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Which Is the Safest Way to Cut Your Nails? Learn the Steps

Written by Irene Lopez

It’s important to trim your nails regularly. Nail trimming together with manicures makes your nails look well-groomed, neat, and tidy. If your nails aren’t cut and allowed to grow, dirt and germs can get under them, causing infections. If your nails are long, you're more likely to bite or pick at them, which can also cause infections.

Here’s what you should know about cutting your nails.

How to Trim Your Nails

Nail-cutting can seem like a simple process. But you have to follow certain steps to make sure the way you cut is healthy for the nails:

Prepare the nails for cutting. Nail trimming should be done after softening your nails. The best time to cut your nails is right after having a shower or bath. You can also soak your nails in warm water for a few minutes to soften them before cutting.

Gather your tools. Use nail clippers or nail scissors for nail trimming. There are different types of nail clippers for fingernails and toenails. Use regular nail clippers or nail scissors for your fingernails and toe clippers for your toes. You can also use a spring-handled tool called a toenail nipper if you think your toenails are too thick to be cut by regular toe clippers.

Make sure you disinfect the clippers or scissors before using them on your nails. To clean the tools well, first soak a small scrub brush in a bowl containing 70% to 90% isopropyl alcohol. Then use the same brush to clean the clippers or scissors. Rinse everything in hot water and allow them to dry before using them.

Cut nails straight across. Avoid cutting your nails into a "V" shape or rounding off the edges. Cut the nails straight across so they're long enough to have the corners of the nail left intact at the sides. This cutting technique can help prevent ingrown toenails. When you have ingrown toenails, a part of your nail at the corner grows into the skin, causing pain and sometimes infection.

Even out rough edges. After you cut your nails, you can sometimes find that the edges are a bit rough or uneven. Use a nail file or emery board to file the nails so they get evened out. When you file a nail, you’re rubbing the nail file against the nail edge to grind down bumpy edges. File in one direction only instead of going back and forth to avoid damaging or weakening your nails.

Spare the cuticles. The cuticle is the place where your nail meets the skin. It helps to protect a new nail as it grows out from the root under the bottom of the cuticle. If you cut into the cuticles, bacteria and germs can enter your body, causing infection. If you get an infection because the cuticles were damaged, the infection can take a longer time to clear up. Leave the cuticles alone when you’re cutting your nails.

Use a moisturizer. Once you’re done with nail trimming and filing, apply a moisturizer. Using a moisturizer can help to keep your nails flexible. Nails can become easily breakable if they become too dry. Dry nails can also split more easily. Remember to apply moisturizer on the cuticles as well as the nails.

More Tips

If you’re unsure how to use nail clippers or even how to trim your nails, you can have your nails cut by a professional at a salon. Remember to go to salons that are strict about maintaining hygiene, especially with the tools that are being used.
It’s best to take your own nail clippers, scissors, and other tools to the salon. It can help you avoid the risk of infections caused by bacteria and germs left over in the tools after use by other customers.
Nails can tell a doctor a lot about the state of your health. If you notice any changes in the color, texture, or shape of your nails, remember to check with your doctor. Sometimes the changes can be harmless. Other times, the changes can indicate a health condition like skin problems, anemia, or lung disease, for example.

Healthy nails are smooth without hollowed portions on the surface called pits or long, narrow cuts called grooves. The color is uniform throughout the nail. Typically, healthy nails are free from spots or discoloration.

When to cut nails - when and on what days you can cut your nails

According to the stages of human development, people have come up with unusual self-care rituals. The following depended on certain hours and days, the lunar calendar: how and when to cut nails or hair. The meaning of nails is often of interest to magicians, palmists, but astrologers are most interested in this.

Based on historical data, the first nail care appeared during the reign of the pharaohs in Egypt. In India and China, it is generally accepted that if a girl has long and excellent nails, then this symbolizes wealth and a high social level of development. Many, in order not to cut their nails, often gnaw them. This should not be done, because the growth process of the nail plate is disrupted, and, in general, this is not hygienic.

At the present time, young girls and women of advanced age make sure that their hands are always well-groomed with a gentle manicure and neatly trimmed nails (there is no exact length, but too long nails speak of complete bad taste).

Mystery of the nail cutting ritual

Why do nails get so much attention even nowadays? Is it true that this procedure can affect the rhythm of every person's life or is it just a myth?

Nature has decreed that each part of our body is given for something and performs a specific function. First of all, nails serve as a certain protection for our fingertips from all kinds of external factors (injuries and cracks). On the other hand, the appearance of the nail plate can tell a lot about a person: his wealth, success, social status, character traits and accuracy. A manicure made in the style of a sophisticated look or even ordinary, trimmed nails speaks of a person's culture and neatness. In addition to the aesthetic appearance, many people pay great attention to folk signs that are associated with cutting nails.

Researchers prove that the condition of nails, as well as hair, can talk about the general level of human health (attention is paid to color, shape, state of integrity). This information often leads to the definition of superficial disease in medical research. There is some explanation for this. For example, during intoxication of the body, the accumulated poison is often displayed on the nail plate (more often it is determined already by the fact of death).

There is an opinion among magicians and palmists that the hair, the surface of the skin and the nail plates store vital energy, strength and potential. Scientists such as astrologers associate nails with cosmic energy. They believe that marigolds are a conductor in the separation of flows throughout the body system. By cutting off the nail plate, you can imperceptibly change the energy flows in general. With the help of cut particles of material, sorcerers and magicians can influence human destiny, both in a positive direction and in a negative direction.

Nail trimming depending on each day of the week

What days can you cut your nails? This question worries many people all over the world. So what do nails have to do with certain days throughout the week?

Monday. Patron Moon is a natural satellite of the planet. On this day, you can cut your nails in only one way: if a person feels depressed or depressed. Having performed the rite, you can get rid of bad thoughts, get away from a depressive state. If you do a manicure on the first day of the week, it will help in the treatment of diseases of the urinary system of the body.
Tuesday. This day is influenced by the planet Mars and is distinguished by its anger, struggle and anger. You can trim your nails in situations where a person needs support and charging from the supreme forces and the cosmos (more often used in the presence of unpleasant situations). A manicure and pedicure done on this day activates the protective forces and energy of a person, contributes to attracting wealth.
Wednesday. Astrologers refer to it the planet Mercury, which personifies success in trade, gives life wisdom and some kind of trick. If a person is striving for career advancement and development, for academic success, then nails should be cut exclusively on Wednesdays. This will contribute to good cooperation in society, strengthening the necessary ties, as well as receiving positive news. With regards to health, the general immune system will increase and human nerve cells will definitely recover.
Thursday. It is customary to consider the day of the planet Jupiter. Trimming your nails on this day will strengthen your authority in the work team. To obtain a healthy state of a person, the procedure improves metabolic processes. According to beliefs, cutting nails on Thursday, a person takes happiness into his hearth and acquires something new.
Friday. The planet Venus accompanies this day. Astrologers do not recommend this day for such a custom, since all the processes of the human body slow down (men need to be especially careful). Trimming nails on this day can lead to an increase in overall body weight. Although, the ancestors prove that the custom held cures toothache.
Saturday (planet Saturn). The procedure of trimming nails relieves feelings of hopelessness and guilt, as well as debts in financial matters. Helps to find your soul mate, strengthens love relationships.
Sunday (Sun) All existing folk signs do not allow cutting nails on this day, since a person himself can deprive himself of the protection of the Almighty powers.

To listen to the folk signs of our ancestors or not is an individual matter for each person. However, all signs are the life experience of our people, which has been accumulated over the years, so it may be worth listening to people's advice. Perhaps this way you will find something bright and good by cutting your nails on the same days.

The process of cutting nails for small children

Many mothers are interested in the question: when to cut the baby's nails? Usually, on the 10th day from birth, the baby is trying to cut the first nails when they get a little stronger. Cutting nails on small hands has its own characteristics:

the procedure is best done when the baby does not feel hunger;
the mood of the baby should be positive and cheerful;
they try to cut their nails when the child is fast asleep;
as a tool, special children's scissors with rounded edges at the tips are used;
the procedure can be performed after bathing, when the nails are well steamed;
if the baby is very small, it is recommended to swaddle the hands alternately to prevent injury when cutting nails.

Nail cutting by days of the week ..

And even this is explained by astrologers.

Nails are not just some biological part of the human body, but also an element of the energy charge of any organism. Surely, many of us cut our nails only as needed, without even thinking about the fact that a particular day or time of this hygiene procedure can somehow affect the overall vital activity of the body.

Meanwhile, experienced astrologers have been studying this issue for decades. Moreover, certain conclusions have already been made about exactly what effect cutting nails has on a person on a certain day of the week. By the way, some consider this statement to be another superstition, but so far they cannot prove it.
So, experts recommend paying special attention to the day of the week on which you are going to cut your nails. Let's consider this question in more detail. Nail cutting: seven days a week

Cut nails on Monday

Those who decide to get a manicure on this day, according to astrologers, will relieve themselves of the burden of anger and negative energy. Moreover, this procedure, carried out on this particular day, is considered a good prevention of any diseases of the genitourinary system (gynecological and urological). From which we can conclude that it is possible and even necessary to cut nails on Monday. The memory of past hardships, all complexes, as well as longing and sadness, are sheared.

Cut your nails on Tuesday

If you decide to cut your nails on Tuesday, you can even get rid of a headache without medication. Also, the procedure will help to respond correctly in some emergency situations. You cut with nails diseases of the head and blood, as well as all sorts of troubles.

Cut nails on Wednesday

Do you want good news? Then you need to cut your nails on Wednesday. On this day, with the help of this manipulation, you can strengthen the process of thinking, which will make it possible to find a way out of any situation as quickly and efficiently as possible. Moreover, on this day, from cutting nails, the nervous system will come to a state of complete peace and tranquility. You will bring some good news closer to you, as well as increase success in communication and study, and the overall immunity of the body. On Wednesday, the accumulated confusion in deeds and thoughts is cut off with nails. One of the most favorable days for procedures related to manicure.

Cut nails on Thursday

For those who need to occupy a certain niche in society, it is necessary to cut their nails on Thursday. This day will definitely help you. Also, those who need to increase their self-confidence should do their manicure on Thursday. Moreover, you will extend your life (scientists say that it is really possible to increase life expectancy, but only for this you need to cut your nails regularly on Thursdays), and also get rid of liver diseases.

Cut nails on Friday

Doing this is recommended for those who wish to acquire the physical beauty of their body. However, based on some sources, it can be argued that manicure procedures on this day will inevitably lead to some kind of imminent grief. According to other sources, cutting your nails on this day means deliberately dooming your body to a fairly strong slowdown in all biological processes. Therefore, it is recommended to refrain from this procedure on Friday, if possible. This is especially true for representatives of the male half of humanity.

Cut nails on Saturday

But cutting nails on Saturday is recommended by all astrologers without exception. Moreover, they claim that this particular day is the most auspicious of all seven days of the week. Saturday manicure will help to believe in yourself and strengthen the general condition of the body. It greatly improves austerity and relieves you of all "karmic debts". By the way, it is also recommended to cut nails on Saturday for those who want to meet their soul mate as soon as possible.

Cut nails on Sunday

It's a day off in every sense of the word. No source recommends cutting your nails on Sunday. The fact is that it is on this day that the body gains strength for the next week, and the connection with the guardian angels on Sunday is as strong as possible. It is believed that they will not like the fact that a person cuts off a piece of himself.