How to File Your Nails
A good deterrent while trying to break the nail biting habit is in keeping your nails as groomed as possible, while they are growing out. It is a way to put a different kind of focus on your nails, while removing any temptation to chew. Filing your nails is something that can be done to prevent any jagged edges, which would only be an excuse for you to put your hands to your mouth.
Your nails do not have to be long to start filing – they can be just before the tips of your fingers to actually have enough nail to work with. Here is a little step-by-step guide, if you have never attempted to file your nails.
Use a two-sided emery board, which you can find at any drug/beauty store for a buck or two. Stay away from the metal files because they have a tendency to be rough on thin or brittle nails – you want to avoid filing too much at once or splitting your nail.
Start by washing your hands and nails (hint – a nail brush helps to get dirt underneath) with very warm water and then rinse with cool water, before drying.
You will notice that the emery board has one rough side and one side that is fine. Start with the rough side and gently file from the outer edge of your nail towards the tip. Keep that same motion and avoid going back and forth like you were sawing wood – that method can weaken the nail. Do the same with the other side of your nail. Repeat for each nail until you have achieved the length and shape you want.
When you have filed all of your nails using the rough side of the emery board, use the other side to finish and smooth the edges of your nails. For each nail you will file in the opposite direction as you did before, that is you will start from the center or tip of the nail to the outer edge.
That’s all there is to it! Now, if you have any ridges on the top of your nails that you would like to remove, consider purchasing a buffing block. They are sold at drug/beauty stores also and are very inexpensive.
Buffing blocks usually have at textures on two sides, sometimes all four, but basically there is a side for smoothing out ridges and a side for buffing your nail to a shine.
When removing the ridges use the smoothing side across your nail in one direction only, not back and forth. After smoothing, use the buffing side with the same motion to bring out the natural shine in your nails. There are also buffing creams available to help condition your nails and bring out more of a shine.