On average, HowStuffWorks reports that your nails should be filed once a week. You can adjust this timeline based on how fast your nails grow, but if you're doing it the way you see it done on TV, you may be doing more harm than good. Speaking to Coveteur, manicurist Amy Ling Lin emphasizes the importance of picking the right tool. "My favorite nail file that I use at home is an emery cushion board. Since it has a cushion in it, it's very gentle to your nails and causes the least breakage," she says. Filing can be harsh for your nails so it's important to pick a tool that is gentle.
On that note, one of the biggest mistakes you could make is sawing your file back and forth against your nails. "You never want to file in a 'saw-like' motion. When you only file in one direction, it protects the nail from splitting and tearing," nail artist Cassandre Banel told Byrdie in 2020. Instead, follow celebrity nail artist Erica Marton's steps for optimal results. "Stick to one direction only in this three-step process: File side to center, where you go on the side of nail to the tip at a 45-degree angle, then the other side to the tip, and then finish at the top of the nail," Marton shared with Reader's Digest. The direction and angle you use make all the difference between a shaped and frayed nail.
