How to Choose the Right Nail File for You

December 29, 2021
Jazmine A. Ortiz
By: Jazmine A. Ortiz | Makeup.com by L'Oréal
hands with nails painted light pink
Whether you’re trimming a painful hangnail or shaping your nails into a perfect square, a great nail file is a must when doing a DIY mani or performing any kind of nail maintenance. And even though it’s easy to pull a random file from the back of your drawer, it’s best to consider both your nail strength and the density of the file before using the tool. From glass options to emery boards, we’re breaking down which file is best suited for your nails, below.

What’s a Grit Number? 

When you go to buy a nail file, take note of something called the grit number, which measures the coarseness of the file. The lower the grit number, the coarser the nail file. Lower numbers starting around 80 are ideal for strong, acrylic nails but shouldn’t be used on your natural nails. For natural nails, choose a higher grit count, ideally around 180. Have weak nails? We recommend looking for a grit level around 240.

Nail Files for Your Nail Type

Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn

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