Do you file down your nails or clip them with a nail clipper?

Hey jill! I always have done my own nails. I think I have had them done professionally maybe once also. I file my finger nails down. I never use a clipper on them. But, when I try to file them sometimes they get filed to far down! But, I still would never use a clipper on them. I have always kept them filed nicely and polished since I was very young. I am finding that for the last year my nails have changed and are suddenly not growing well and splitting and I have no idea why! They don't seem to be as strong as they used to and I am very upset! I always had beautiful long nails all my life and now I have stubs!

i clip them.. i cant stand the feeling of filing them!!

um im bad i just let them break. I do nothing with my nails.

I usually clip my nails first then I file them to make them smooth and to put some shape to my nails since clipping puts corners on the tips of the nails. I haven't encountered having my nails split apart because of clipping, I guess it depends on your nails. There are nail strenthening formulas that can be bought in stores so that you won't have to worry about your nails splitting by accident.

I always had that problem of them splitting or peeling off in layers when mine were long. I think it was because I filed my sides because what was comming out from the tip wasn't as streamline with the length that was already there. I miss having my nails, but since my oldest was a gagger it was easier to fish things out of her mouth without nails. HOpefully when my lil guy is bigger I'll grow them out, I hate biting my nails but I do it anways still with out thinking.

I cut the nail frequently.

I use both. I have also been told that using either of these can cause damage to the nail. But I find that I need to use clippers to shorten the length of the nail and then an emery board to smooth the rough edges. Some emery boards aren't as coarse as others and I try to find those that aren't too abrasive.

I file mine all the time to keep them at a decent Length

I need a chainsaw to cut my nails. They are like weapons. They get long pretty fast and then I have trouble typing. I do use a file but will sometimes use a pair of scissors to trim them and then use the file. I use whatever pair of scissors is handy and it's usually my craft scissors. Probably not a good idea but it works and I haven't had any problems. I only had my nails done twice. I would prefer to do them myself.

I file mine down. Usually I don't have much of nails, but when I want to focus on growing them out it always helps to file them and them paint them. I only clip my toenailes.

Right now my nails are to short to do anything with them so I will doing something more in the summer I'll let her file and shape my nails. cd

I've always wanteed long thick nails. I have the worse nails out. I file them and just put on nail hardener in an effort to make them grow. They are so weak and I have a nail fungus for years that despite the expense of trying to clear it - nothing ever worked. I so wish that I could get rid of this gungus! Maybe I should start a post requesting ideas! I have never used a nail clipper at all. I do have a pedicure once a month. This is important to me as I wear open toed shoes for work and sandals and so I like my feet ot look callus free and nails polished. This is important to me and only costs the equivalent of US$5 = so it is my little stress buster! I look forward to it

I always file my finger nails.. I dont ever let a manicurist use a nail clipper on my fingers.. However I do use a nail clipper on my toe nails and then use a nail file on them. Thats what they do when I get a pedicure as well..

Nail clipper for me but I really wish to file them if only I have the time. I know that really is the right way to do it.

I don't file my nails ever. Filing them makes me feel like I'm hearing someone's nails scraping down a chalk board. It gives me unwanted goosebumps. So I clip my fingernails. They can get long, but if they get too long they start growing differently, because like I said, I don't file them, so they aren't a perfectly straight line.

This is soooooooooo funny. I just clipped my nails. You know, I leaped into my teenage years and was confident that I'd be great at my doing my nails - I'm a girl right? Same thing when I was allowed to the makeup thing - its in the genes right? Wrong! So as I got older and had a job where professional appearance was crucial and the fact that I got nail polish on my nails in a blotchy way - and my fingers and sometimes other body parts and when fixing this made everything even worse I gave in and started going to get a manicure each week. Despite the high maintenance it was good for work and I adored the hand massage. I know, you'd think well if she can't do the nail polish thing - keep it off and just file or clip nails neatly. Well filing never works out evenly and I was always misplacing my files (or my cat was stealing them - not sure which!). And clipping makes it look like I chewed my nails - can never do it evenly! But I'm a stay at home mom now - now I have a two year old who steals nail files if I'm not careful. And I can't really justify the added expense of a manicure each week! Oh and my husband does the shopping at Walmart and asking him to get a file - chyea! And when I go, well I forget too. Walmart gives me a headache, too much crammed in that space. Sensory overload! Okay so now you've gotten WAAAAY to much info and no definitive answer. I guess I do whatever is easiest to find. My toddler is getting more and more innovative (read sneaky) in getting things from any place I put them - and he notices where I place things, even when I try to be sneaky. Child proofing has nothing on him! Nor does putting things high up. However, if I had my druthers YOU KNOW I would choose the manicure. I need a husband who is straight yet great at manicures and pedicures and coloring hair. Oh and a great dad and good cook to boot!

I use clippers. My nails grow really fast. I would have to file them every day in order for it to not take forever to file them down. My nails grow faster than most peoples. I am not really worries about them looking really nice though. I just like them to be short and out of my way.

I don't think the nail girl would like me at all then. I tear my nails if I don't just cut them with clippers. As for filing? No I don't like doing that. I'd much rather just cut them or tear them off. Yes my nails are in layers.

As I am a licensed nail technician, I file my nails. I wouldnt use clippers either since I have seen the damage that they can do to a natural nail. However if you have a product such as acrylic or glue or wraps on your nails, then you can clip them since you would only be building the product back up on the nails. I think if you use clippers on a natural nail, then the best thing to do afterward is to file them smootly to avoid any nicks or splitting that may occur. happy mylotting.

I always file my fingernails. My nails don't grow long enough really to be clipped with a clipper. I just file them like once a week or so to make sure they're even. My nails typically break before I'd ever be able to clip them. lol As for my toenails, I usually clip them. I sometimes file them, but it takes so much longer than just filing my fingernails.