How To Trim Toenails Correctly

Did you know that cutting toenails incorrectly can lead to ingrown nails, nail fungus and foot pain? The way you cut your toenails directly affects the way in which they grow. Cutting toenails too rounded can force the nail to curl around and grow in on itself, leading to painful piercing of the skin and potential infection. Leaving the nails too long can encourage them to retain dampness, which can also lead to infection.

Confused? Well don’t be. We’ve got the straightforward tips on cutting toenails right, every time.

How to cut toenails
1. Choose the right clippers: avoid using the same clippers for your fingernails and your toenails. A good pair of toenail clippers will be slightly wider and flatter than regular fingernail clippers. Sterilise them with rubbing alcohol between every use and don’t share with friends.
2. Choose the right time: avoid cutting nails straight out of the shower as wet nails are softer and more vulnerable to tearing. Instead, always work on dry, clean nails.
3. Choose the right cut: cut nails by guiding the clippers straight across each toe and avoid curving downwards to round the nails as curved nails can become ingrown nails. Do each nail in a few small cuts, rather than one large cut, which may cause the nail to pull back from the skin.
4. Choose the length: avoid cutting nails too short as this can also lead to ingrown toenails. If you like them short, cut to just beneath the tip of the toe, no more than a millimetre.
5. If you’re a filer, not a clipper…if you prefer to file rather than cut, avoid using a back and forth sawing motion with the file and instead gently move the file across the nail in one direction until smooth.

Try Elite Toenail Clippers or Manicare Toenail Clippers.

If you file try Glamourflage Foxy Fay Nail File.

121 Member Comments

chrissie86 7 Mar 2012 11:17 AM

Very helpful article :)

Log in or register to commentReply to comment
Likes 0

Chicklet 6 Mar 2012 1:04 PM

Interesting advice. I'm sure a lot of us can learn from these tips.

jasmel05 18 Feb 2012 1:07 PM

Nice to see I'm doing something right! I've never had any infections or ingrown toe nails but I find I get a straighter and neater cut on my toenails using nail scissors and against what you have said I cut my toenails in the shower as I have very strong nails which are virtually impossible to cut dry as they are just too hard!

Upasana 1 Feb 2012 10:53 AM

Thanks for the informative post:)

Thepinkshoe 31 Jan 2012 12:09 PM

Thankyou! I need to show my boyfriend this one as he likes to butcher his and he always gets ingrown toenails

beauti-licious 28 Jan 2012 11:00 AM

Paoling - so have I! I a going to buy a toenail clipper. I usually file my big toes and clip the others

Fatollie 17 Jan 2012 11:59 AM

Very helpful, thank you!

Evanescencessy 16 Jan 2012 8:28 AM

Wow never knew there was so many things to consider for trimming nails. Must admit I use the same clipper...eek!

Cherrybloss 9 Jan 2012 12:10 PM

great article i never thought to use a different pair of clippers for fingers and toes...oops!!

weekend 23 Dec 2011 5:34 AM

Hahaha, I have to agree with you Rewalize! I've been doing it wrong all along too! D:

Dee_15 (not verified) 22 Dec 2011 11:58 PM

Thankyou! Ive been doing it wrong too. I always thought you can cut them straight after a shower. Really informative article!

Beautylover210 20 Dec 2011 8:28 AM

Very informative and great content :)

oztag 14 Dec 2011 3:49 AM

Woah I've been doing it all wrong! Thanks so much for the tips!

greywolf 9 Dec 2011 5:13 AM

I wish it wasn't so hard to bend down (back Pain) to do my nails and I wouldn't have to paid for them to get done

Kellettj 7 Dec 2011 2:39 AM

Great tips! I must admit, I always neglect my toenails so I may give them a special makeover tonight :)

JulsBN 29 Nov 2011 2:47 AM

Thank You. I was doing it wrong :P

smckinnon 17 Nov 2011 8:48 AM

such a great article, its little tips like these that make me love you guys even more!

tessa469 13 Nov 2011 1:22 AM

thanks, i didnt realise i had been doing it wrong!

Sweetu 7 Nov 2011 7:13 AM

I might try filing because I've chipped one of the toenails on the right foot & it really hurts to cut them :(

Gabriella603 7 Nov 2011 12:22 AM

i always get ingrown toenails (as gross as they may be, it happens) never knew why, so keen to give this a go :)

laurner 5 Nov 2011 7:34 AM

my grandmother and mother only go to a podiatrist to get their nails cut. they each go to diffrent ones and they all say NOT to cut nails directly across but to round them off. I'm going by what the professionals say as I've never have even the slightest hint of a problem. its the people I know who cut them across who have had surgery to correct the mistake. not falling for that one.

A Lil Kuki 20 Oct 2011 9:31 AM

YIKES! I've been doing it wrong all along!!! :(

dolly wink 19 Oct 2011 6:54 AM

Good article, I am most probably going to come back to this next week. I cut my toenails far too short and now they look weird :( I might just file from now on.

Paoling725 14 Oct 2011 10:04 AM

oh no i have been using the same nail clipper for my finger nails and toe nails for the past 20+ years!

Beccarox 10 Oct 2011 9:27 AM

wow thank you so much!!!

Pages

You need to log in or become a member to post a comment.

How-to: trim your toenails, the right way!

Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?

121 Member Comments

Pages