Yes, yes I know, there is a nail file on my Swiss army knife. But I never use it. I’ll admit, it is heavy duty and could probably last for hundreds of years of shaping my nails, but the more I read about nail health the more I realize I have to take more care when looking after my nails.
The main problem with metal nail files is that they are too harsh for the nail. Rather than gliding over the nail tip a metal file can easily tear the nail, roughening it up and causing it to splinter and crack.
Ugly yellow toenails
The only time I can imagine wanting a metal nail file is if I was undergoing nail fungus treatment for my nasty looking, thick yellow toenails with a topical nail treatment such as Funginix. In this situation I would want to open up the nail layers as much as possible by passing the file back and forth over the horizontal nail surface to allow the antifungal treatment to soak in and eliminate the fungus. But that process has nothing to do with having beautifully shaped nails.
For normal nail shaping, most nail health professional will advise you to steer well clear of metal nail files.
I am not suggesting replacing the metal file with an emery board. These are simply a strip of cardboard covered with emery powder and simply don’t last long enough. What I’d like is a crystal glass nail file. They have a fine abrasive surface made from toughened safety glass. Experts are raving about glass nail files saying that they:
- leave nails incredibly smooth (this I can vouch for)
- seal nail edges to improve nail health and avoid invasion by pathogenic organisms (like that pesky nail fungus that causes thickened ugly looking yellow toenails that I described earlier)
- reduce the risk of splitting and peeling (no splintering over here)
- don’t snag or result in rough edges (glass nail files do just glide smoothly over the nail edge)
- help promote stronger nails (hopefully soon)
- can help remove hard skin
- will not rust (unlike a metal nail file)
I still wont use it for every day nail use despite the manufacture’s claim they are everlasting as I can’t see how they wont eventually wear out. (For the same reason I only use my army knife pen if there really is no other pen nearby).
But for occasional nail shaping a glass nail file on my army knife gets my vote.
