How to choose nail file for your nail set

[Ninna Wolf]

Nail file are an essential part of any nail care kit. They are used to shape and smoothen the nails to achieve a pleasing shape and a silky, even texture. No nail set can be complete without a nail set of files.

Choosing the right nail set of nail file is essential for achieving the perfect manicure as well as for maintaining your nails in top condition. These files come in multiple shapes and sizes including multi-sided all-in-one versions. Some common varieties of files include metal files, stone files, ceramic files, glass files and emery boards.

Metal files- as the name suggests, these files are made of metal and as a result are hardy and inexpensive. Most metal files tend to be a bit too harsh for natural nails. However, they are perfect for filing artificial nails which tend to be too tough to respond to emery boards or glass files. Be sure to clean the files after each use by washing them in warm soapy water and then drying them thoroughly to keep them bacteria free.

Emery boards – made of cardboard, emery boards are some of the cheapest nail filing tools available. However, these tend to be harsh on natural nails because of their rough texture and one needs to be careful while using them so as to avoid damaging the nail. Moreover, they cannot be used on artificial nails.

Stone files – simultaneously durable and gentle on the nails, stone files are able to achieve a much smoother finish than metal files or emery boards. These are created by coating metal files with a Corundum, a hard, transparent crystal with excellent abrasive properties.

Ceramic files – ceramic files are similar in quality to stone files and can be used on both natural as well as artificial nails. Ceramic files often sport a textured surface that helps users file their nails without any of the ripping or tearing that often occurs when using emery boards. This is because, like stone files, ceramic files also do not snag or cause irregularities in the nail's texture.

Glass files- these are professional quality nail file and are generally found only in top end nail salons. While expensive, they are extremely gentle and some of the best files for natural nails. Unfortunately, because they are mostly used by professional salons, it is difficult to find retailers who stock them.