful to refresh the top layer of the skin with a foot scrub. Scrub can be purchased at the store, or you can resort to home remedies (baking soda or salt and soap, leftover ground coffee and others).
  • Lubricate the cleansed skin, including the cuticle nourishing cream. IN summer time When the skin of the legs quickly roughens and dries, it is better to purchase a product for rough skin of the legs and not delay its application.
  • Effective softening gives the application of the cream at night, under socks.
  • Do not wear too tight shoes;
  • Walk as little as possible in high (more than 7 cm) heels;
  • Carry out exercises for the feet during the day;
  • Change socks or tights daily;
  • enjoy special means to absorb moisture and dry the skin of the legs;
  • News healthy lifestyle life;
  • Observe the diet and sleep.