Nails are the calling card of a well-groomed person. And it is equally important to monitor their appearance and condition not only on the hands, but also on the feet.
At first glance, it may seem that there is nothing complicated about cutting toenails. But this opinion is wrong. Proper execution of the nail trimming procedure is not only the key to a beautiful pedicure, but also the absence of problems with ingrown nails and infection with pathogenic microflora. For women, toenails are also a fashion accessory that complements their image.
Which nail shape is best?
The first thing you need to pay attention to is the original natural shape of the nail plate.
The ideal one is the one that follows the shape of the fingertips. The arched one is considered the safest and most correct. There are no problems with it when properly performing a hygienic pedicure and nail trimming. The center line must be cut at a right angle, and the edges must be rounded with a saw.
The abrasiveness of the tool should be 100/100 or 100/120 grit.
This scheme is needed so that the nail does not grow into the skin and excessive skin growth does not form in the corners.
A properly formed nail bed does not cause discomfort when wearing shoes or doing household chores.
In this case, you cannot cut your nails at the root. It is necessary to leave the edge free by 2–4 mm.
Comfortable shoes
If you often experience ingrown toenails, then pay attention to your shoes. Tight shoes are a fairly common cause of ingrown hairs. In summer, it is recommended to wear open sandals to allow your nails to “breathe.”
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Choose your winter shoes carefully. It should be spacious and comfortable. Your toes should fit comfortably in winter boots and boots. It is during the cold season that many people experience recurrent ingrown nails. This is due to the transition to closed, warm shoes.
You should also avoid wearing high heels. After all, they create a lot of stress on the toes. It is especially undesirable to wear closed shoes with stiletto heels. In such shoes, your toes rest against the toe, which can cause ingrown toenails.
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It is very important to choose the right tool, which should have a sharp edge. It is not recommended to trim toenails using nail scissors. It will not be possible to do this correctly and efficiently. For the procedure, it is better to choose forceps with a flat platform measuring 10–12 cm.
Not to be confused with cuticle nippers, which have a small platform and slightly rounded tips.
If the nails are hard and too thick, then a nail clipper is most often used. German manufacturers of tools for manicure and pedicure have special durable clippers for thick nails.
They are made of carbon steel with a nickel plated finish, so they can withstand the stress of cutting thick nails. It is easy to remove ingrown specimens with this tool because its blades are rounded.
Preparatory stage
Before starting the procedure, you should prepare all the necessary tools and materials:
- Nail clippers.
- File.
- Nippers for cutting skin.
- Curette.
- Pumice for heels.
- Moisturizer.
- Alcohol or other antiseptic.
- Disposable gloves.
- Towel, water and basin.
It is very important to wash your hands.
If you have fungus on your feet, you should wear gloves.
It is better to prepare a convenient place to perform the procedure, and put a waffle towel on the floor so that the cut nails do not fall anywhere.
Preparation and sterilization of instruments
Each person in the family should have an individual tool for manicure or pedicure. Disinfection must be carried out before and after each use.
If you have a sterilizer or oven, it would be a good idea to use them periodically. Sterilization can be done by boiling instruments. However, this method should not be used frequently. The cutting edges quickly become dull when in contact with boiling water.
If the tool is cheap and the metal in it is of poor quality, then boiling will lead to deformation.
Using ultrasonic sterilization and a special solution, you can carry out high-quality disinfection in a short time. For simple disinfection you can use:
- alcohol;
- soap solution;
- special disinfectant sprays.
How to soften thick and hard nail plates using baths?
Before trimming thick or hard nails, you should soften them. To make thick nails easy to trim and the skin on the heels softer, warm baths are required before the pedicure. You can add to water:
- soap solution;
- herbal decoctions;
- soda;
- ammonia.
Do not soften the nail plate too much or keep your feet in very hot water. It is better to pay attention to the heels, and the nails should remain a little hard.
To prepare a steam bath you will need:
- 2 liters of not too hot water;
- 1 tsp. liquid soap;
- 0.5 tsp. soda
The legs should be lowered into the basin and after 10–15 minutes, circumcision should begin.
Essential oils of tea tree and rosemary also soften nails and provide an antiseptic effect. Adding them to water is useful if a person has fungal infections.
Sequence of procedure
After softening your nails and feet, you can begin your pedicure. You cannot cut the nail plate in one motion, as this can lead to:
- injury;
- delamination;
- brokenness.
It is necessary to operate the tool gradually, moving in small sections. When finished, file down the free edge and sharp corners on the sides.
Nails must be wiped dry and only then use a file. Do not file wet ones, as this will lead to delamination.
To prevent drying out, it makes sense to apply a moisturizing base oil to the nail plate.
It is also important to pay attention to the cuticle. You need to cut it carefully with pliers so as not to damage living tissue. It is more convenient to use a remover and an orange stick. The product will painlessly soften excess skin, and removing it will not be difficult.
The ideal pedicure is one that leaves your heels soft and tender. Therefore, you should work on the softened skin with a pumice stone, and then lubricate your feet with a rich cream.
Features of cutting
The growth of the nail plate is individual for everyone and depends on many factors:
- genetics;
- taking vitamins and mineral complexes;
- individual characteristics of the body.
Therefore, both women and men should undergo a hygienic pedicure procedure as needed. To be neat and avoid problems with strong skin growths and dryness, it is best to do a pedicure once every two weeks.
To kid
Children's nails should be trimmed using surgical steel nail scissors with rounded ends. A month after birth, the nail plate acquires a dense structure , and most often nails are cut for the first time in a month.
It happens that children are born with long nails, then the procedure must be carried out immediately. It is easiest for infants to trim their hair while sleeping or feeding.
It is very important that the baby has an individual set of accessories for cutting, because his immunity is not yet strong enough and there is a risk of infection. As you grow older, scissors can be replaced with “adult” ones with straight ends.
Before use, the instrument must be treated with chlorhexidine.
To an elderly person
Older people have thick and rough nail plates due to disruption of the blood supply to the nail bed. Therefore, you should select special durable tools for the procedure.
If steam baths do not help, it makes sense to make a night compress from aloe and golden mustache. Algorithm of actions:
- Wash and grind all ingredients.
- Apply to nails and put on a plastic bag.
The compress should be left on your feet for at least 8–12 hours.
A special keratolytic patch, which can be bought at a pharmacy, has a good softening effect. It is also used for fungal infections, as it has a therapeutic effect.
When is it possible to treat an ingrown toenail with home remedies?
For self-treatment, it is important to notice the problem at the very beginning, for example, if the periungual fold is red and the nail hurts when pressure is applied to it. First of all, give up uncomfortable shoes; in spring and summer, wear open shoes (sandals with slippers). Foot baths with antiseptics help a lot. After the bath, you can carefully file the nail, using additional emollient and anti-inflammatory traditional medicine recipes. But only a doctor can help you cope with more severe redness and swelling, pain and pus discharge. In such a situation, self-medication is dangerous.
How to trim ingrown ones?
The problem of ingrown toenails is sometimes caused by various reasons, but the main one is improper trimming. If you make the shape oval and cut the corners too deeply, then ingrowth will become a constant companion. At the site of localization the following is formed:
- inflammation;
- ulcers;
- redness;
- swelling;
- throbbing pain is felt.
To prevent nails from growing in, you should cut them in a timely manner and avoid leaving sharp ends. At the first signs of an ingrown toenail, it is recommended:
- Make a warm foot bath by adding furatsilin solution to the water.
- Carefully pry up the ingrown part with a curette and shorten it.
- If the nail does not give in, make a compress with Levomekol.
If the growing part is not trimmed in time, the situation will worsen and surgical help may be required. Under local anesthesia, the surgeon removes either the entire nail or part of it.
Correct haircut for ingrown hairs
When ingrown, nails need to be trimmed carefully to minimize the risk of infection and the appearance of purulent inflammation. If the pain syndrome is not severe, you can carry out the procedure yourself, without resorting to the help of a doctor or cosmetologist. To do this you need:
- Thoroughly treat instruments with a disinfectant.
- Immerse your feet in a warm bath for 15-20 minutes. A Furacilin tablet or several crystals of potassium permanganate should be added to the water.
- Wipe the limbs dry, lubricate the injured area with antifungal or anti-inflammatory ointment.
- Using the sharp edge of a file or an orange stick, try to pry the ingrown end of the nail plate, pull it out and carefully cut it off with scissors.
- Treat the damaged area with iodine or hydrogen peroxide.
It is not recommended to cut your nails short to prevent them from growing in. Elderly people should always wear comfortable, lightweight shoes made from natural materials that stretch easily.
How to trim fungal ones?
During a fungal infection, the structure of the nails completely changes.
They become hard, brittle, flaky, uneven, and it becomes impossible to trim them. To soften the nail plate, traditional methods or pharmaceutical preparations are used.
Pharmacy:
- "Fluconazole";
- "Nailitis";
- potassium permanganate;
- salicylic acid;
- "Uroderm";
- Vishnevsky ointment.
Folk:
- chamomile decoction;
- lemon juice or zest;
- rose and lavender essential oils;
- antibacterial soap;
- aloe leaf
After softening, a pedicure should be performed in the same way as with healthy nails.
Lemon juice with honey
Lemon and honey are natural antiseptics and immunomodulators. They will help prevent infection of the wound in the area of the ingrown nail.
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This procedure should be done before going to bed. Apply a drop of lemon juice to the sore spot and put a little honey on top. Bandage your finger and go to bed. In the morning, remove the bandage and remove any remaining honey.
Carry out this procedure every evening. When the condition of the finger improves, cut the nail.
