Ladies: Filing and Shaping your fingernails

[~*Belle 2003*~]

Are you any good at getting a decent shape nail?

I have been attacking mine with an emery board on and off all night and they still look all wrong! I will end up with no nails left at this rate.

Any tips for that perfect shape or do you always go to a manicurist?

 

[helenabear]

I do mine all the time... I am lucky though I have strong nails and they have a very nice shape to them naturally. I wish I had advice but I just let mine naturally grow and file the edges smooth until they break and then I start all over

 

[poohandwendy]

If you are not getting the right shape, it may be because you are not looking at the nail dead-on when filing (you have the nail at an angle, then when you pull away and look at your hand, the shape is all wrong and none of the other nails 'match')

Try placing your finger on a flat surface while shaping the nail, this may help. Also, draw what shape you want on a piece of paper as a guide (or use a picture).

As a manicurist, I say get a professional to do it...LOL, just kidding, it can definitely be done at home.

Also, file from the right outside edge to the center, then from the left outside edge to the center, in a sweeping motion. Never straight across and back and forth.

Hope that helps. (hopefully it makes sense, LOL)

take care,
wendy

 

[battricia]

I'm gonna throw in a little hijack here (if you don't mind):

What do you girls use to keep your nails really hard? My nails grow well, but once they get there they turn into a pile of mush. They fold/break/crack/shred/chip/anything else you wanna add. How do i keep them hard?!

tricia.

 

[poohandwendy]

OPI makes nail strengtheners (Nail Envy) that are speciallly formulated for specific nail problems, like soft and peeling. Nail Tek also has different nail strengthener formulas. They are excellent products and can be found at most full service salons.

Whatever you decide to use, if you are having problems such as you mentioned, you should always have a strengthener on your nails. It protects them and gives them a chance to grow. But, you really have to be consistent about using it.

Hope this helps,
take care,
wendy