Zamberg.com: About Nail Files

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A nail file is a small grooming instrument, usually in a shape of a flat piece of cardboard, metal or glass, which has grains of various materials and fineness attached to it, either on one or on both sides of the tool used for gentle shaping, trimming and/or smoothing out the edges of nails. Nail files are most often used during a manicure and pedicure, but are also very handy and helpful for quick fixes of rough or even broken nails on the go.

When you're looking for this seemingly simple instrument the variety and choice could be a bit overwhelming. Not only do nail files come in every imaginable color, they are also made of various materials, most common on which are cardboard (emery boards), metal and even glass, as well as in variation of coarseness and sizes. To make your choice in picking the nail file that is just right for you below we've described the main types and materials of the nail files.

View entire selection of various nail files at Zamberg.com.

Size & Coarseness
Emery Boards
Metal/Sapphire Nail Files
Glass & Ceramic (Crystal) Nail Files
Care & Cleaning

SIZE & COARSENESS

Nail files of all types come in various sizes and fineness (or coarseness) for different uses and jobs. Both the size and the coarseness of the board is completely a matter of choice of the user, however here are some suggestions.

It is advisable to have files of different coarsenesses to accomplish various tasks during a manicure or a pedicure.
Pick the overall size of the file to better accommodate the size of your hands and fingers and make sure that it is comfortable to hold and use. For quick touch ups there are small, pocket size nail files that you can carry with you everywhere.
Nail files sometimes come with a pointed tip that doesn't contain any abrasive grains. This tip is meant for quick cleaning under the nail. Make sure that this tip is small, thin and smooth so that you don't damage your nails and do not tear the nail from the nail bed.
Depending on what you're trying to accomplish pick the appropriate grain (coarseness) of the file. If you need to remove a large length of the nail or need to do some heavy filing on really thick nails start out with a coarser file to quicker complete the job. If you need to polish or smooth out the nail, or file away a small imperfection on the nail a finer grain is much better suited for the job.
No matter how big a job you're planning for your nails make sure to pick a nail file that is not too rough or harsh.

EMERY BOARDS

emery boards nail files

Emery boards are nail files that are made out of cardboard and covered either with emery or emery paper. Emery is a very hard rock-like mineral, black or dark gray in color, which mostly consists of mineral corundum, or an oxide of aluminum, in combination with other iron based minerals. Its structure makes emery perfect for use as an abrasive. Very fine, powder grains of emery are applied to the cardboard or paper and used to gently smooth out the nail edge.

Though these files come with a variety of emery grain fineness, with different coarseness for various needs and results, emery boards are usually gentler than metal files and are lighter in weight. Because they are gentler emery boards are more suitable for the finer filing and will take more time if used to file down longer length of nails, than metal or glass nail files.

Emery boards are much cheaper than files made out of most other material. Due to their low cost they could be easily be discarded, which is safer from a sanitary perspective than metal or glass files that could potentially be used on more than one person and could transfer infections from person to person. Besides being affordable emery boards are often conveniently made with various surfaces and coarsenesses on the same board, or as a set of multiple boards for various purposes.

Samples of Emery Boards and Nail Buffers:

Silk-shine nail polish set
byErbe
Solingen, Germany

View our selection of the Emery Boards and Nail Buffers.

METAL/SAPPHIRE NAIL FILES

As the name suggests metal nail files are made of various metals and their abrasive grains are made out of mineral corundum, which in its transparent, blue form is known as the precious gem sapphire. The metal base and the sapphire coating makes these files the harshest of all types.

Its metal base makes these files more durable than emery boards, and make them last longer. However, metal files are also often more abrasive and coarse than emery boards and are more often used for tasks where heavier filing is necessary, for example very thick nails or quick filing of longer length of nail needs to be done. Metal nail files are also more bendable than glass or ceramic (or crystal) nail files and sometimes are easier to use.

Due to their durability metal nail files sometimes come with a pointed tip that doesn't contain any abrasive grains and is meant for quick clean ups under the nail.

Samples of Metal Nail Files:

f15 - Triple Cut Nail File German FINOX<sup>®</sup> Surgical Stainless Steel in Leather

f15 - Triple Cut Nail File German FINOX^® Surgical Stainless Steel in Leather
byGERmanikure
Solingen, Germany

Stainless steel triple-cut double-sided medium/fine nail file 6"
byDovo
Solingen, Germany

Stainless steel triple-cut double-sided 4'' nail file with nail cleaner/cuticle pusher
byDovo
Solingen, Germany

French cobalt triple-cut double-sided 15 cm nail file
byMalteser
Solingen, Germany

View our selection of the Metal Nail Files.

CRYSTAL GLASS NAIL FILES

The Crystal Glass files are a relatively new development in the field of nail files. Made out of a micro crystal material that is specially hardened at very high temperatures to make them durable and produce the extra fine grain of the file. The structure of the material allows not causing as much damage to the nails as with conventional files or to open up and tears the pores of the nails. In addition this newly developed material allows grooming the nails without the need to soften them by holding nails in the hot water for prolonged period of time, which is a great advantage for pedicures.

Though crystal glass files are more expensive than its metal or emery counterparts because their surface is finer and smoother than even the fine emery board they prevent nail peeling and splitting. Glass files are so fine that they wouldn't be practical to use for large or tough jobs, but rather for really fine, delicate jobs.

Samples of Crystal Glass Nail Files:

6mm Diameter Manicure Stick Genuine Czech Crystal Glass Cuticle Pusher in Suede
byGERmanikure
Solingen, Germany

Genuine Czech Crystal Glass Manicure Pedicure Nail File in Leather
byGERmanikure
Solingen, Germany

"ALL YOU NEED IS LESS" Genuine Czech Crystal Glass Nail File in Leather
byGERmanikure
Solingen, Germany

GERmanikure Genuine Czech Crystal Glass Manicure Nail File in Suede
byGERmanikure
Solingen, Germany

View our selection of the Crystal Glass Nail Files.

CARE & CLEANING

Though care and cleaning of your nail file might change depending on the material you choose, here are some basic tips that should keep any instrument in good shape as well as keep your nails healthy and prevent infections and diseases.

Ceramic and metal files made of stainless steel could be washed in water with soap, but that wouldn't disinfect the instrument sufficiently, and the dirt and bacteria could still be trapped in the grooves. In addition to washing the file off they should always be sterilized.
As stated above nail files should always be sterilized before and after each use and never shared with others. Instead if you can, use disposable emery boards.
After several uses the grains on emery boards get filed off, for best results they should be replaced on regular basis.
If your metal or glass nail file comes with a cover, put it on whenever the nail is not in use to prevent from being damaged.
Nail files shouldn't be dropped, but if your glass (or crystal) nail file falls or is struck in any other way inspect it very well. Don't use it if the file is cracked or chipped, you can injure yourself with it.

View entire selection of various nail files at Zamberg.com.