Are you cutting your nails the wrong way bad nail cutting technique can lead to an infection
But more likely will lead to just ugly looking nails in today's video. I'm gonna share with you how to properly trim your fingernails
First let's talk about the tools that you'll need the first tool
We're going to discuss is the compound lever clipper dating back to the 1880s
This is the tool that most everyone uses to cut their nails despite its popularity
The compound lever clipper is actually not the best tool for the job these Clippers quickly become dull
Which means they end up crushing instead of cutting your nails when that happens?
It's effectively no different from you biting your nails your standard Clippers
Also, don't offer a great deal of control over how you clip your nails
So it can be tough to get precisely the angle you want
That said if you don't have anything else on hand or you need something small to fit in your Dopp kit the compound lever clipper
Can get the job done in a pinch now it is possible to get high-quality clippers
But you're gonna need to look at specialty stores
You won't find these in your local drugstore
Make sure they're made from high carbon stainless steel these will keep their sharp edge a lot longer
The next tool is the plier style Clippers mechanically these operate like the compound clippers
But the pliers are usually sharper and easier to get a more precise cut with these might look a little bit
Intimidating at first glance, but don't worry
you're not gonna cut your fingers off in fact once you get used to them these are easier to maneuver and cut the nail at
The exact angle you want just like the standard Clippers you want to make sure that you buy a pair
That's made from high carbon stainless steel to ensure the blade will stay sharp, though
This style of clipper has the advantage of precision it comes at the price of additional size and bulk now
Let's move on the nail scissors like the plier Clippers the nail scissors offer a great deal of control and precision when cutting
Now while Clippers crush the nail from above and below
Scissors cut into the nail from the side and share along the length of the blade this type of cutting is less
Traumatic to the nail so if you've been suffering from crack nails
Do you want to try nail scissors?
One thing you need to focus on with the scissors though is keeping them straight up and down
You don't want to introduce an angle into the cut finally let's talk about nail files
This is an important tool for smoothing out your nails once you're done cutting them
Or if you develop a snag in between trims you want to look for a metal triple cut file or a file made from glass
Higher quality files will have a tip that you can use to clean underneath the fingernail as well now
Let's go over how to cut your nails
Correctly step one clean your nails you want your nails clean before cutting them to make sure you don't spread any
Bacteria into an accidental cut now you may be wondering what about soft nails should I actually?
Soak my nails in water to make them softer the answer is no in fact
It's better for your nails to be firm when you trim soft nails are more likely to tear a quick
20-second wash with antibacterial soap is all you need if you have dirt underneath your nails
Make sure to clean them out. You don't want the sand or dirt grinding down your clippers and scissors using your tool of choice
You're now gonna start to trim your nails. The one I recommend is doing one large cut
Horizontally across the nail then two small cuts to round out the edges slightly
the other technique starts with two long cuts each
Starting in the middle of the nail and more sharply moving in towards the edges
Then you need one final cut to get rid of the point formed in the middle now the second technique can create a more elongated
elegant shape
But some people can find this a little bit too feminine in any case you're gonna want to experiment and find which technique works for
You but no matter which technique you go with be careful not to cut your nails too short
You never want to get close to digging into the soft bed of skin on which the nail rest that is just painful
In general it's better to use a few longer cuts
Instead of trying to round out everything perfectly with a bunch of shorter cuts, and don't worry if there's a few pointed edges
We'll deal with that in the next step now
We want to use the nail file to clean up any imperfections move the nail file in one direction only
Why not go back and forth because you're more likely to cause cracks and tears in the nail
Once you're through with all your nails give your hands a quick rinse and you're good to go now
You're probably wondering can I use these same techniques on my toenails the answer of course you can?
However, you're going to need a slightly more robust version of each tool made specifically for the tougher toenails also
You don't want to use the same tools on your hands and feet for hygiene purposes
Your feet are more likely to have bacterial and fungal problems
And you don't want to spread this to your hands cutting your nails properly does require a few extra steps and a few extra tools
But if you follow the techniques as taught in today's video you're gonna have great looking nails
Every time you cut them for more detail on how to trim your nails
Correctly check out the support article over at real men real style calm
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